07/23/2013 13630

MINING ENGINEER CONSULTANT

DEFINITION: This is consultative and highly advanced professional mining engineering work in the Department of Environmental Protection.

An employee in this job performs highly advanced analytical, developmental, evaluative and consultative work in developing solutions to mining engineering problems that require the advanced or innovative application of engineering principles. Work requires the application of the mining engineering discipline to an important statewide agency program or functional area. Work involves advising agency senior management concerning the effects of new and emerging theories, concepts and techniques in mining engineering as they pertain to agency programs and work methods. Work may involve designing, conducting and evaluating engineering research projects to develop or change engineering standards or regulatory requirements. Work may also involve leading the Department’s evaluation of unusually complex and controversial mining permit applications, investigations or enforcement actions. In the Bureau of Mine Safety, work involves serving as a responsible charge engineer for the most complex underground mine safety issues. Important aspects of this work include serving as a principle technical knowledge transfer agent within the agency on mining engineering matters and providing definitive and authoritative testimony during legal proceedings as required. Employees do not normally perform the full range of supervisory duties, but work may require leading a team of professional employees on complicated projects and studies, and providing responsible charge oversight to unlicensed staff. Research assignments are received with no technical instructions, and employees independently identify the nature and extent of problems, select courses of action and develop findings and recommendations under broad administrative and policy direction. Work is reviewed by a program manager for overall effectiveness and satisfactory completion of assigned projects.

EXAMPLES OF WORK: Provides mining engineering leadership and coordination on complex agency projects and initiatives.

Provides expert mining engineering advice and explanations to agency managers, staff, consultants and public officials.

Serves as a technical authority in the analysis and interpretation of guidelines or the application of new and emerging technologies in the field of mining engineering.

Serves as the Department’s contact with the federal government, other states, the academic community and professional organizations on controversial or strategic issues.

Conducts studies into the feasibility of changing mining engineering operating procedures, processes, or standards in response to changes in innovative technology, administrative direction, or funding in the engineering program area to which assigned.

Researches innovative technologies, techniques and methods for mitigating the environmental impacts of the extractive minerals industry or for enhancing underground miner safety.

Provides expert mining engineering advice to senior managers and program staff in the development of agency regulations, policies and procedures.

Conducts investigations into mining engineering failures caused by unusual environmental conditions or suspected faulty design and develops solutions or alternatives to resolve difficult engineering problems.

Develops training plans and methods in order to introduce new concepts or techniques to agency engineering staff.

Reviews plans and specifications for mine reclamation projects that involve unusual environmental conditions or suspected faulty designs and develops solutions or alternatives to resolve problems.

Meets with concerned officials, the public, and news media to explain professional methods and practices as they relate to Commonwealth mining engineering projects on a statewide basis.

Conducts emergency inspections in response to unique and potentially life threatening situations and recommends immediate solutions to mitigate risk to the environment and to public health and safety.

Serves as an expert witness in hearings and court actions involving the Department and the Commonwealth on technical mining engineering matters related to Department projects and programs.

Travels to various field sites.

Employees in this job may participate in the performance of their subordinates’ work consistent with operational or organizational requirements.

Performs related work as required.

REQUIRED KNOWLEDGES, SKILLS AND ABILITIES: Knowledge of the federal and Commonwealth laws and regulations governing mining and mine reclamation.

Knowledge of the principles and practices of mining engineering.

Knowledge of the engineering principles used in the development of drawings and specifications for components of mining engineering projects.

Knowledge of the principles and practices of mining exploration methods and techniques.

Knowledge of the principles and practices of mine planning and operations, including mining layouts, ground control design, mine surveying, and mine equipment, facilities and systems design.

Knowledge of the principles and practices of mineral processing, including laboratory testing and process flowsheets.

Knowledge of the environmental impact and reclamation of mines, including surface and groundwater and contaminant transport, environmental chemistry and geochemistry, waste characterization and containment, site water balance, decommissioning and demolition, earthwork techniques and equipment, and post-mining land configuration and erosion control systems.

Knowledge of physical geology, stratigraphy, rock mechanics and petrology as they pertain to identifying the physical characteristics of active and abandoned mines and quarries.

Knowledge of physical, chemical and biological treatment processes.

Knowledge of treatment plant design, operation and performance.

Knowledge of the procedures and techniques used in reviewing applications for surface and underground mining permits.

Knowledge of the basic principles of chemistry and physics.

Knowledge of linear algebra, analytical geometry and plane trigonometry.

Knowledge of differential and integral calculus.

Knowledge of engineering economics.

Knowledge of plane and engineering surveying.

Knowledge of standard reference sources regarding the costs, principal applications and characteristics of materials and equipment used in mine area restoration projects.

Knowledge of geographic information systems.

Ability to read and interpret written material, drawings, specifications and maps.

Ability to assemble specifications for mining engineering projects.

Ability to review and evaluate mining engineering projects in the design or construction stages from the standpoints of technical accuracy, conformance with sound engineering concepts, feasibility, costs/benefits and satisfying agency objectives.

Ability to use computer software applications to perform engineering modeling and analyses.

Ability to prepare technical reports of field investigations.

Ability to operate a Computer Aided Drafting and Design (CADD) workstation during the preparation of drawings for mining engineering projects.

Ability to perform computations and calculations involving mining engineering.

Ability to analyze and present technical data in engineering reports.

Ability to communicate effectively orally.

Ability to communicate effectively in writing.

Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships.

MINIMUM EXPERIENCE AND TRAINING: Two years as a Mining Engineer or Mining Engineering Supervisor;

                                                                                                                                                 or

Five years of professional mining engineering experience.

NECESSARY SPECIAL REQUIREMENT: Possession of a valid Professional Engineer license issued by the Pennsylvania State Registration Board for Professional Engineers, Land Surveyors and Geologists or a valid Professional Engineer license issued by the applicable licensing body of another state.

CONDITION OF EMPLOYMENT: Certain positions in this job will require possession of a valid Pennsylvania driver’s license.

POST EMPLOYMENT REQUIREMENT: Successful candidates with an out of state Professional Engineer license will be required to produce a valid Professional Engineer license issued by Pennsylvania within their initial six month probationary period.