Director of Tailings Solutions
Black & Veatch
Together, we own our company, our future, and our shared success.
As an employee-owned company, our people are Black & Veatch. We put them at the center of everything we do and empower them to grow, explore new possibilities and use their diverse talents and perspectives to solve humanity's biggest challenges in an ever-evolving world. With over 100 years of innovation in sustainable infrastructure and our expertise in engineering, procurement, consulting and construction, together we are building a world of difference.
Company : Black & Veatch Corporation
Req Id : 115104
Opportunity Type : Staff
Relocation eligible : No
Full time/Part time : Full-Time
Project Only Hire : No
Visa Sponsorship Available: No
Why Black and Veatch
Black & Veatch allows you to lend your talent and perspective to humanity’s biggest challenges in a flexible environment where you are empowered to grow and explore new possibilities. We offer competitive compensation; 401K matching and benefits that start day 1.
Our hybrid environment allows you to balance your work and personal life. At Black & Veatch, you own your career with purpose and meaning. You are empowered to grow and explore new possibilities at every step of your career journey. Bring your big ideas knowing you are safe to be who you are and speak up with concerns or questions and put your diverse talents and perspectives to use.
The Opportunity
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.
Key Responsibilities
Stakeholder Engagement and Problem Definition
- 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.
Solution Development
- 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.
Technical Evaluation and Implementation
- 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.
Decision Support and Communication
- 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.
Collaboration and Industry Engagement
- 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.
Knowledge Development and Industry Leadership
- 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.
Management Responsibilities
- 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.
Preferred Qualifications
- 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.
- 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.
Minimum Qualifications
- 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.
Certifications
None specified
Work Environment/Physical Demands
Typical office environment, typical construction environment, extreme weather conditions, high noise level, safety hazards (electric currents, working on scaffolding and high places, exposure to chemicals), atmospheric conditions (fumes, odors, dusts, mists, gases, poor ventilation). Sitting, walking, talking, hearing, reading, writing, keyboarding, driving, filing, reaching, stooping, crouching, bending, standing for extended periods of time, lifting or carrying up to 40 pounds.
Competencies
Salary Plan
Job Grade
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Black & Veatch is committed to being an employer of choice by creating a valuable work experience that keeps our people engaged, productive, safe and healthy.
Our comprehensive benefits portfolio is a key component of this commitment and offers and array of health care benefits including but not limited to medical, dental and vision insurances along with disability and a robust wellness program.
To support a healthy work-life balance, we offer flexible work schedules, paid vacation and holiday time, sick time and dependent sick time.
A variety of additional benefits are available to our professionals, including a company matched 401k plan, adoption reimbursement, vendor discounts, an employment referral program, AD&D insurance, pre-taxed accounts, voluntary legal plan and the B&V Credit Union. Professionals may also be eligible for a performance-based bonus program.
We are proud to be a 100 percent ESOP-owned company. As employee-owners, our professionals are empowered to drive not only their personal growth, but the company's long-term achievements - and they share in the financial rewards of that success through stock ownership.
By valuing diverse voices and perspectives, we cultivate an authentically inclusive environment for professionals and are able to provide innovative and effective solutions for clients.
BVH, Inc., its subsidiaries and its affiliated companies, complies with all Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) laws and regulations. Black & Veatch does not discriminate on the basis of age, race, religion, color, sex, national origin, marital status, genetic information, sexual orientation, gender Identity and expression, disability, veteran status, pregnancy status or other status protected by law.
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In accordance with local law, the following Annual compensation range is applicable for the job and location associated with this requisition: $185,361.00 - $315,106.00