Vale

Head, Geotech Minin

Vale  •  Canada (Hybrid)  •  4 hours ago
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Job Description

Who We Are

We are Vale Base Metals – a global supplier of the critical minerals transforming the future.

With industry-leading reserves of copper and nickel in Canada, Brazil, and Indonesia, and state-of-the-art infrastructure in the U.K., Canada, and Japan, VBM delivers a secure and responsible supply of high-quality products to customers across Europe, the Americas, and Asia.

Global demand for critical minerals is growing exponentially. From energy to aerospace, batteries to magnets, robotics to artificial intelligence, a secure and responsible supply of critical minerals is fundamental to power modern technologies. And at Vale Base Metals, we are transforming our business to provide a secure and responsible supply of these minerals.

Join our diverse team of 13,000 talented individuals committed to providing mineral security to a world in transition. We invite you to put your skills to work, driving meaningful and enduring change while enjoying a rewarding career.

The Opportunity

We are currently seeking a Head of Mining Geotech to join our Chief Technical Office (CTO) team in Toronto, Ontario. This is a permanent hybrid position and an existing position vacancy.


As the Head of Mining Geotech, you will serve as Vale Base Metals' global technical authority for mining geotechnics, providing strategic leadership, governance, assurance, and risk stewardship across our operating assets, projects, and future growth opportunities. This highly visible role will shape the global geotechnical management framework for the business, ensuring that open pit, underground, and non-dam geotechnical risks are identified, understood, controlled, and continuously improved in alignment with our safety, sustainability, and operational excellence commitments.


Working closely with Base Metals senior leaders, operations, project teams, technical specialists, and external qualified professionals, you will lead the development and implementation of corporate geotechnical policies, standards, review processes, and assurance programs. You will influence life-of-mine planning, FEL studies, major capital decisions, due diligence activities, and the adoption of industry-leading practices that reduce exposure to critical geotechnical risks while strengthening the performance and resilience of our global mining portfolio.


This is an opportunity to lead at enterprise scale - connecting technical excellence with business strategy, risk management, governance, and people leadership. Your work will directly support Vale Base Metals' commitment to Life Matters Most and responsible mining by helping our operations and projects make sound, risk-informed decisions that protect people, communities, assets, and the environment.

Additionally, in this position you will:

  • Lead the design, implementation, governance, and continuous improvement of the global Geotechnical Management Plan, Ground Control Management Plan, and related policies, standards, and frameworks for Vale Base Metals operations and projects.
  • Act as the second line of defense for geotechnical risks by providing independent assurance, technical governance, risk challenge, and strategic guidance to senior leadership, operations, and project teams.
  • Provide corporate technical authority and stewardship across open pit, underground, slope stability, ground control, geomechanics, drill and blast, backfill, and other non-dam geotechnical matters.
  • Establish, manage, and improve geotechnical assurance routines, including Geotechnical Review Boards, audits, independent reviews, critical control verification, performance evaluations, risk monitoring, and action tracking.
  • Partner with operations and project teams to review geotechnical inputs, performance reports, risk assessments, management plans, emergency preparedness plans, and technical documentation to ensure appropriate standards of care and governance are applied.
  • Influence life-of-mine planning, FEL 1/2/3 studies, capital projects, and due diligence activities by identifying geotechnical risks, evaluating controls, reviewing assumptions, and recommending practical mitigation strategies.
  • Develop and maintain a roster of qualified professionals, independent reviewers, consultants, and specialized geotechnical experts to support the business with fit-for-purpose technical capability.
  • Build and lead a global network of geotechnical professionals across Base Metals, creating work management routines that identify priorities, allocate resources, share leading practices, and deliver continuous improvement opportunities.
  • Lead or support investigations into significant geotechnical incidents, ensuring disciplined root cause analysis, lessons learned, corrective actions, and effective communication across the business.
  • Remain connected to emerging technologies, regulatory developments, industry practices, and incident learnings to ensure Vale Base Metals continues to evolve its geotechnical standards, systems, and risk management practices.

