Superintendent Tailings Governance Engineering

Tailings Governance & Engineering

The Superintendent, Tailings Governance & Engineering is responsible for the governance, engineering integration, and performance assurance of tailings storage facilities (TSFs) at Pinto Valley Mine. This role ensures that tailings deposition plans are developed, validated, and executed in accordance with design intent, the Engineer of Record (EOR) requirements, and the site Tailings Management System (TMS).

• Oversee deposition strategy, QA/QC programs, and performance monitoring to verify that field execution aligns with engineered designs, regulatory requirements, and risk management controls.
• Provide technical guidance to the Tails & Water Operations team and verify that field execution aligns with deposition plans and TMS requirements.
• Manage changes to design, plans, or operating conditions following formal Management of Change (MOC) processes and approvals.
• Identify and manage risks related to TSF performance, deposition practices, facility integrity, water availability, reclaim performance, pond management, and extreme weather events.
• Ensure critical controls are defined and verified.
• Oversee dam safety inspections, surveillance programs, and instrumentation review in coordination with the EOR and technical teams.
• Coordinate with Water Management and Operations teams to align deposition strategies with water balance constraints and production requirements.
• Prepare reports for internal governance, regulatory bodies, and audits.
• Support dam safety reviews and independent technical evaluations.
• Lead and develop a team of engineers and technical professionals supporting tailings governance, planning, and monitoring.
• Ensure all employees, contractors, and vendors comply with site safety procedures, Life Saving Rules, and regulatory requirements.
• Verify personnel are trained and competent for assigned tasks.
• Execute short- and long-term plans provided by the Tailings Engineering team.
• Review work plans for clarity, assign resources, and ensure schedules are met.
• Oversee planning and execution of work using SAP Work Management processes.
• Ensure alignment with site priorities, budgets, and regulatory requirements.
• Deliver against targets for safety, cost, equipment availability, and productivity.
• Monitor and adjust field execution to meet operational goals.
• Partner with Tailings Engineering, Operations, Maintenance, Water Management, and Environmental teams to ensure integrated and compliant operation of TSF systems.
• Coordinate with the Water Management team to ensure tailings deposition plans align with water supply, reclaim availability, pond management, water recovery objectives, and site-wide water balance constraints.
• Communicate operational needs and deviations that may impact water balance, reclaim performance, storage capacity, or overall system performance.
• Identify and resolve operational issues in tailings systems to maintain safe and continuous operation.
• Prepare and manage budgets for tailings operations.
• Provide cost estimates and support procurement activities, including purchase requisitions.
• Contribute to optimization of tailings management practices.
• Support initiatives to improve systems, processes, and equipment performance.
• Provide operational input to integrated planning teams and support permitting-related activities as required.

Position Overview

The Superintendent, Tailings Governance & Engineering is responsible for the governance, engineering integration, and performance assurance of tailings storage facilities (TSFs) at Pinto Valley Mine. This role ensures that tailings deposition plans are developed, validated, and executed in accordance with design intent, the Engineer of Record (EOR) requirements, and the site Tailings Management System (TMS).

Position Responsibilities

Tailings Management System Governance: Maintain and implement the site Tailings Management System (TMS), ensuring alignment with corporate standards, Global Industry Standard on Tailings Management (GISTM), and regulatory requirements. Ensure roles, responsibilities, and controls are defined and followed.

Deposition Planning: Lead development of short-, medium-, and long-term tailings deposition strategies in collaboration with Tailings Engineering and the Engineer of Record (EOR). Ensure plans are risk-informed and aligned with facility design, water management objectives, and life-of-mine objectives.

Engineer of Record Coordination: Serve as the primary site interface with the EOR. Ensure design intent, technical direction, and recommendations are incorporated into site plans and practices.

QA/QC Assurance: Oversee QA/QC programs to verify that deposition, construction, and facility performance meet design specifications. Track and resolve deficiencies.

Performance Monitoring: Monitor TSF performance against design assumptions and deposition plans, water management objectives, and facility performance criteria. Identify deviations and drive corrective actions.

Execution Assurance: Provide technical guidance to the Tails & Water Operations team and verify that field execution aligns with deposition plans and TMS requirements.

Management of Change: Ensure all changes to design, plans, or operating conditions follow formal Management of Change (MOC) processes and are approved in accordance with TMS and EOR requirements.

Risk Management: Identify and manage risks related to TSF performance, deposition practices, facility integrity, water availability, reclaim performance, pond management, and extreme weather events. Ensure critical controls are defined and verified.

Mining Infrastructure Knowledge: Strong working knowledge of TSF construction, water systems, and associated mining infrastructure (concentrator, SXEW, process systems).

Integrated Planning: Coordinate with Water Management and Operations teams to align deposition strategies with water balance constraints and production requirements.

Governance Reporting: Prepare reports for internal governance, regulatory bodies, and audits. Support dam safety reviews and independent technical evaluations.

Leadership: Lead and develop a team of engineers and technical professionals supporting tailings governance, planning, and monitoring.

Safety & Compliance: Ensure all employees, contractors, and vendors comply with site safety procedures, Life Saving Rules, and regulatory requirements. Verify personnel are trained and competent for assigned tasks.

Execution & Planning: Execute short- and long-term plans provided by the Tailings Engineering team. Review work plans for clarity, assign resources, and ensure schedules are met.

Work Management: Oversee planning and execution of work using SAP Work Management processes. Ensure alignment with site priorities, budgets, and regulatory requirements.

Performance Management: Deliver against targets for safety, cost, equipment availability, and productivity. Monitor and adjust field execution to meet operational goals.

Cross-functional Collaboration: Partner with Tailings Engineering, Operations, Maintenance, Water Management, and Environmental teams to ensure integrated and compliant operation of TSF systems.

Water System Coordination: Coordinate with the Water Management team to ensure tailings deposition plans align with water supply, reclaim availability, pond management, water recovery objectives, and site-wide water balance constraints.

Operational Support: Communicate operational needs and deviations that may impact water balance, reclaim performance, storage capacity, or overall system performance.

Troubleshooting: Identify and resolve operational issues in tailings systems to maintain safe and continuous operation.

Budgeting & Cost Control: Prepare and manage budgets for tailings operations. Provide cost estimates and support procurement activities, including purchase requisitions.

Continuous Improvement: Support initiatives to improve systems, processes, and equipment performance. Contribute to optimization of tailings management practices.

Reporting & Planning Support: Provide operational input to integrated planning teams and support permitting-related activities as required.

Required

• Minimum 10 years of experience in tailings management, or related operational leadership roles within mining or heavy industry.
• Minimum 5 years of experience in tailings construction, design support, or field execution.
• Strong working knowledge of TSF construction, water systems, and associated mining infrastructure (concentrator, SXEW, process systems).
• Experience with planning and scheduling practices for tailings operations.
• Understanding of site-wide water balances, reclaim systems, pond management, and the interaction between tailings operations and water supply infrastructure.
• Proven leadership experience managing teams in field-based environments.
• Strong communication, problem-solving, and decision-making skills.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office applications (Excel, Outlook, etc.).
• Experience with SAP or similar work management systems.
• Valid Arizona Driver’s License.
• Ability to read, write, and communicate effectively in English.

PREFERRED

• Technical background in engineering, construction management, or related field.
• Familiarity with regulatory requirements and permitting in Arizona.
• Experience working at copper mining operations.
• Familiarity with CAD or design review tools.