Chief Environmental Engineer

We are seeking an experienced Chief Environmental Engineer to lead environmental engineering programmes, regulatory compliance, water quality management, remediation, and reclamation across a large-scale mining or industrial operation in the Southwestern United States.

This senior technical role will oversee complex environmental projects, ensure compliance with applicable regulations, and provide engineering expertise to site leadership on environmental risks, permitting requirements, and long-term environmental management.

Working closely with operations, engineering teams, regulators, and external consultants, you will drive effective environmental solutions, strengthen compliance standards, and support safe, responsible, and sustainable operations.

Key Responsibilities

• Environmental Engineering & Compliance: Develop, implement, and oversee environmental engineering programmes covering regulatory compliance, environmental safety, remediation, and reclamation.
• Water Quality Management: Monitor and improve water quality practices, ensuring environmental systems and processes meet applicable regulatory and operational requirements.
• Regulatory Compliance: Identify environmental compliance risks, recommend corrective actions, and ensure operations meet relevant federal, state, and local regulations.
• Environmental Project Management: Lead complex engineering projects involving water quality compliance, environmental permitting, remediation, reclamation, and site restoration.
• Technical & Engineering Oversight: Evaluate environmental engineering solutions, review technical assessments, and ensure projects meet established engineering standards and regulatory requirements.
• Environmental Incident Management: Investigate environmental incidents, oversee response activities, maintain accurate documentation, and implement corrective and preventative measures.
• Regulatory Engagement: Provide technical guidance to site leadership and coordinate with environmental regulators, government agencies, consultants, and other stakeholders.
• Environmental Standards & Governance: Develop and maintain environmental engineering procedures, technical standards, compliance frameworks, and consistent operating practices.
• Budgeting & Strategic Planning: Contribute to environmental project budgets, resource planning, and long-term strategies for managing environmental risks and obligations.
• Contractor & Consultant Management: Evaluate and manage external service providers, oversee contracts, and ensure environmental engineering projects meet required standards for quality, cost, and delivery.
• Environmental Training: Coordinate regulatory training requirements and provide technical guidance to employees on environmental engineering practices and compliance obligations.
• Technical Reporting: Maintain environmental engineering records, compliance documentation, incident reports, and supporting technical information in accordance with regulatory requirements.

Required Qualifications & Experience

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering, such as Environmental, Civil, Chemical, Agricultural, Mining, Metallurgical, Geological, or a related discipline, with at least seven years of engineering experience in environmental management, including project management.
• Alternatively: A master's degree in Engineering or a related field, with at least five years of engineering experience in environmental management, including project management.
• Demonstrated experience managing environmental engineering programmes and regulatory compliance within complex operational environments.
• Strong understanding of environmental permitting, water quality management, remediation, reclamation, and environmental risk assessment.
• Proven project management experience, including planning, budgeting, contractor coordination, technical oversight, and project delivery.
• Knowledge of relevant environmental regulations covering water quality, hazardous materials, waste management, environmental protection, and incident reporting.
• Experience providing technical recommendations to site leadership and developing practical engineering solutions to environmental challenges.
• Strong technical report-writing, analytical, and problem-solving skills.