Water Resources Modeller; GoldSim Specialist

Location

Johannesburg, South Africa

Immediately

Piteau Associates, a Tetra Tech company, is a world-renowned consulting firm that offers a full range of geotechnical, hydrogeological, and mine water management investigation and design services to the resource industry. With more than 45 years of service, the company currently has over 150 employees in 11 offices in Canada, USA, Peru, Chile, UK, and South Africa. With a strong dedication to quality and maintaining long‑term relationships with our clients, we are one of the top mining geotechnical and hydrogeology consulting firms specializing in the design of deep open‑pit mines worldwide.

Piteau Associates is going through an exciting phase of growth with the addition of more than 50 employees in our Geotechnical and Water Management groups in the last few years. To keep up with this growth, we are expanding our geotechnical group capabilities with highly respected industry leaders in our operations.

• Technical Knowledge:
  Well‑developed understanding of hydrology, hydraulics, water quality, and geochemical modelling principles.
• Software Proficiency:
  Expertise in Gold Sim, with knowledge of other relevant software such as HEC‑HMS, HEC‑RAS, FLO‑2D, ArcGIS, or PHREEQC considered a plus.
• Analytical
  
  Skills:
  
  Strong ability to analyze and model complex systems, manage and interpret large datasets, and perform risk analyses using probabilistic methods (e.g., Monte Carlo simulation).
• Communication:
  Superior verbal and written communication skills for technical report writing, developing presentations, and explaining complex models to non‑technical stakeholders and clients.
• Project Management:
  Ability to manage time and resources effectively to meet project schedules and budgets, including guiding and mentoring junior staff.

• Develop and maintain site‑wide and catchment‑scale water balance models using Gold Sim for various stages of the mining life cycle (permitting, operations, and closure).
• Conduct surface water‑related technical analyses and modelling, including climatic, hydrologic, and hydraulic evaluations.
• Collaborate with multidisciplinary teams (geochemists, geologists, process engineers) to integrate data and ensure comprehensive and accurate models.
• Predict future mine behaviour (e.g., water surplus/deficit, freeboard in tailings facilities) to support strategic planning, operational optimization, and decision‑making.
• Prepare technical reports and documentation for internal use, clients, and regulatory submissions.
• Direct, oversee, and review technical analyses and calculations performed by less experienced staff.
• Occasional travel to mine sites for fieldwork, data collection, and client meetings may be required.

• Surface water and site‑wide water balance investigations to support mining project EIA’s or scoping, PFS and FS level studies.
• Design and construction of analytical water balance models, preferably using Gold Sim, for open‑pit and underground mines and associated mine facilities.
• Coupled physical water balance and chemical mass balance modelling.
• Demonstrated experience with industry‑standard water balance and mass balance modelling software, with proficiency in Gold Sim required.
• Experience in the application of geospatial databases, statistical analysis, and advanced programming is an asset.
• Experience with regulatory frameworks and environmental assessments in the mining industry required.

• BSc (Hons) (MSc level preferred) in Civil Engineering, Earth Sciences, Chemistry, Hydrology, Hydrogeology or a closely related field.
• Practical experience in minerals sector consulting in hydrogeology, mine hydrology and water balance modelling (minimum 5 years for Intermediate candidates; minimum 10 years for Senior candidates).
• Professional registration would be beneficial.
• Strong organizational and team skills and project management experience.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills in English, with ability to prepare, review and edit reports and other client deliverables. Fluency in Spanish and/or French would be highly…