Service Director – Tailings and Mine Waste
About Us
At Onterris, we build careers grounded in purpose, responsibility and real-world impact.
“For Planet and Progress” is our north star that guides everything we do. We believe environmental responsibility and human progress are interconnected, interwoven and international. Our scientists, engineers, field teams, consultants and professionals collaborate across disciplines and geographies, guiding industries and governments, ensuring that communities and environments thrive.
When you join us, you’re not just forging a career, you’re joining a movement. A movement for better thinking, smarter solutions and lasting impact.
Together, we will advance our way of life and protect the integrity of our environment every step of the way.
A Day in the Life
As a Service Director, Tailings and Mine Waste reporting to the Service Line VP, you will provide strategic and operational leadership. This role is accountable for driving financial performance, operational excellence, and safe, high-quality service delivery. As a member of the Canadian leadership team, the Service Director leads growth, develops talent, and advances business priorities through cross-functional collaboration.
The compensation range for this role is $160,000 to $210,000 annually, commensurate with experience, skills, and geographic location.
To thrive in this role, you’ll be comfortable taking ownership of the following responsibilities:
Safety
Champion and model a strong safety culture.
Partner with H&S to ensure compliance with company safety standards and employee engagement.
Operations & People Leadership
Deliver RBU performance targets (revenue, profitability, utilization, margins, DSO, pipeline, and cost management).
Contribute to business planning, budgeting, and resource forecasting.
Lead and develop Service Leads to drive performance and align with strategic goals.
Oversee workforce planning, hiring, performance management, and succession planning.
Foster a high-performance, collaborative culture and address performance issues proactively.
Ensure compliance with company policies, systems, and governance requirements.
Collaborate with functional leaders (HR, Finance, H&S, Legal, Marketing, etc.) to align operations with business objectives.
Revenue & Growth
Support and drive revenue growth initiatives across the RBU.
Partner with Revenue & Growth teams on account strategy, business development, and key hires.
Promote cross-service collaboration to strengthen market position and client delivery.
Contribute to achieving annual revenue and growth targets.
Technical Excellence & Project Delivery
Ensure effective assignment of Project Managers, Project Directors, and technical experts.
Promote quality, technical excellence, and adherence to project management standards.
Oversee project performance through reviews and lifecycle controls to ensure quality and profitability.
Align technical capabilities with client needs to enhance value delivery.
Act as Project Director, SME, or proposal lead where appropriate.
Your Expertise and Skills
These requirements reflect the knowledge, skills and abilities that help you do your best work here.
Bachelor’s or advanced degree in Geotechnical Engineering with a P.Eng. designation (master’s degree in Geotechnical Engineering)
Minimum of 15 years of relevant industry experience in geotechnical engineering, including the investigation, design, operation, closure, and risk management of tailings storage facilities (TSFs), waste rock dumps, heap leach facilities, and other mine waste containment structures.
Strong client management and interpersonal skills, with a track record of building and maintaining positive relationships with stakeholders at all levels.
Strong understanding of tailings management practices, including tailings deposition planning, water balance assessments, reclamation strategies, closure design, and long-term performance monitoring.
Experience leading Dam Safety Reviews (DSRs), Independent Tailings Reviews (ITRs), and technical audits in accordance with Global Industry Standard on Tailings Management (GISTM), CDA, ANCOLD, and ICOLD guidelines.
Experience serving as Engineer of Record (EoR), Deputy EoR, Responsible Tailings Facility Engineer (RTFE), or other key technical governance roles for tailings facilities.
Proven ability to prepare and review technical reports, design criteria, construction specifications, operating manuals, and regulatory submissions for mining projects.
Experience in mentoring and developing junior engineers, fostering a culture of knowledge sharing and professional growth within the team.
Ability to travel up to 20%
This posting reflects a current vacancy that the company is actively seeking to fill. We are not accepting third party agency applicants at this time.
Onterris is a leading global environmental solutions company partnering with organizations to solve complex challenges where environmental pressures, regulatory expectations and operational risks intersect. Guided by our mission to advance the way of life without compromising the integrity of our environment, we believe environmental responsibility and human progress are fundamentally connected. Our scientists, engineers, field teams and consultants apply systems thinking that unites science, data and practical expertise to deliver solutions that strengthen our clients’ resilience, mitigate risk and protect the air, water and soil that sustain communities, while uncovering responsible paths forward for planet and progress. For more information, visit www.onterris.com.
We are an equal opportunity employer and encourage applications from people of all backgrounds. We acknowledge that these experiences and perspectives help to enrich our teams and contribute to our ongoing success. We are committed to providing access and reasonable accommodation in our employment for all applicants. For US residents, click here to learn more.