NGM - Lead Permitting Specialist

Barrick Gold Corporation•Elko, NV

About The Position

The Lead Permitting Specialist supports the effectiveness and advancement of Nevada Gold Mines’ environmental permitting program across assigned operations and projects. As a technical and strategic leader within the Environment & Natural Resources team, the role leads complex permitting initiatives, NEPA analyses, major project authorizations, and regulatory engagement. It helps manage permitting risks, support project execution, mentor permitting professionals, and strengthen the organization’s leadership pipeline. The position works with regulatory agencies, site environmental teams, operations, project, closure, engineering, and environmental teams to align permitting with business objectives and mine plans. It also oversees permitting resources, consultants, scopes, budgets, schedules, and deliverables, and supports the transition of permitted projects into site compliance and operational management programs.

Requirements

B.S. degree in Biology, Forestry, Chemical Engineering, Environmental Engineering, Sustainability, or a related field, or equivalent work experience.
Minimum 8–10 years of environmental permitting experience.
Demonstrated experience leading major NEPA analyses and permitting projects.
Project management and consultant management experience.
High attention to detail and data integrity.
Strong organizational and deadline management skills.
Ability to coordinate across multiple sites without direct authority.
Ability to work well with others.
Structured and systems-oriented thinking.
Clear written and verbal communication skills.
Ability to manage concurrent reporting cycles under time pressure.

Nice To Haves

Mining industry experience.
Onsite compliance experience.

Responsibilities

Be accountable for the effectiveness and execution of the NEPA permitting program for assigned operations.
Lead permitting strategies for major mining, infrastructure, exploration, closure, and operational projects; develop roadmaps aligned with mine plans, business objectives, and schedules.
Identify permitting risks, constraints, and opportunities early and recommend solutions.
Ensure permit applications, Plans of Operations, NEPA documents, technical studies, and regulatory deliverables are complete, technically sound, and legally defensible.
Direct baseline studies and technical investigations; coordinate multidisciplinary inputs and review technical reports and environmental analyses for quality and defensibility.
Integrate permitting requirements into project planning and life-of-mine strategies.
Serve as the primary contact for federal, state, tribal, and local regulatory agencies; lead agency meetings, site visits, technical reviews, and presentations; coordinate responses to comments and information requests.
Build and maintain effective relationships with regulatory agencies and stakeholders.
Provide functional leadership, technical mentorship, and guidance to permitting specialists and environmental professionals; promote consistency and best practices; support coaching, training, and succession planning.
Coordinate and prioritize permitting resources across assigned projects and provide day-to-day leadership support for direct reports.
Partner with site environmental teams to transition permitted projects into environmental compliance and operational management programs.
Develop scopes of work, budgets, schedules, and contracting strategies; manage consultant and contractor performance and monitor project scope, schedule, and budget.
Partner with operations, project, closure, engineering, and environmental teams to align permitting strategies with business objectives.
Provide leadership with permitting recommendations concerning project risks, opportunities, and regulatory requirements.
Integrate permitting considerations into project development and long-range life-of-mine planning.