Manager, Regulatory & Permitting Vancouver, BC, Canada
Number of Positions: 1
Grow your career with Walter Energy! We are looking for a Manager, Regulatory & Permitting to join our Vancouver team. We offer great benefits, RRSP matching, an employee share purchase plan, as well as training and development.
Walter Energy is the leading global, publicly traded, “pure-play” metallurgical coal producer. Our operations in the U.S., North East British Columbia, Canada, and Wales provide us unique distribution opportunities, enhancing our ability to expand our existing markets. As part of our continued growth strategy we will increase production from our operations meet continued demands for our product. Our organization has a commitment to health, safety and the environment and we believe in mining coal with a view to maximizing shareholder value while respecting the interests of our stakeholders.
Join us and build a challenging and rewarding career in a growth focussed global organization that fosters safety, empowerment, learning and improvement.
Reporting to the Director, Environmental Affairs, the Manager, Regulatory and Permitting will play a key role in developing and executing the Environmental & Regulatory programs associated with capital projects. The position will scope and manage environmental studies, regulatory liaison, mitigation planning, and impact assessments to support all stages of project planning for new mines, mine expansions, and related infrastructure projects from property acquisition and exploration, through Environmental Assessment, permitting, construction, and transition to operations. The objective is to achieve timely regulatory approvals while building foundations for projects that will further the company’s objectives to be a developer of choice and a leader in environmental stewardship.
Accountabilities:
• Manage environmental and regulatory aspects of permitting for capital projects and support operational permitting as required. Focus on Canadian Division.
• Environmental Permitting Process Owner for designated projects/permits (variable, depending on number of active projects and permits).
• Develop and implement company processes, leading practices, and procedures for environmental studies and regulatory approvals for projects that will position the company as developer of choice.
• Work closely with Walter Energy First Nations Environmental Round Table throughout all aspects of technical work related to permitting processes/requirements, including implementation of permit conditions with the Director, Environmental Affairs for Canadian operations.
• Support the Manager, Water Quality in identifying and evaluating appropriate treatment technologies and managements practices – for Selenium management and other discharge or leachates
• Assist environmental team with other functions, which may include environmental programs, EMS development, internal or external communications, training, work on global projects, or other functions as assigned.
• Maintain a rigorous and detailed approach to scoping and review of environmental studies and management plans.
• Define and scope project environmental issues and develop studies/processes to assess, resolve, or manage them to meet shareholder and stakeholder interests.
• Manage environmental and regulatory programs over the project life cycle to bring internal and external resources to bear at the optimum stage.
• Respond effectively to new information and changing project parameters to keep projects on track.
• Work with BC Operations staff to build knowledge and support for project plans, and to support smooth transition to construction and operations.
• Work with the Manager, Community Relations to strengthen stakeholder engagement programs.
• Build positive community stakeholder relationships.
• Contribute to strong, networked relationships with regulatory agencies.
• Build strong working relationships with consultants of choice.
• Contribute to projects teams’ capability in mine design and permitting by demonstrating strong environmental stewardship and effective stakeholder engagement.
• Build environmental assessment and planning capabilities in site Environmental Professionals.
Required:
• Demonstrated ability to successfully permit major projects through sound environmental planning and successful stakeholder engagement.
• Demonstrated skill to constructively scope work requirements, guide environmental studies, evaluate adequacy of reports from diverse specialists, and integrate study components into cohesive and professional applications.
• Experience in managing multi-disciplinary environmental teams and working with engineering and operational staff to meet corporate, regulatory and stakeholder requirements, and achieve timely regulatory approvals.
• Experience in environmental management aspects of mine construction and operation is a major asset.
• Experience in developing or implementing corporate processes related to environmental aspects of permitting is an asset.
• Experience in working with First Nations on Traditional Environmental Knowledge studies, Traditional Land Use, reclamation planning, or First Nations partnership projects in environmental stewardship is an asset
• Facility with Word, Excel, PowerPoint, SharePoint and Project Management software tools.
• Minimum B. Sc. supplemented by 10 years of directly related environmental management and permitting experience in mining operations, with geo-political dimensions such as First Nations Governance, Land Claims and related Environmental Authorities and management processes.
• Strong, broad-based technical background in mining and environment, e.g. impact assessment, risk management, water management/water treatment, reclamation, aquatic resources/ toxicology, mine operations.
• Knowledge of regulatory processes in mining.