{"id":3537572,"url":"https://alion.io/job/slr-consulting-principal-geochemist","title":"Principal Geochemist","company":{"id":1799629,"name":"SLR Consulting","domain":"slrconsulting.com","url":"https://alion.io/company/slrconsulting","size_band":"5000+","is_staffing_agency":false,"employer_type":"direct","is_intermediary":false,"listed_via":null,"ats_vendor":"Workday","truth_index":{"grade":"B","score":78,"open_postings":30,"ghost_share":0,"stale_share":0.867,"repost_share":0,"time_to_fill_p50_days":43,"computed_at":"2026-11-06T05:58:05Z"}},"role":"Science & Research","role_family":"Science & Research","seniority":"lead","employment_type":"full_time","work_mode":"hybrid","remote_scope":null,"remote_scope_basis":null,"remote_working_hours":null,"hiring_geo_confidence":"structured","locations":["Bristol, United Kingdom","London, United Kingdom","Nottingham, United Kingdom","Dublin, Ireland","Birmingham, United Kingdom","Edinburgh, United Kingdom","United Kingdom"],"countries":["GB","IE"],"hiring_countries":[],"hiring_countries_total":0,"salary":null,"salary_estimate":{"min_usd":45000,"max_usd":91000,"period":"year","method":"role_seniority_country_remote_cell","sample_n":29},"experience_years_min":null,"visa_sponsorship":false,"relocation_package":false,"has_equity":false,"technologies":[],"status":"live","first_seen_at":"2026-10-30T18:09:23Z","employer_posted_date":"2026-10-30","last_verified_at":"2026-11-06T17:00:19Z","board_verified":true,"closed_at":null,"days_open":7,"trust":{"level":"ok","repost_count":null,"flags":[],"days_open":7},"description":"SLR is a global leader in sustainability solutions, helping clients tackle some of the world's most complex environmental and sustainability challenges. With over 5,000 employees operating across more than 125 countries, we combine global reach with local expertise, delivering innovative and practical solutions through a collaborative, people-first culture.\nAs part of our continued growth, SLR's busy Mine Water team is seeking an experienced Principal Geochemist to join our expanding European Geochemistry team and support a growing portfolio of work, predominantly within the mining sector.\nThis role will provide technical leadership across a diverse range of mining projects, with a particular focus on mine waste and tailings geochemistry, acid rock drainage and metal leaching (ARD/ML), mine water quality, predictive geochemical modelling and mine closure. Acting as one of the team's senior technical practitioners, you will lead complex studies, provide technical oversight and mentor developing geochemists while collaborating closely with multidisciplinary specialists across hydrogeology, hydrology, water treatment, mining, tailings, waste management, environmental assessment and closure disciplines.\nThis is an excellent opportunity for an established geochemist to shape technical approaches, influence project outcomes, strengthen client relationships and contribute to the continued growth, technical development and reputation of SLR's geochemistry practice.\nThe role can be based from any of SLR's UK offices, with flexible, agile and hybrid working options available. Occasional international travel will form part of the role.\nThe Role\nAs a Principal Geochemist, you will provide technical leadership across a broad range of mining projects throughout the mine lifecycle while supporting the development of both clients and colleagues.\nKey responsibilities will include:\nLeading the technical delivery of complex geochemistry studies across the mining lifecycle, including Scoping Studies, Pre-Feasibility Studies (PFS), Feasibility Studies (FS), Environmental and Social Impact Assessments (ESIA), operational support and mine closure planning.\nProviding senior technical direction for mine waste and tailings geochemical characterisation programmes, including sample selection and the design of static, kinetic, leach and mineralogical testing programmes.\nLeading the interpretation of complex geochemical datasets and undertaking robust assessments of ARD/ML, salinity, constituent mobilisation and long-term water quality risks.\nDeveloping practical geochemical management and mitigation strategies for waste rock, tailings, stockpiles, pit walls and other mine materials.\nDeveloping and reviewing geochemical source terms and water quality predictions to support mine water management, groundwater studies, water balances, closure planning and permitting requirements.\nUndertaking and overseeing advanced geochemical modelling using PHREEQC.\nProviding specialist technical input to mine closure studies, including pit lakes, flooded mine workings, seepage quality assessments, mine water treatment requirements and post-closure monitoring programmes.\nIntegrating geochemistry with mine waste, tailings, hydrogeology, hydrology, mine water and closure engineering studies to deliver practical, risk-based recommendations.