Sr. Tailings Engineer

Discover a rewarding career opportunity at Kinross in the stunning rural landscapes of Washington State.  Recognized for our leadership in low-impact mine development and nationally acclaimed for our reclamation and closure practices, our team has produced gold from six different deposits in the region since 1990.  Currently we are advancing a multi-year pipeline of projects and growing our team to ensure effective delivery and seamless transition into operations.

Job Summary

Under the direction of the Processing Manager, the Sr. Tailings Engineer is responsible for the safe, efficient, and compliant management of the site's Tailings Storage Facility (TSF) and (Tailings filter plant) This role provides technical oversight for tailings deposition, facility performance, water management, monitoring programs, and facility planning to support operational objectives, regulatory compliance, and long-term stability. The Sr. Tailings Engineer works closely with Operations, Environmental, and Project teams to ensure the responsible management of filtered tailings throughout the life of the operation.

Essential Functions

• Lead the execution of engineering oversight and stewardship of the TSF/TDP throughout construction, operations, and closure.
• Develop and maintain deposition plans to ensure safe, efficient, and compliant placement of filtered dry stack tailings.
• Monitor facility performance including stability, drainage, settlement, compaction, and overall operation.
• Review and analyze geotechnical investigations, perform required inspections, and monitor data.
• Support construction quality assurance and quality control (QA/QC) activities for the tailings facility expansions and related infrastructure.
• Conduct regular inspections of the Dry Stack Tailings Facility and document findings, recommendations, and corrective actions.
• Partner with Mill Operations to optimize tailings filtration performance and material placement practices.
• Lead the development of short-term and long-term stacking plans, forecasts and life-of-mine tailings storage plans.
• Support water management planning, stormwater control systems, and site-wide water balance initiatives.
• Ensure compliance with applicable permits, design criteria, environmental commitments, company standards, and regulatory requirements.
• Partner with Mill Operations to develop operational manuals, monitoring plans, emergency preparedness documentation, and management systems.
• Participate in risk assessments and support implementation of risk mitigation measures.
• Prepare technical reports, performance summaries, regulatory submissions, and management presentations.
• Work with external consultants, Engineers of Record, contractors, and regulatory agencies as required.
• Support closure planning and progressive reclamation activities associated with the tailing’s facility.
• Promote a strong safety culture and ensure work is performed in accordance with site safety standards and safe work practices.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Qualifications and Skill Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in Civil Engineering, Geological Engineering, Mining Engineering, Geotechnical Engineering, or a related engineering discipline.
• Professional Engineer (PE) license or ability to obtain licensure.
• 5-8 years of engineering experience in mining, tailings management, geotechnical engineering, earthworks, or water management.
• Experience with tailings storage facilities, dry stack tailings facilities, earth fill structures, or large-scale civil infrastructure.
• Familiarity with Global Industry Standard on Tailings Management (GISTM) principles.
• Experience with geotechnical monitoring instrumentation and data interpretation.
• Knowledge of Washington State and federal environmental and mining regulations.
• Knowledge of geotechnical principles, slope stability, seepage, drainage systems, and earthworks construction.
• Strong technical writing, analytical, and problem-solving skills.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office and engineering software applications.
• Ability to work effectively in a multidisciplinary mining environment.
• Valid driver’s license and authorized to work in the US.

Health, Safety, and Environmental Requirements

• Adheres to all safety and environmental considerations.
• Has a strong commitment to safe working practices.
• Wears Personal Protective Equipment at all times while in the production environment.
• Is alert and observes, corrects, and reports unsafe conditions.
• Follows operating procedures and complies with all regulatory requirements.

Kinross Leadership Practices

• Creates an environment where nothing is more important than every employee returning home safe and healthy every day
• Creates an environment in which people are unfailingly treated with respect
• Fosters the talent and potential of all employees by enabling them to grow, develop, and make a difference in the organization
• Demonstrates that leadership in the areas of environmental performance and community and stakeholder relations is fundamental to the way we plan and manage our business 
• Holds self and others accountable for the decisions, commitments, and behaviors required to deliver outstanding results
• Uses judgment to manage business complexities, prioritize and balance conflicting demands to make timely decisions that best advance Kinross strategy
• Builds and brings teams and people together to achieve organizational goals.  Models humility by going beyond self-interest for the good of the group
• Understands the economic implications of decisions and consistently uses all resources effectively and efficiently to maximize shareholder value
• Relentlessly champions, develops and embeds best practices 

Kinross Competencies

• Strategic Effectiveness

Developing and communicating rigorous and creative business strategies that drive sustainable value

• External engagement

Understanding and building relationships with external parties that strengthen and sustain competitive advantage

• Business Focus

Applying commercial rigor and discipline to all business decisions and customer relationships

• Living the Kinross Values
  Aligning behavior, decisions, and actions with Kinross values and principles

This description is a general statement of required major duties and responsibilities performed on a regular and continuous basis. It does not exclude other duties as assigned.

Reporting Relationships

Reports to Processing Manager

Language Requirements

English

Compensation Data

Salary Range: $105,000 - $120,000

• Medical, dental, and vision insurance
• 401k with match
• Paid time off
• Stock purchase option
• Basic life insurance

Kinross is a Canadian-based global senior gold mining company with operations and projects in the United States, Brazil, Mauritania, Chile, and Canada. Our focus on delivering value is based on our core principles of responsible mining, operational excellence, disciplined growth and balance sheet strength. Kinross maintains listings on the Toronto Stock Exchange (symbol:K) and the New York Stock Exchange (symbol:KGC).