Chief Environmental Scientist

About the role

At Freeport-McMoRan, you'll find a collaborative environment focused on safety, innovation, and community engagement. The Morenci operations, located in Arizona, offer a unique combination of professional development and recreational opportunities.

Responsibilities

• Plans, organizes, manages, and evaluates designated engineering projects and programs, ensuring successful completion within time and cost constraints.
• Safeguards environmental compliance and advises site management on necessary corrections.
• Supervises or reviews planned engineering projects, including large/complex site construction, expansion, or modifications.
• Guides and counsels the site management team on relevant programs, practices, and local, state, and federal regulations.
• Supports site strategic planning and budgeting efforts for designated engineering areas.
• Represents the site on company-sponsored steering teams, such as the Freeport-McMoRan Environmental Steering Team.
• Performs other duties as required.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in Environmental Science, Environmental Technology, Earth Science, or related natural sciences (Biology, Chemistry, Geology, Hydrology, Forestry, Agriculture, Meteorology, Environmental/Natural Resource Management) or Mathematics/Computer Science including Accounting and Finance, or, Business Management or other related fields, with seven (7) years of related experience, or Master's degree in a related field and five (5) years of related experience.
• Strong knowledge of federal, state, and local environmental regulations, including air quality, water quality, hazardous materials, waste management, and permitting requirements.
• Extensive experience with air permitting, emissions inventories, compliance programs, and regulatory agency interactions.
• Proven project management skills, including planning, budgeting, scheduling, risk management, and execution of complex environmental projects.
• Demonstrated leadership experience managing multidisciplinary teams, including engineers, scientists, technicians, and environmental professionals.
• Experience managing environmental consultants, contractors, and technical service providers.
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to effectively engage operations, engineering, leadership, regulatory agencies, and community stakeholders.
• Experience developing, delivering, and facilitating environmental, regulatory, and compliance-related training programs.
• Experience supporting large-scale mining operations, including mine planning, tailings management, water management, closure planning, and operational compliance.
• Strong understanding of environmental risk management and environmental management systems (EMS), including ISO 14001 principles and implementation.
• Experience supporting environmental audits, compliance assessments, inspections, corrective actions, and continuous improvement initiatives.
• Knowledge of environmental monitoring programs, data management systems, and environmental reporting requirements.
• Demonstrated ability to lead cross-functional teams and collaborate effectively with central technical, legal, sustainability, health and safety, and operational groups.
• Experience preparing and reviewing technical reports, permit applications, environmental impact assessments, and regulatory submittals.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with the ability to evaluate complex technical and regulatory issues and develop practical solutions.
• Experience supporting strategic business initiatives while balancing operational, environmental, and regulatory objectives.
• Experience with tailings storage facilities, closure and reclamation programs, and sustainability initiatives is highly desirable.
• Strong presentation skills, including the ability to communicate technical information effectively to senior leadership, regulators, and non-technical audiences.
• Experience leading significant environmental incidents, investigations, regulatory negotiations, and compliance-driven corrective actions.
• Working knowledge of capital project development processes, including AFEs, capital planning, and project execution within a large mining organization.
• Ability to influence without direct authority and drive alignment among diverse stakeholders across site and corporate functions.
• Commitment to safety, environmental stewardship, operational excellence, and continuous improvement.

Qualifications

• Minimum Qualifications: Bachelor's degree in Environmental Science, Environmental Technology, Earth Science, or related natural sciences (Biology, Chemistry, Geology, Hydrology, Forestry, Agriculture, Meteorology, Environmental/Natural Resource Management) or Mathematics/Computer Science including Accounting and Finance, or, Business Management or other related fields, with seven (7) years of related experience, or Master's degree in a related field and five (5) years of related experience.
• Preferred Qualifications: Strong knowledge of federal, state, and local environmental regulations, including air quality, water quality, hazardous materials, waste management, and permitting requirements. Extensive experience with air permitting, emissions inventories, compliance programs, and regulatory agency interactions. Proven project management skills, including planning, budgeting, scheduling, risk management, and execution of complex environmental projects. Demonstrated leadership experience managing multidisciplinary teams, including engineers, scientists, technicians, and environmental professionals. Experience managing environmental consultants, contractors, and technical service providers. Strong communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to effectively engage operations, engineering, leadership, regulatory agencies, and community stakeholders. Experience developing, delivering, and facilitating environmental, regulatory, and compliance-related training programs. Experience supporting large-scale mining operations, including mine planning, tailings management, water management, closure planning, and operational compliance. Strong understanding of environmental risk management and environmental management systems (EMS), including ISO 14001 principles and implementation. Experience supporting environmental audits, compliance assessments, inspections, corrective actions, and continuous improvement initiatives. Knowledge of environmental monitoring programs, data management systems, and environmental reporting requirements. Demonstrated ability to lead cross-functional teams and collaborate effectively with central technical, legal, sustainability, health and safety, and operational groups. Experience preparing and reviewing technical reports, permit applications, environmental impact assessments, and regulatory submittals. Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with the ability to evaluate complex technical and regulatory issues and develop practical solutions. Experience supporting strategic business initiatives while balancing operational, environmental, and regulatory objectives. Experience with tailings storage facilities, closure and reclamation programs, and sustainability initiatives is highly desirable. Strong presentation skills, including the ability to communicate technical information effectively to senior leadership, regulators, and non-technical audiences. Experience leading significant environmental incidents, investigations, regulatory negotiations, and compliance-driven corrective actions. Working knowledge of capital project development processes, including AFEs, capital planning, and project execution within a large mining organization. Ability to influence without direct authority and drive alignment among diverse stakeholders across site and corporate functions. Commitment to safety, environmental stewardship, operational excellence, and continuous improvement.