\nActing as a technical reviewer and quality assurance lead for geochemistry deliverables.\nLeading technical investigations, field programmes, sampling campaigns and laboratory testing strategies where required.\nManaging project scopes, programmes, budgets, resources, laboratories and subcontractors.\nSupporting proposal development, project planning, client engagement and business development initiatives.\nBuilding and maintaining strong client relationships and identifying opportunities to expand geochemistry services across existing and new projects.\nMentoring and developing Senior, Project and Graduate Geochemists.\nContributing to technical standards, methodologies, data management approaches and modelling capabilities across the team.\nSupporting industry engagement activities, including technical papers, conference presentations and professional guidance documents.\nRewards & Benefits\nWe recognise that our people are our greatest asset and are committed to supporting their professional and personal wellbeing through a comprehensive benefits package, including:\nCompetitive salary.\nCompany pension scheme.\nPrivate healthcare and wellbeing support.\nTravel and life insurance.\nStructured career development and progression opportunities.\nRegular performance and career development reviews.\n25 days annual leave plus flexible bank holidays.\nHybrid, agile and flexible working arrangements.\nFamily-friendly policies that support work-life balance.\nOpportunities to work on internationally significant mining and mine closure projects.\nAccess to industry-leading specialists across a range of environmental, engineering and sustainability disciplines.\nAbout You\nWe're looking for an experienced and highly regarded geochemist who combines technical excellence with commercial awareness, leadership skills and a collaborative approach.\nYou will ideally have:\nA BSc or MSc in Geochemistry, Geology, Environmental Geoscience, Earth Sciences or a related discipline.\nA relevant PhD, which would be advantageous but is not essential.\nConsiderable professional experience within mining, environmental consultancy or a closely related sector.\nExtensive experience in mining geochemistry, including mine waste characterisation, ARD/ML assessments and long-term prediction of mine waste behaviour.\nAdvanced understanding of contaminant release mechanisms, constituent transport processes and the geochemical evolution of mine wastes.\nExperience designing and managing hydrogeochemical sampling and laboratory testing programmes, including static, kinetic, leach and mineralogical testing.\nExperience acting as a trusted technical advisor to clients and multidisciplinary project teams.\nSignificant experience developing geochemical source terms and predicting mine water quality under both operational and closure scenarios.\nDemonstrable expertise in advanced geochemical modelling using PHREEQC and/or Geochemist's Workbench.\nAn understanding of how geochemistry integrates with hydrology, hydrogeology, mine water treatment, tailings engineering, mine waste management, mine planning and mine closure.\nExperience delivering geochemical inputs to multidisciplinary studies, including PFS, FS, ESIA, permitting and closure projects.\nThe ability to independently lead complex technical workstreams and provide oversight on high-profile projects.\nExcellent technical writing, report preparation and communication skills.\nExperience mentoring, reviewing and developing junior and mid-level geochemists.\nStrong commercial awareness with experience contributing to proposals, project planning and client relationship management.\nEvidence of recognised technical expertise through publications, conference presentations, industry engagement or other professional activities.\nExperience applying the UK/EU Waste Directive, with knowledge of Hazardous Waste Classification, Groundwater Directive requirements and Environmental Quality Standards considered advantageous.\nChartered status with a relevant professional institution, or a clear pathway towards achieving chartership.\nA full UK driving licence.\nAbove all, you'll be a collaborative and pragmatic professional who enjoys solving complex environmental challenges and delivering technically robust, risk-based recommendations that influence project design and decision-making.\nCulture & Inclusion\nAt SLR, we are committed to creating an inclusive environment where everyone feels valued, respected and able to thrive. Through our Culture & Inclusion Committees, Global Council and Employee Networks, we foster a workplace that celebrates diversity and encourages different perspectives.\nWe welcome applications from all backgrounds and particularly encourage applications from groups currently under-represented within our industry. We believe that diverse teams create stronger solutions for our clients, colleagues and communities.