Director of Tailings Solutions

Black & Veatch Family of Companies • Arvada, CO

4d • $185,361 - $315,106 • Hybrid

About The Position

Black & Veatch has an exciting opportunity for a Fuels & Natural Resources (F&NR) Sector, Director of Tailings Solutions. The purpose of this role is to assist our mining operations clients identify and implement optimal tailings solutions tailored to their specific site conditions, operational goals, and budget. The Director will work with a team to develop holistic tailings strategies for clients using the best available technologies while considering key factors such as cost, land use, corporate responsibility objectives, and operational performance. By continuously monitoring emerging technologies and facilitating collaboration between mine operators and technology providers to accelerate the development and proof of concept of new solutions. The team will also develop improved tools for risk assessment, project evaluation, and decision-making to support better outcomes for tailings management. Finally, this role will promote best practices across the industry through publications, training programs, and engagement with professional societies. We aim to help operators address site-specific tailings challenges while continuously identifying lower-cost solutions that expand accessibility and improve industry performance.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience.
• All applicants must be able to complete pre-employment onboarding requirements (if selected) which may include any/all of the following: criminal/civil background check, drug screen, and motor vehicle records search, in compliance with any applicable laws and regulations.
• Bachelor’s degree in Mining Engineering, Geological Engineering, Civil/Geotechnical Engineering, Metallurgical/Process Engineering, Environmental Engineering, or related field.
• 10+ years of relevant experience in tailings management, mine waste, geotechnical engineering, process/plant operations, or integrated mining project delivery.
• Demonstrated ability to translate complex technical and operational constraints into practical, site-specific solutions and clear recommendations.
• Experience leading multi-disciplinary teams and influencing stakeholders across operations, engineering, and leadership groups.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, including delivery of technical reports and executive-ready presentations.
• Willingness to travel approximately 20–25% as required for site visits and stakeholder engagement.

Nice To Haves

• Advanced degree (M.S. or Ph.D.) in a relevant engineering discipline.
• Professional Engineer (P.E.) or equivalent professional registration, or additional credentials in geotechnical or mining practice.
• Direct experience with tailings technologies and operating models (e.g., thickened tailings, paste, filtration, dry stacking, in-pit disposal, water recovery systems).
• Experience planning and executing test work programs (lab, pilot, field) and translating results into engineering and operational decisions.
• Track record of building new capabilities, tools, or programs from concept to sustained adoption (strategy-to-execution leadership).
• Experience working with or managing technology providers and vendors, including proof-of-concept development and scale-up pathways.
• Demonstrated external thought leadership (publications, conference presentations, training delivery, or engagement with professional societies).
• Strong business acumen: ability to evaluate trade-offs among cost, risk, schedule, land use, water balance, and ESG/corporate responsibility objectives.
• Mentor junior engineers who demonstrate initiative and interest in developing expertise in tailings management.

Responsibilities

• Engage with mining clients and key stakeholders to understand site-specific needs, operational constraints, and tailings management challenges.
• Facilitate workshops and collaborative brainstorming sessions to define project objectives and identify potential solution pathways.
• Develop tailored tailings management solutions that address operational, environmental, and economic requirements.
• Apply subject matter expertise, creativity, and knowledge of emerging technologies to identify optimal approaches.
• Stay current with new and developing technologies and evaluate their applicability to mining operations.
• Design and coordinate test work programs to evaluate potential tailings solutions.
• Review, analyze, and interpret laboratory and pilot-scale test results.
• Support the detailed engineering, execution, and initial operation of projects to ensure the original design intent is maintained.
• Clearly communicate evaluation results, trade-offs, and recommended solutions through technical reports and presentations.
• Guide stakeholders through structured decision-making processes.
• Facilitate multi-accounts analysis and other structured evaluation approaches.
• Collaborate with cross-disciplinary teams including geotechnical, process, environmental, and operational specialists.
• Work with technology providers to accelerate development and proof-of-concept for emerging tailings technologies.
• Publish technical papers and case studies on new developments and lessons learned.
• Deliver training courses and workshops on tailings best practices.
• Develop internal tools that improve efficiency, capture knowledge, and support decision making.
• Help build and influence a high-performing team within our Operational team; set clear objectives, priorities, and accountability aligned with the mine tailings solutions strategy and align the strategy with the client segment, regions and with the industrial water solution.
• Recruit, onboard, and develop talent (engineers/technical specialists and/or program resources); provide coaching, feedback, and growth plans.
• Establish operating rhythms (planning, reviews, and decision forums) that convert ambiguity into crisp scopes, schedules, and deliverables.
• Support resource planning (people, budget, and external support) across parallel client engagements, pilots, and internal tool development.
• Create a culture of safety, technical excellence, learning, and continuous improvement; ensure quality in analyses, recommendations, and client communications.
• Drive cross-functional alignment across geotechnical, process, environmental, operations, commercial, and risk teams; remove roadblocks and accelerate execution.
• Set and track performance metrics (e.g., pipeline conversion, project outcomes, technical milestones, knowledge outputs) and communicate progress to leadership.
• Manage external partners (technology providers, labs, consultants) including scope definition, selection, oversight, and performance management.

Benefits

• competitive compensation
• 401K matching
• benefits that start day 1
• flexible work schedules
• paid vacation and holiday time
• sick time
• dependent sick time
• company matched 401k plan
• adoption reimbursement
• vendor discounts
• an employment referral program
• AD&D insurance
• pre-taxed accounts
• voluntary legal plan
• the B&V Credit Union
• performance-based bonus program
• medical
• dental
• vision insurances
• disability
• wellness program

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Director