Lead Geochemist (Senior)

Start:
ASAP

Overview:

We’re looking for a Lead Geochemist to support our group’s expanding involvement in mine water and mine waste management projects across Canada. Travel to both local and remote sites in Canada may be required to satisfy project requirements

About Us:

Palmer is a privately owned firm with offices in Vancouver, Toronto, Bracebridge, and Whitehorse, servicing clients throughout Canada. Palmer was founded in 2010 to provide project direction and technical scientific services to support the environmental assessment and permitting process associated with mining, energy, municipal infrastructure, and land development projects. Palmer is an innovative and vibrant company that has assembled a versatile team of dedicated staff.

What You’re Responsible For:

Practice Leader

• As a discipline lead, establish a consulting practice at Palmer in the field of mineral and aqueous geochemistry, with specific focus on mine water and mine waste management.
• Assist with the growth of a geochemistry team that will support Palmer’s Water Resources, Hydrogeology, and Water Quality teams.
• Support projects for new and existing mining clients in baseline studies, permitting, operations, closure, and reclamation.
• Bring scientific and technical expertise to Palmer, including a proven understanding of relevant regulations and legislation, leadership skills, business acumen, an entrepreneurial spirit, along with a keen interest in growing and evolving business.
• Demonstrate experience with project management, project delivery and client communication.
• Demonstrate a desire to initiate projects and pursue new opportunities.

Geochemistry

Demonstrate a strong understanding of:

• Mineralogy, geology, and geochemistry.
• Knowledge of mine waste characterization and stability assessment.
• Acid rock drainage and metal leaching (ARD/ML) prediction and management.
• Applicable legislation in BC, ON, and elsewhere in Canada.

 Demonstrate experience with:

• Geochemical source term derivation for mine waste.
• Geochemical sampling design, water and rock sample collection, and analytical methods for mine waste geochemical analysis.
• Data manipulation and database management skills (in Excel or another database software).
• Mine environmental management, permitting and closure planning.
• Constructing and maintaining mine site load balance models.

What We’re Looking For:

Required:

• An M.Sc. (minimum) or Ph.D., with a focus in geology, geochemistry, environmental science, or geological engineering.
• A registered P.Geo., or ability to become licensed within six months of starting.
• Prior experience (at least 7 – 10 years) working in environmental or engineering consulting, with exposure to mining projects and mine waste characterization.
• Ability to work within an integrated team of water resources engineers, hydrologist, hydrogeologists, and ecologists.
• Strong technical writing and oral communication skills, including client, stakeholder and/or First Nations engagement.
• Prior experience with relevant industry software (e.g., PHREEQC, Geochemist’s Workbench, GoldSim) and common consulting software (MS Office Suite, Google Workspace, etc.).
• Ability to work independently and make decisions based on sound professional judgement, as needed (field and office).

• Experience with EQWIN and/or EquIS.
• Experience with GIS software, e.g., ArcGIS or QGIS (preferred).
• An understanding of reactive transport modelling (1D) and redox geochemistry.
• Field experience at operational mine sites and/or knowledge of mine water management objectives.
• Familiarity with Mine Operations, Maintenance, Surveillance (OMS) reporting.
• Knowledge of common statistical techniques used for environmental data analysis.

At Palmer, we are committed to providing an environment of mutual respect where equitable employment opportunities are available to all applicants. We believe that diversity and inclusion among our team is critical to our success, and we seek to recruit, develop, and retain talented people from a diverse candidate pool. Our application process aims to reduce bias by using a questionnaire to assess key skills. All demographic details commonly found in CVs are kept separate until candidates are chosen for an interview. 

In addition, appropriate accommodations will be provided upon request throughout the recruitment and hiring process as required by Company policy and the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA).