Senior Mining Engineer: Lead Mine Planning & Grants Review

Summary

The Senior Mining Engineer serves in a leadership position within the mining engineering functional area, providing expert technical direction and advisory support for the development of solid minerals. This position involves a broad scope of engineering responsibilities, from formulating exploration strategies to preparing detailed mine and reclamation plans. The Senior Mining Engineer will act as a key technical representative for owners/agency in their dealings with mining companies, contractors, and government agencies.

A key function of this role will be the evaluation of grant proposals, such as those under the Energy and Mineral Development Program (EMDP) and monitoring assigned grants throughout their entire lifecycle to support Tribal resource development.

Salary Range: $85,000 - $105,000 Comprehensive federal benefits package available to full-time employees, including health insurance, paid time off, and retirement plan participation.

• Serves as a leadership position within the mining engineer functional category and is responsible for the day-to-day direction of technical work as required by individual work orders.
• Prepares comprehensive resource and reserve estimates for a variety of solid mineral deposits, including metal, coal, industrial minerals, and construction aggregates.
• Develops detailed mine and reclamation plans for undeveloped mineral properties, specifying mining methods, equipment selection, staffing, production rates, and scheduling.
• Conducts economic evaluations of solid mineral projects using methods like discounted cash flow rate of return and makes capital and operating cost estimates for proposed mining operations.
• Acts as a primary mining technical representative, assisting them in dealings with mining companies, contractors, and other government agencies.
• Assists Indian mineral owners with mineral lease contract negotiations and reviews proposed agreements, with particular attention to royalty terms and environmental protection clauses.
• Reviews and evaluates grant proposals from Tribal organizations for mineral assessment and development projects, assessing technical merit, feasibility, and alignment with program goals.
• Monitors assigned grants throughout their full lifecycle, ensuring compliance, tracking project progress, and providing technical assistance to grantees.
• Make presentations on mining fundamentals, regulations, mineral agreement structures, and NEPA requirements.
• May be expected to perform supervisory responsibilities, reporting to the On-Site Lead and Project Manager.

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• Technical Capacity: In-depth knowledge of geology, solid mineral deposits, and resource/reserve estimation methods for various deposit types. Expertise in both open pit and underground mining methods.
• Economic Analysis: Strong experience with making capital and operating cost estimates and performing economic evaluations of mineral projects using discounted cash flow rate of return spreadsheets.
• Project Planning: Proven ability to prepare detailed mine and reclamation plans, including equipment selection, production scheduling, and staffing.
• Software Proficiency: Familiarity with commercial software used for reserve estimation and mine planning. High proficiency with Microsoft Office, particularly Word and Excel.
• Communication & Representation: Excellent presentation skills for communicating complex mining, regulatory, and economic information to diverse audiences, including tribal leaders and federal agencies. Ability to act as a technical representative in negotiations and meetings.
• Leadership and Direction: Ability to provide day-to-day direction of technical work as required by specific work orders.

• Bachelor of Science (B.S.) in Mining Engineering or a closely related field (e.g., Geological Engineering);
  Master’s degree preferred (mining, geotechnical, or mineral economics). FE required; PE strongly preferred (or ability to obtain within 12 months).
• 6-8 years…