What We Offer You

  • Competitive compensation including a variable annual incentive plan
  • Participation in a competitive Defined Contribution Pension package
  • Comprehensive benefits package (company paid core coverage, flex health and dental coverage, flex accounts, disability plans and optional insurances)
  • Leave for all of life’s reasons (vacation, personal, sick, parental)
  • Work culture dedicated to safety, diversity & inclusion, and career growth
  • Employee Family Assistance Program
  • Virtual Healthcare online
  • Online training and career development opportunities
  • Relocation Assistance

About You:

Education:

  • Undergraduate degree in Civil Engineering, Geotechnical Engineering, Environmental Engineering, Mining Engineering, or a related engineering discipline.
  • Professional Engineer (P.Eng.) designation is preferred.

Experience:

  • Minimum of 15 years of progressive experience in mining geotechnical engineering, geomechanics, ground control, open pit or underground mining, or related technical leadership roles.
  • Demonstrated experience leading geotechnical governance, assurance, risk management, standards, audits, independent reviews, or technical programs at a corporate, multi-site, or global scale.
  • Experience supporting operations, life-of-mine planning, capital projects, FEL studies, and/or due diligence activities is strongly preferred.

Skills:

  • Deep technical knowledge of geotechnical engineering practices, ground control management, slope stability, underground geotechnics, risk assessment, critical controls, and assurance processes.
  • Strong leadership capability with the ability to influence senior leaders, technical teams, operations, consultants, and external stakeholders in a complex, global environment.
  • Excellent business judgment and risk management skills, with the ability to translate technical information into clear recommendations and practical business decisions.
  • Strong written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to prepare concise technical reports, executive-level materials, standards, procedures, and governance documentation.
  • A collaborative leadership style, strong coaching capability, and an established industry network are considered assets.

Why Toronto

Vale Base Metals' Toronto office serves as a pivotal hub for the company's operations. This office is central to Vale Base Metals’ finance, strategic planning, commercial (marketing and sales), and sustainability teams, driving key initiatives that support the company's global mission. Toronto’s vibrant, diverse, and dynamic environment enhances Vale Base Metals’ ability to innovate and excel in these critical areas, reflecting the city's status as a leading international business center.

Include to Transform

At Vale Base Metals, we are committed to ensuring an inclusive work environment where people can act like owners, being their authentic selves and empowering them to deliver results. Vale Base Metals encourages everyone to express their ideas and opinions and values the plurality of individual profiles. We want our people to feel that all voices are heard, all cultures respected and that a variety of perspectives are not only welcome – they are critical to our success. We treat each other fairly and with dignity regardless of race, gender, nationality, ethnic origin, religion, age, sexual orientation, or any other personal consideration that makes us different.

Vale is an equal opportunity employer seeking to increase diversity across our operations and improve equal opportunity at Vale and in the mining industry.

Employees engaged by the Company must be lawfully able to work for the Company in the country where the role is located. The Company does not provide immigration, work permit, or permanent residence sponsorship or assistance.

Vale uses artificial intelligence to screen, assess, and/or select applicants for this position.

Vale

About Vale

We are a global mining company producing iron ore, pellets, and nickel, and we are committed to becoming one of the safest, most trustworthy mining company in the world. With a workforce of 120,000 employees, we work every day to transform natural resources into prosperity and sustainable development for the approximately 30 countries in which we operate.

In addition to mining, we have operations in logistics, energy, and steelmaking. We self-generate 54% of the energy we use, and in Brazil alone, more than 1 million people travel on our passenger trains on the Vitória-Minas and Carajás railroads every year.

We continuously reassert our commitment to the future of our planet by, among other initiatives, protecting 8,500 km² of natural land and investing in R&D to lead the sustainable mining revolution, with the ultimate goal of becoming a carbon-neutral company by 2050.

We are constantly evolving, always aiming to be a diverse and inclusive company. We are pursuing a goal of doubling our female workforce by 2030 and increasing representation among our leadership. Our activities are governed by a policy of transparency, safety and security, ethics, and respect in order to protect the environment and encourage the development of our employees.

We are Vale.

Industry
Oil, Gas & Mining
Company Size
10,000+ employees
Headquarters
Rio de Janeiro, BR
Year Founded
Unknown
Website
vale.com
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