Tailings Engineer, Mining - Hybrid

The Opportunity

The Alberta Energy Regulator (AER) is seeking a Tailings Engineer to join its talented team of professionals in the Mining group within the Regulatory Applications Branch. This role provides technical knowledge, leadership and engineering expertise related to the management of tailings streams from oil sands, coal mining and rock hosted mining operation, supporting safe, environmentally responsible resource development throughout the project life cycle.

As a Tailings Engineer, you will review and evaluate applications, reports, and operator performance related to tailings management and treatment. Through collaboration with multidisciplinary technical teams and direct engagement with industry, government partners, and other stakeholders, you will assess risk, communicate findings, and make recommendations aligned with Alberta’s regulatory framework.

This position is recognized within the organization as a specialized engineering role requiring strong knowledge of tailings behavior, regulatory requirements, and risk-based decision-making.

Responsibilities

• Review and assess mining applications, plans, and reports related to tailings management and treatment, in accordance with applicable legislation, policy, and AER directives.
• Provide technical recommendations on tailings facilities, deposition methods, treatment technologies, and long-term performance risks.
• Evaluate operator performance and compliance with approval conditions, including analysis of monitoring data, mass balance information, and performance reporting.
• Apply risk- and science-based review principles to identify and clearly articulate technical and environmental risks to internal decision-makers.
• Collaborate with subject matter experts across AER branches, including Geotechnical, Closure and Reclamation and Regulatory Compliance.
• Participate in hearings, audits, and compliance or assurance activities as a technical subject matter expert, as required.
• Engage professionally with applicants, Indigenous communities, government agencies, and the public, supporting transparent and defensible regulatory decisions.
• Inform and liaise with representatives from industry, AER field staff, the public and government during the application review process including but not limited to regulatory requirements associated with mining developments.
• Work with a diverse network of specialists across industry, academia and government to remain current on emerging issues, identify policy gaps and support policy initiatives with a view towards their practical application to energy sector activities and support the implementation of them into AER core business functions to ensure policy objectives are upheld.
• Represent the AER on external multi-stakeholder forums, working groups and committees, supporting the creation of new AER regulatory frameworks, directives, monitoring requirements and the development of novel approaches to regulation that uphold the integrity of environmental regulations.
• Perform desktop audit activities and approval/license maintenance, including making recommendations on operators’ performance and compliance to application requirements.

Qualifications

• A Bachelor’s Degree in Engineering (Civil, Geological, Mining or related discipline).
• 5+ years of demonstrated experience in tailings management, geotechnical engineering, mining or related technical field.
• Registered professional with Association of Professional Engineers and Geoscientists of Alberta (APEGA) or eligible for professional membership.
• Strong understanding of tailings properties, deposition methods and facility performance.
• Knowledge of Alberta’s regulatory framework and associated legislations and enactments with ability to apply them to vari