Technical Tailings Lead

About the Role

• We are seeking a highly experienced Tailings Technical Lead to provide technical leadership, governance, and specialist expertise across a portfolio of Tailings Storage Facility (TSF) projects. This role will serve as the AIM regional technical authority for tailings engineering, supporting projects from concept and feasibility studies through detailed design, construction, operations, and closure.
• The successful candidate will play a key role in maintaining technical excellence, supporting dam safety governance, mentoring engineers, and ensuring alignment with global industry best practices.
• This role, ‘Tailings: Technical Lead’ is housed within the AIM Tailings Practice, managed by the ‘AIM Tailings Practice Lead’.

Key Responsibilities

• Provide technical leadership for TSF and mine waste projects throughout the full asset lifecycle.
• Lead and review geotechnical, tailings, dam safety, and risk management assessments.
• Advise on complex tailings engineering challenges including:
• Static and seismic stability
• SCPTu interpretation
• Static and cyclic liquefaction
• Brittle tailings assessment
• Critical state soil mechanics
• Tailings deposition and water management
• Filtered tailings and co-disposal facilities
• Support and guide projects operating within an Engineer of Record (EoR) framework.
• Lead technical due diligence reviews, dam safety evaluations, and risk assessments.
• Ensure compliance with industry standards, governance requirements, and best practice.
• Mentor, coach, and develop junior and intermediate tailings engineers.
• Support business development, client engagement, and proposal preparation activities.

Qualifications & Experience

Essential

• Degree in Civil, Geotechnical or related Engineering discipline.
• Professional Engineering registration (Pr.Eng, P.Eng, CEng or equivalent).
• Minimum 15 years' experience in tailings engineering and TSF design.
• Demonstrated experience across feasibility, detailed design, construction, and operational support.
• Strong understanding of TSF operations, dam safety, and risk management.
• Experience leading multidisciplinary project teams and technical reviews will be an added value.

Technical Expertise

Applicants should demonstrate extensive knowledge of the various hard skills, such as but not limited to:

• Tailings Storage Facility design and operation.
• Dam engineering and geotechnical engineering principles.
• SCPTu investigations and interpretation.
• Static and seismic liquefaction assessment.
• Brittle tailings identification and management.
• Geotechnical numerical modelling.
• Seepage, hydrogeology, and water management.
• Failure modes, risk assessment, and consequence classification.
• Closure planning and long-term facility performance.

Governance & Standards

Candidates must possess a strong working knowledge of:

• Global Industry Standard on Tailings Management (GISTM)
• ICMM Tailings Governance Frameworks
• ANCOLD Guidelines on Tailings Dams
• Canadian Dam Association (CDA) Guidelines
• South African tailings and dam safety legislation and standards
• Industry best practices for dam safety and tailings governance

What We Are Looking For

• Recognized technical expert in tailings engineering.
• Strong engineering judgement and pragmatic problem-solving skills.
• Ability to balance technical rigor with practical project delivery.
• Collaborative leadership style and excellent communication skills.
• Passion for knowledge sharing, mentoring, and capability development.
• Commitment to safe, sustainable, and responsible tailings management.