\nAs a Disability Confident Committed employer, we are committed to providing equitable support throughout the recruitment process. If you require any adjustments at any stage of your application, please let us know.\nJoin Our Team\nIf you're an established geochemist looking for the opportunity to influence major international mining projects, provide technical leadership and help shape the future growth of a highly regarded geochemistry practice, we'd love to hear from you.\nApply today and help us make sustainability happen.","description_format":"text","description_chars":8765,"description_truncated":false,"requirements":{"experience_years_min":null,"management_years_min":null,"team_size_min":null,"manages_managers":false,"education":{"level":"bachelor","optional":false},"security_clearance":false,"languages":[]},"benefits":["Annual leave","Flexible schedule","Hybrid work","Life insurance"],"hiring_locations":[{"name":"United Kingdom","iso":"GB","kind":"country"}],"hiring_excludes":[],"relocation_offered":false,"industries":["Environmental Science","Management Consulting","Engineering Services"],"lifecycle":[{"event":"open","at":"2026-10-30T18:09:23Z"}],"visa":[{"country":"GB","licensed_sponsor":true,"evidence":"Licensed UK visa sponsor (Senior or Specialist Worker, Skilled Worker)","filings_12m":null,"filings_prev_12m":null,"green_card_filings_12m":null,"median_offered_wage_usd":null,"route":"Global Business Mobility: Senior or Specialist Worker; Skilled Worker","cap_exempt":false,"checked_at":"2026-11-06T06:20:25+00:00","sources":["UK Home Office: register of licensed sponsors (workers)"],"filings_for_role_12m":0}],"liveness":{"score":63,"band":"ok","label":"Likely open","p_open":1,"p_active":0.632,"p_room":1,"age_days":6,"expected_fill_days":43,"reasons":["conf:3","stale_co","velocity","win:early","comp:brand"],"computed_at":"2026-11-06T05:58:05Z"},"pay":null,"html_url":"https://alion.io/job/slr-consulting-principal-geochemist","json_url":"https://alion.io/job/slr-consulting-principal-geochemist.json","meta":{"generated_at":"2026-11-06T19:22:38Z","cache_seconds":300,"methodology":"https://alion.io/methodology","terms":"https://alion.io/terms","contact":"https://alion.io/contact","api":"https://alion.io/developers","about":"Alion is a live layer of people, companies and AI agents: who they are, whether they are real and active right now, what they do and how to work with them, readable by people and by agents and paid per call.","catalog":"https://alion.io/catalog.json","usage":{"tier":"crawler_verified","counted_by":"address","units_charged":1,"used_today":2586,"day_limit":null,"remaining_today":null,"minute_limit":300,"resets_at":"2026-11-07T00:00:00Z"}},"offers":[{"id":"company.slices","title":"One company in depth, by slice","status":"live","price":{"credits":0.02,"usd":0.002,"plus_per_slice":{"credits":0.05,"usd":0.005}},"unit":"per company, plus each slice with data","note":"the employer in depth","call":{"mcp_tool":"get_company","arguments":{"id":1799629},"rest":"https://alion.io/mcp/rest/get_company?id=1799629"},"human":"https://alion.io/catalog?offer=company.slices&for=job%2Fslr-consulting-principal-geochemist"},{"id":"market.stats","title":"A market slice: pay, demand and time to fill","status":"live","price":{"credits":1,"usd":0.1},"unit":"per slice","note":"pay, demand and time to fill for this role and place","call":{"mcp_tool":"market_stats"},"human":"https://alion.io/catalog?offer=market.stats&for=job%2Fslr-consulting-principal-geochemist"},{"id":"job.search","title":"Open jobs by role, technology, place, pay and visa","status":"live","price":{"credits":0.02,"usd":0.002},"unit":"per posting in a list","note":"similar open postings","call":{"mcp_tool":"search_jobs"},"human":"https://alion.io/catalog?offer=job.search&for=job%2Fslr-consulting-principal-geochemist"},{"id":"company.verify","title":"Is this company real and active right now","status":"pilot","price":null,"unit":"per company","request":{"url":"https://alion.io/catalog/request","method":"POST","body":"{\"offer\": \"company.verify\", \"for\": \"job/slr-consulting-principal-geochemist\", \"note\": \"what you need it for\"}"},"human":"https://alion.io/catalog?offer=company.verify&for=job%2Fslr-consulting-principal-geochemist"}],"agent":{"mcp":"https://alion.io/mcp/jobs","mcp_open":"https://alion.io/mcp/open","next":[{"tool":"get_job","arguments":{"id":3537572}},{"tool":"search_jobs","arguments":{"company":"slrconsulting.com","detail":"compact"}},{"tool":"match_people","arguments":{"job_id":3537572},"note":"people open to offers who fit this vacancy"}],"note":"The same data through MCP tools: https://alion.io/mcp/open needs no sign-in (compact searches, postings, people); https://alion.io/mcp with an Alion account has everything. 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