Skills

• Strong knowledge of federal, state, and local environmental regulations, including air quality, water quality, hazardous materials, waste management, and permitting requirements.
• Extensive experience with air permitting, emissions inventories, compliance programs, and regulatory agency interactions.
• Proven project management skills, including planning, budgeting, scheduling, risk management, and execution of complex environmental projects.
• Demonstrated leadership experience managing multidisciplinary teams, including engineers, scientists, technicians, and environmental professionals.
• Experience managing environmental consultants, contractors, and technical service providers.
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to effectively engage operations, engineering, leadership, regulatory agencies, and community stakeholders.
• Experience developing, delivering, and facilitating environmental, regulatory, and compliance-related training programs.
• Experience supporting large-scale mining operations, including mine planning, tailings management, water management, closure planning, and operational compliance.
• Strong understanding of environmental risk management and environmental management systems (EMS), including ISO 14001 principles and implementation.
• Experience supporting environmental audits, compliance assessments, inspections, corrective actions, and continuous improvement initiatives.
• Knowledge of environmental monitoring programs, data management systems, and environmental reporting requirements.
• Demonstrated ability to lead cross-functional teams and collaborate effectively with central technical, legal, sustainability, health and safety, and operational groups.
• Experience preparing and reviewing technical reports, permit applications, environmental impact assessments, and regulatory submittals.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with the ability to evaluate complex technical and regulatory issues and develop practical solutions.
• Experience supporting strategic business initiatives while balancing operational, environmental, and regulatory objectives.
• Experience with tailings storage facilities, closure and reclamation programs, and sustainability initiatives is highly desirable.
• Strong presentation skills, including the ability to communicate technical information effectively to senior leadership, regulators, and non-technical audiences.
• Experience leading significant environmental incidents, investigations, regulatory negotiations, and compliance-driven corrective actions.
• Working knowledge of capital project development processes, including AFEs, capital planning, and project execution within a large mining organization.
• Ability to influence without direct authority and drive alignment among diverse stakeholders across site and corporate functions.
• Commitment to safety, environmental stewardship, operational excellence, and continuous improvement.

Benefits

The estimated annual pay range for this role is currently $112,000-$160,000. This range reflects base salary only and does not include bonus payments, benefits or retirement contributions. Actual base pay is determined by experience, qualifications, skills and other job-related factors. This role is eligible for additional incentive compensation considerations based on company and individual performance. Additionally, this position is currently eligible for annual long-term incentive consideration. Long-term incentives are contingent upon authorized approval under the terms and conditions of the Company's plan and award agreements. More details will be shared during the hiring process.

Pay

The estimated annual pay range for this role is currently $112,000-$160,000. This range reflects base salary only and does not include bonus payments, benefits or retirement contributions. Actual base pay is determined by experience, qualifications, skills and other job-related factors. This role is eligible for additional incentive compensation considerations based on company and individual performance. Additionally, this position is currently eligible for annual long-term incentive consideration. Long-term incentives are contingent upon authorized approval under the terms and conditions of the Company's plan and award agreements. More details will be shared during the hiring process.

Schedule

This role is currently eligible for a non-standard schedule, which may include shift work (other than day shift) at a 24/7, 365-day operation.

Company Information

Freeport-McMoRan is a leader in the global mining industry, committed to providing an employment package that recognizes excellence, encourages safe production, and supports a culture aligned with our core values. The Morenci operations, located in Arizona, offer a unique combination of professional development and recreational opportunities.