Environmental & Community Relations Manager

Environmental & Community Relations Manager

The Environmental and Community Relations Manager will be responsible for leading the environmental compliance, permitting, community relations, and stakeholder engagement activities for the Company's operations. This position oversees federal, state, and local environmental permitting; coordinates environmental studies and regulatory compliance; and serves as the primary liaison with regulatory agencies, Tribal Nations, local communities, and other stakeholders. The role partners closely with corporate leadership, consultants, and technical teams to advance project development while ensuring responsible environmental stewardship and alignment with the Company's sustainability objectives.

Role-Specific Accountabilities

Regulatory Compliance & Permitting

• Lead the preparation, submission, and maintenance of all required environmental permits under federal (NEPA, Clean Water Act, Clean Air Act, Endangered Species Act) and other state regulations.
• Develop strategies for timely and efficient permitting and compliance tracking for all site operations.
• Serve as the primary point of contact with federal and state environmental agencies.
• Maintain an integrated environmental permitting and compliance tracking system to ensure all regulatory requirements, reporting deadlines, permit conditions, and agency commitments are met.
• Monitor changes in environmental regulations and proactively recommend operational or permitting adjustments to maintain compliance.

Environmental Management

• Implement and maintain environmental management systems (EMS) that ensure operational compliance with air, water, waste, and reclamation standards.
• Conduct environmental risk assessments and audits and lead corrective action processes.
• Oversee data collection, environmental monitoring, and reporting requirements.
• Lead and coordinate the development of NEPA and associated baseline studies to support project approvals and permitting. Ensure documentation meets NEPA and state standards, integrating technical studies on hydrology, air quality, biodiversity, and cultural heritage.
• Work collaboratively with multidisciplinary teamsincluding consultants, engineers, and scientiststo evaluate project alternatives and develop mitigation measures addressing potential environmental impacts.
• Oversee the management of external consultants in terms of budgets and timelines.
• Develop environmental policies, procedures, and standards consistent with corporate objectives.
• Review engineering designs and project plans to ensure environmental requirements are incorporated during project development.

Community & Stakeholder Engagement

• Act as the community liaison for environmental and permitting issuesmaintaining open, transparent communication with local communities, tribal entities, and other stakeholders.
• Support public meetings, community consultations, and environmental education initiatives.
• Represent the company in environmental and sustainability forums.
• Lead the public disclosure and consultation components of the permitting process, ensuring stakeholder feedback is incorporated into project design and permitting documentation.
• Develop and implement the Company's community relations strategy.
• Build and maintain trusted relationships with local government, Tribal Nations, community organizations, landowners, and other key stakeholders.

Leadership

Provide leadership and direction to environmental consultants, contractors, and future environmental staff.

Establish project priorities, budgets, schedules, and performance expectations.

Foster a culture of environmental stewardship, collaboration, and continuous improvement.

Sustainability & Continuous Improvement

• Collaborate with corporate sustainability and operations teams to develop and implement sustainability initiatives.
• Identify opportunities to reduce environmental footprint and enhance resource efficiency.
• Integrate sustainability and environmental management strategies, ensuring continuous improvement beyond regulatory compliance.
• Support preparation of environmental and sustainability metrics, reports, and disclosures for corporate leadership and investors.

Qualifications & Requirements:

Preferred Attributes

• Bachelor's degree (or higher) in Environmental Science, Engineering, Geology, or a related field.
• Minimum 10 years of environmental management experience, preferably in the mining or natural resources sector.
• Demonstrated expertise in federal and state permitting processes and compliance frameworks.
• Proven experience managing Environmental Impact Assessments, Environmental Assessments, and associated environmental review processes, including technical scoping, baseline data collection, public consultation, and preparation of final reports.
• Experience serving as a community or regulatory liaison, with strong communication and relationship-building skills.
• Knowledge of NEPA, Clean Water Act Section 404, Clean Air Act Title V, ESA Section 7, and related regulatory frameworks.
• Proven leadership, project management, and stakeholder engagement skills.
• Familiarity with Southwestern U.S. environmental and cultural landscapes.
• Experience with mine closure planning and reclamation.
• Certification or training in ISO 14001 or similar environmental management systems.

Skills & Abilities:

Strong leadership and strategic planning abilities

Exceptional interpersonal and relationship-building skills

Excellent verbal, written, technical writing, and presentation skills

Ability to influence all levels of the organization

Ability to take initiative and work independently