Location: Kings Mountain , NC – Lithium Site
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When you join the Albemarle team, you contribute to a better tomorrow. You will play a role in powering many of the world’s largest and most critical industries, from energy and communications to transportation and electronics. We are putting innovation to work to improve people’s lives and we want YOU to be a part of it.
Job Description
Role Summary
Albemarle is looking for an experienced geotechnical engineer to join our Lithium Resources Group to manage current and future lithium resource projects.
The Manager Geotechnical Governance will manage project, operational and corporate stakeholders with geotechnical expertise to ensure the success of Albemarle’s global lithium business. The primary responsibilities of the role will include developing best in class governance systems for existing and new tailings across Albemarle’s global lithium assets. Given the pace of growth and investment, the Group Manager Geotechnical Governance will operate with skill and flexibility across various technical support and project responsibilities.
This position is part of the lithium resources organization reporting to the Mine Environmental & Approvals Manager. The position is based at our Kings Mountain office located near Charlotte, North Carolina. Regular international travel will be required within the USA, Australia, Chile and other (4-8 weeks/year).
Essential Functions
- Provide subject matter expert support regarding geotechnical governance across new Albemarle projects, existing operations, and joint venture operations/projects.
- Lead the establishment of a best-in-class tailings and geotechnical governance culture for all Albemarle owned sites. Support and lead the continuous improvement of tailings and geotechnical governance programs at joint venture operations and projects.
- Manage site characterization programs for tailings, mine waste facilities, and pits to ensure data collection and monitoring programs align with regulatory expectations and industry best practice.
- Manage the scoping, planning and execution of all geotechnical designs for new development projects. This includes technical assessments related to tailings, waste rock, water dams, and open pit designs.
- Lead the establishment of contracts and external consultant relationships to support tailings review structure including Engineers of Record and Independent Tailings Review Boards (where required).
- Collaborate and provide subject matter expert knowledge within the larger lithium resources group to ensure mine development projects align with industry best practice.
- Manage the preparation of budget estimates related to technical assessments, studies, and permitting.
- Lead the development of internal policy and standards related geotechnical design, risk assessment, and governance.
Competencies
- Action oriented with the ability to multi-task, prioritize, and be self-directed.
- Ability to think critically and strategically.
- Ability to distill complexity and assess technical risk.
- Strong project and technical acumen
- Strong problem solving and analysis skills.
- Ability to communicate effectively.
- Team player with the ability to proactively engage and collaborate.
- Ability to influence across different functions.
Required Education and Experience
- Minimum: Bachelor’s degree in engineering (geotechnical, civil, water resources).
- 10 to 15+ years of experience with geotechnical investigations, modeling and design in the mining industry.
- Experience developing tailings and geotechnical governance systems as per requirements of various international guidelines and the Global Industry Standard on Tailings Management (GISTM). This is to include, but not limited to:
- Execution of dam safety reviews,
- Development of comprehensive knowledge databases for storing critical design, inspection, and management documentation,
- Completion of thorough technical geotechnical risk assessments including:
- Liquefaction screening and analysis,
- Static and pseudo static stability assessments,
- Dam breach and inundation studies,
- Tailings runout assessments,
- Failure Modes and Effects Analysis,
- Development of Tailings Management Systems (TMS) including, but not limited to:
- Development of detailed Operational, Maintenance and Surveillance Manuals (OMS),
- Development of Trigger Action and Response Plans (TARPs),
- Implementation of management of change programs,
- Development, implementation, and testing of emergency response plans,
- Leading auditing programs to test and provide continuous improvement of tailings governance systems.
- Proven work experience leading Engineers of Record (EORs) and Independent Tailings Review Boards (ITRBs).
- Proven working knowledge on the following best practice guidelines:
- Global Industry Standard on Tailings Management (GISTM)
- Canadian Dam Association (CDA) Dam Safety Guidelines
- Australian National Committee of Large Dams (ANCOLD) Dam Safety Guidelines
- Canadian Mining Association (MAC) guidelines on sustainable tailings governance.
- Other tailings geotechnical related initiatives from the International Council on Mining & Metals (ICMM) and the Initiative for Responsible Mining Assurance (IRMA)
- Experience leading prefeasibility, feasibility and detailed design studies for mine development projects – focus on geotechnical investigations, tailings design and risk assessment, waste rock and pit design. Experience in some (or all) of the following would be considered an asset:
- Options assessments for waste rock dumps, tailings, and other supporting infrastructure,
- Climate change impacts assessments (flood modeling, dewatering assessments, resiliency planning, etc.)
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