Abandoned Mines Program Manager

Job Description

 

 

Take Your Mine Reclamation Career to the Next Level

 

Kleinfelder, a Forbes' Top Employer for Engineers in North America, is committed to a people-first culture, technical excellence, and creating opportunities where employees can thrive!

 

Do you have a passion for restoring land and water, solving complex legacy mining challenges, and building stronger communities? Kleinfelder’s multidisciplinary abandoned mines team supports projects from early concept and funding strategy through investigation, permitting, design, procurement, construction, and long-term performance. We are seeking a collaborative leader who can combine client service, technical judgment, project delivery, and team development to create lasting value for public-sector, mining industry and nonprofit clients.

 

Step into Your New Role

 

Kleinfelder is seeking a Program Manager to support and help grow our Abandoned Mines Program (AMP). This remote position will lead abandoned mine land (AML) reclamation and abandoned mine drainage (AMD) projects across Pennsylvania, Ohio, and the broader Mid-Atlantic/Appalachian region. Candidates located in or near the bituminous coal region of Pennsylvania or Ohio are preferred to support effective client engagement, field coordination, and regional travel.

 

The Candidate will plan, lead, and deliver multidisciplinary projects while serving as a primary client contact, strengthening program execution in coordination with the AMP Engineering Manager and Project Development Manager, mentoring staff, and advancing strategic growth.

 

Key Responsibilities

Strategic Leadership

• Develop and execute program and project strategies aligned with client needs, funding priorities, regulatory requirements, and Kleinfelder’s growth objectives.
• Identify, qualify, and pursue new opportunities; support capture planning, proposal development, interviews, and scope and fee negotiations.
• Help build a sustainable project backlog and prioritize the clients, pursuits, and assignments that best support the Abandoned Mines Program.

 

Project Execution

• Lead AML and AMD projects from concept through investigation, permitting, design, bid package development, construction administration, closeout, and post-construction support.
• Establish and manage scope, schedule, budget, staffing, subconsultants, and deliverables; proactively communicate status, changes, and decisions.
• Drive safe, efficient, profitable, and high-quality delivery while meeting contractual requirements and client expectations.

 

Client & Stakeholder Relationships

• Serve as a primary point of contact for public-sector and nonprofit clients and coordinate with regulators, funding partners, landowners, communities, contractors, and other stakeholders.
• Build and maintain trusted regional relationships and represent Kleinfelder in technical meetings, public forums, conferences, and industry organizations.
• Translate technical and regulatory issues into clear recommendations for clients and project stakeholders.

 

Technical Oversight

• Guide multidisciplinary teams that may include mining, civil, geotechnical, water resources, environmental, ecological, permitting, survey, and construction professionals.
• Provide technical direction for watershed assessments, mine drainage investigations and treatment, hazard mitigation, reclamation design, stream restoration, subsidence, slope stabilization, and related construction support.
• Apply sound professional judgment, lessons learned, and practical constructability considerations throughout project development and delivery.

 

Risk, Quality & Compliance

• Identify project, contractual, technical, permitting, stakeholder, safety, and delivery risks; establish and monitor practical mitigation measures.
• Ensure compliance with applicable federal, state, and local requirements and client-specific commitments.
• Maintain Kleinfelder’s quality expectations by implementing project-specific QA/QC planning, independent review, documentation, and corrective action.

 

People & Program Development

• Mentor project managers and technical staff, delegate effectively, provide clear feedback, and promote accountability and professional development.
• Coordinate staffing and resources across offices and disciplines to assemble high-performing project teams.
• Contribute to a collaborative program culture focused on technical excellence, responsiveness, safety, and community outcomes.

