Land Manager

HECLA MINING CO.•Reno, NV

About The Position

Hecla Mining Company is seeking a Land Manager to own the administration and integrity of the Company’s surface and mineral land position across the United States and Canada. The role is accountable for protecting Hecla’s rights to explore, develop, and mine by ensuring holdings, filings, title records, and obligations remain current and defensible. The Land Manager reports to the Senior Vice President & General Counsel and may present to the Board on holdings, obligations, and tenure risk. The position is currently an individual contributor role, with the opportunity to build and lead a small land team as the portfolio grows. A dedicated digital land management platform is being implemented; the Land Manager will carry the implementation forward and administer the system. The role manages a broad portfolio of U.S. and Canadian mining tenure, including claims, leases, fee interests, exploration licenses, Crown land, and supporting water rights. It also oversees title research, maintenance and regulatory deadlines, royalty obligations, third-party rights, land data and mapping, reporting, budgeting, and land and title diligence for transactions. The role coordinates with Canadian land counsel, contract land professionals, internal GIS resources, outside geospatial specialists, Accounting, Exploration, Operations, management, and the Board. Transaction work requires strict confidentiality regarding Hecla’s land position, exploration pipeline, and acquisition targets. The position is located at the corporate office in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, or Reno, Nevada.

Requirements

At least 8 years of progressive experience in land administration or mineral rights management in hard rock mining, precious metals, or natural resources; oil and gas land experience is considered.
Demonstrated ability to independently manage a full multi-jurisdictional portfolio, establish processes, direct outside resources without day-to-day supervision, and operate as an organization’s sole land professional.
Title research experience covering patented and unpatented mining claims (lode, placer, and millsite), mineral and surface leases, rights-of-way, easements, severed estates, and multi-jurisdictional portfolios.
Working knowledge of mining and mineral law as it applies to claim types, homestead entries, and federal and state frameworks governing mineral rights and surface use.
Strong command of BLM, USFS, and state lands regulatory frameworks and western U.S. land status systems, including LR2000/MLRS.
Working proficiency with GIS software sufficient to maintain tenure datasets and independently produce claim and land status maps.
Hands-on experience administering a dedicated land management or tenure database platform rather than spreadsheet-based records.
Clear written and verbal communication, including the ability to explain regulatory and legal matters to management and Board audiences.

Nice To Haves

Registered Landman (RL), Registered Professional Landman (RPL), or Certified Professional Landman (CPL) designation.
Bachelor’s degree in Land Management, Natural Resources, Business, or a related field. A Geography or GIS degree is acceptable when paired with a professional landman designation and substantial hard rock mining experience; equivalent professional experience may substitute for a degree.
Canadian mining tenure experience, including the Yukon Quartz Mining Act, exploration license maintenance, and Crown land processes.
Familiarity with royalty structures and advance royalty administration.
Familiarity with western U.S. water rights, including state filing and beneficial-use requirements.
Familiarity with Indigenous and tribal consultation processes in the western United States or Canada.
Experience implementing a dedicated land management or tenure database platform.

Responsibilities

Maintain all land and mineral holdings in good standing, including unpatented and patented claims, leasehold and fee interests, Yukon exploration licenses and Crown land, and associated water rights.
Conduct title research for acquisitions; construct chains of title across patented and unpatented instruments and severed estates; identify title defects and curative requirements.
Manage multi-jurisdictional maintenance fees, rentals, property taxes, assessment filings, renewals, notices, and other recurring obligations without missed deadlines.
Coordinate with Canadian land counsel and contract land professionals on Yukon and other Canadian filing obligations.
Manage land access and stakeholder matters involving private landowners, ranchers, and tribal and Indigenous entities.
Calculate, track, and audit advance and production royalties, including rates, step-downs, buy-down rights, and payment terms; coordinate timely and accurate payments with Accounting.
Track third-party options, rights of first refusal, and back-in rights that may affect Hecla’s ownership or operating position.
Maintain authoritative tenure datasets and produce claim boundary, land status, and tenure maps for Exploration, Operations, management, and Board use.
Work with Exploration and Operations GIS resources and direct outside geospatial specialists when deeper analytical work is needed.
Administer the land management system, complete its implementation, and keep spatial and tabular records synchronized and audit ready.
Prepare reports on holdings, obligations, and tenure risk for management and Board review.
Prepare and track the annual land budget within the Legal department budget, including filing fees, royalty payments, and contractor costs.
Monitor regulatory developments affecting mining tenure in BLM, USFS, state, and Yukon jurisdictions.
Conduct land and title due diligence for acquisitions, dispositions, joint ventures, and financings, including data room coordination and negotiation support.
Review land-related sections of purchase, option, and royalty agreements alongside the General Counsel and Corporate Development while maintaining strict confidentiality.