Senior Environmental Specialist - Red Dog Mine, AK - Rotational

The Senior Environmental Specialist supports work that Kuna is implementing at the Red Dog Mine.

During the Summer and Fall of 2026, the position will provide environmental monitoring and compliance services in support of the road construction at the Red Dog.

In the Fall of 2026 and throughout the Winter of 2026/2027, the position will likely transition to environmental compliance and implementation for water discharge and treatment projects at the Red Dog Mine.

The position is a 2 week on, 2 week off rotation position; based at the Red Dog Mine.

The Senior Environmental Specialist is responsible for environmental monitoring, ensuring adherence to compliance requirements and regulatory commitments. The position will work closely with Teck’s Construction Manager to ensure that the construction crew carries out their duties and responsibilities in accordance with Construction Environmental Monitoring Plan (CEMP).

• The position is responsible for monitoring environmental conditions in the construction area and documenting the efficacy of environmental control measures. If issues are identified, the Position will notify the Red Dog Construction Manager, who will ensure the proper environmental controls are in place, operating properly, and performance is satisfactory.
• The Position is responsible for conducting environmental monitoring as required to meet regulatory requirements.
• Conduct environmental inspections and field compliance activities, and document compliance with the Project’s plans, policies, procedures, and permit requirements, including completion of required inspection records, monitoring data sheets, and reporting forms associated with the Project’s permits and plans, such as the Red Dog permits, Construction Rock Handling Plan, Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plan (SWPPP), Spill Prevention Control and Countermeasure Plan (SPCC), Multi-Sector General Permit, Red Dog Cultural Resource Protection and Monitoring Plan, and Nesting Bird Standard Operating Procedure (SOP).
• Provide quality assurance during construction, including audits, inspections, monitoring, and documenting the performance of the measures, as required to meet regulatory requirements.
• Coordinate between the Red Dog Construction Manager and the construction teams to facilitate communication and quickly resolve conflicts, issues, and challenges relating to environmental concerns that may arise in the field throughout the construction period.
• Inspect environmental field activities conducted by the construction team and report any issues to Red Dog Construction Manager and Red Dog Regulatory Approval Lead.
• Propose and recommend proactive solutions and best management practices for meeting environmental requirements for the Project. The Position shall post environmental compliance documentation to facilitate communication by providing up-to-date information and share inspection documentation with the Red Dog Construction Manager, construction crews, Red Dog Regulatory Approval Lead, and Red Dog SERA Manager.
• Coordinate and review for the Project’s overall construction execution plans for work in and around environmentally sensitive areas (e.g., bridge installations).
• Monitor field activities to ensure the Project remains compliant, as per company and regulatory environmental requirements and standards.
• Identification and communication of potential issues that may result in a non-compliance event and recommendations to resolve the issue will be communicated to the Red Dog Construction Manager.
• Manage the installation of environmental protection measures on an as-required basis through the Project duration to ensure Project activities pose no significant harm to the environment, particularly to wetlands, streams, and cultural resources.
• When engineering, environmental, social, or regulatory information is needed to better understand and manage an issue, engage with construction team and internal Subject Matter Experts (SMEs) for successful delivery of the Project.
• Ensure construction activities comply with permit requirements, environmental commitments, and best management practices
• If activities are in non-compliance or at risk of becoming non-compliant, the Position will notify the Red Dog Construction Manager and provide suggestions to improve conditions.
• The Position has the authority to order the Red Dog Construction Manager to correct poor-performing environmental controls and has stop work authority as necessary to protect environmental resources and ensure regulatory compliance is maintained at all times.

• High School Diploma or GED equivalent.
• Minimum three to five years of experience in construction environmental monitoring and management preferred, in the natural resource sector, preferably in mining or road construction.
• Practical experience in erosion prevention and sediment control for construction projects, and turbidity monitoring and sampling.
• Experience with arctic construction, including ice roads, is desirable.
• Knowledge of applicable regulatory, legal, and other requirements relevant to the assigned responsibilities.
• Working knowledge of arctic wildlife and vegetation management.
• Experience working under US and State of Alaska environmental statutes/regulations/permits.
• Strong technical skills and the practical ability solve problems.
• Ability to work in a team environment and work effectively across all levels of the business with competence to direct the activity of others.
• Knowledge of environmental best management practices and systems, compliance, or auditing preferred.
• Bachelors in the environmental sciences, natural resource management, or related field.

Working Conditions and Physical Requirements

Weather: Indoors/Outdoors – frequent exposure to moderate to harsh weather conditions. Requires most work to be done outside.

Noise level: The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate to loud.

Physical requirements:  Employee is required to occasionally lift and/or move up to 50 lbs. Frequently required to sit, stand, walk, use hands/fingers to handle or feel, climb, stoop, kneel, crouch or crawl, talk/hear, see, taste/smell, and carry weight/lift.

Travel: Employee will travel to remote areas and may be required to use alternative modes of transportation, including but not limited to snow machines, boats, small airplanes and ATVs.

Travel may require an employee or contractor to pass a TSA security checkpoint. If the employee or contractor does not have valid identification, they will not be able to travel until valid identification is obtained and verified.  For this reason all employees and contractors must have valid identification when traveling to and from the work site destination, for a list of TSA approved valid identification visit https://www.tsa.gov/travel/security-screening/identification . 

Competencies

• Professional, highly self-motivated, passionate, energetic, creative and strategic thinker.
• Dedicated to meeting the expectations and requirements of internal and external customers.
• Mines first-hand customer information, using it to determine how to best maximize the opportunity for Kuna and its clients.
• Always acts with customers in mind, knows how to establish and maintain effective relationships with customers/prospects and gains their trust and respect.