 

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in engineering, geology, environmental science, natural resources, or a related field. An advanced degree is a plus.
• Typically 15+ years of relevant experience delivering mine reclamation, mine drainage, mining, water resources, environmental restoration, civil/site, or closely related projects, including progressive project management responsibility.
• Demonstrated experience managing multidisciplinary projects and teams with accountability for scope, schedule, budget, quality, risk, and client communication.
• Working knowledge of AML reclamation and/or AMD assessment and treatment, including the project lifecycle from planning and permitting through design and construction.
• Experience supporting public-sector or nonprofit clients, competitive procurements, grant-funded programs, and stakeholder-intensive projects is strongly preferred.
• Established or developing relationships with regional clients, agencies, partners, and contractors in Pennsylvania, Ohio, or the Appalachian mining region are preferred.
• Excellent written, verbal, facilitation, negotiation, and interpersonal skills, with a professional approach appropriate for representing Kleinfelder in client and public settings.
• Ability and willingness to travel to client meetings, project sites, field investigations, and construction activities across the region as project needs require.
• Valid driver’s license with a satisfactory driving record.

 

Preferred Credentials & Experience

• Professional Engineer (PE), Professional Geologist (PG), Project Management Professional (PMP), or other relevant professional credentials are preferred but relevant experience will be considered.
• Experience with Pennsylvania and/or Ohio abandoned mine programs, applicable permitting pathways, and regional funding mechanisms.
• Experience with AML hazard reclamation, passive or active AMD treatment, mine pool or discharge investigations, stream and wetland restoration, subsidence mitigation, slope/slide stabilization, and construction administration.
• Experience preparing technical scopes, fee estimates, schedules, proposals, bid documents, contract documents, and change management documentation.
• Demonstrated success developing client relationships, winning work, and growing teams or service lines.

 

What Success Looks Like

• Projects are delivered safely, predictably, and in alignment with client goals.
• Risks and changes are identified early and managed transparently.
• Clients view Kleinfelder as a trusted partner for complex abandoned mine challenges.
• Project managers and technical staff receive clear direction, support, and opportunities to grow.
• The Abandoned Mines Program develops a strong, diverse backlog and creates measurable benefits for land, water, ecosystems, and communities.

 

Move Forward with Kleinfelder: Kleinfelder and its’ subsidiaries and affiliates, has been connecting great people to the best work since 1961. We are engineers, scientists, and construction professionals providing solutions that improve our clients’ transportation, water, energy, and other private infrastructure. As a responsive, cross-disciplinary team of bright, curious, and innovative problem-solvers, we are dedicated to doing the right thing, every day, on every project from over 110 offices in the US, Canada, and Australia. Connecting great people to the best work is our purpose – together, we deliver.  

 

Progress with an Employer that Values You

Kleinfelder, and its’ subsidiaries and affiliates, is an inclusive organization free from discrimination. We are a stronger organization when we are a diverse workforce and believe that through diversity, equity, and inclusion comes creativity, innovation, and unity. We are proud to offer the following:  

 

Benefits: Kleinfelder, and its’ subsidiaries and affiliates, offers an excellent compensation and benefits package, including: medical, dental, vision, life insurance, 401(k) plan, and paid holidays.  

 

Career Development: We are committed to investing in the professional development of our staff, offering each employee every opportunity to grow, develop, and take control of their career paths. We support these efforts through reimbursements for continuing education as well as many of the expenses associated with trainings and certifications, and opportunities for career development through our internal Mentoring Program.  

 

 

Equal Opportunity: Kleinfelder, and its’ subsidiaries and affiliates, is an Equal Opportunity Employer – Minorities/Women/Disabled/Veterans. (Compliant with the new VEVRAA and Section 503 rules)  

 

NOTICE TO THIRD PARTY AGENCIES   

Please note that Kleinfelder, and its’ subsidiaries and affiliates, does not accept unsolicited resumes from recruiters or employment agencies. In the absence of a signed Recruitment Fee Agreement, Kleinfelder, and its’ subsidiaries and affiliates, will not consider or agree to payment for any referral compensation or recruiter fee. In the event a recruiter or agency submits a resume or candidate without a previously signed agreement, Kleinfelder, and its’ subsidiaries and affiliates, explicitly reserves the right to pursue and hire those candidate(s) without any financial obligation to the recruiter or agency. Any unsolicited resume, including those submitted to hiring managers, are deemed to be the property of Kleinfelder.