Ausenco is a fast-growing company with big ideas. We redefine what’s possible in some of the world’s most complex projects and toughest environments. Delivering innovative, value-add consulting, project delivery, asset operations and maintenance solutions is what we do. From 21 offices in 9 countries, with projects in over 80 locations worldwide, we create sustainable outcomes for our people, clients and communities.
Our team in Canada is growing. We are currently recruiting for a Senior Regulatory and Permitting Specialist to join our team in either the Burnaby, Victoria, Whitehorse, or Calgary offices. In this role you will have the opportunity to work on a variety of interesting and challenging projects across North America, with a focus on Canada. We are seeking a highly motivated individual with excellent technical and interpersonal skills to join our talented team in delivering outstanding service and innovation to our clients.
About the role
As Senior Regulatory and Permitting Specialist, you are a senior technical and strategic leader responsible for integrated environmental assessment (EA) and permitting programs across the full project lifecycle. You will lead regulatory strategy from early project definition through approvals and transition to implementation, ensuring EA outcomes are defensible, practical, and aligned with downstream permitting and compliance requirements.
This role combines hands-on leadership of EA and permitting delivery with a strong market-facing and business development component, including positioning Ausenco to secure major, complex EA opportunities. You will act as a trusted advisor to clients, lead senior-level engagement with regulators and Indigenous Groups, and contribute to practice leadership and team development. Most projects are supported by a dedicated project manager and/or project controller, allowing you to focus on technical leadership, strategy, and quality.
Specific tasks may include:
- Setting integrated EA and permitting strategies for complex projects across BC, Yukon, Ontario, Northern Canada and/or other multi-jurisdictional contexts, with a strong focus on mining; advising clients on pathways, sequencing, readiness, and approval risks.
- Providing end-to-end leadership of EA processes, including EA design, application development, adequacy review management, information request strategy, conditions development, and transition into permitting and compliance.
- Ensuring EA outcomes are structured to support efficient permitting, implementable approval conditions, and compliance frameworks.
- Serving as technical authority for EA and permitting deliverables, including methodology development, review gates, strategic edits, and defensibility reviews.
- Providing final technical review on regulatory strategies, EA submissions, and permitting applications to ensure quality, consistency, and regulatory defensibility.
- Leading senior-level engagement with regulators, Indigenous Groups, and key stakeholders; guiding consultation strategy, issue resolution, and risk management for sensitive or high-profile projects.
- Overseeing multiple projects or major programs, including resourcing oversight, schedule and cost risk awareness, and integration across disciplines and subconsultants.
- Providing senior guidance at critical milestones (e.g., EA initiation, application readiness, adequacy determinations, information requests, conditions negotiation, permit sequencing, and transition to compliance).
- Owning or co-owning key client relationships; leading or supporting positioning and pursuit strategies for large, EA-led regulatory programs, including early client engagement, proposal strategy, scopes, budgets, and commercial terms (in collaboration with project managers and leadership).
- Contributing to broader practice leadership by developing standard approaches, tools/templates, QA/QC standards, and lessons learned for EA and permitting delivery.
- Mentoring and developing team members across experience levels, providing technical guidance, coaching, and review without direct line-management accountability.
- Championing Ausenco project delivery, safety, and quality culture, ensuring deliverables meet schedule, cost, quality, and safety expectations.
Success in this role looks like successful EA and permitting approval outcomes, strong client relationships that result in repeat work, effective positioning that helps secure major EA opportunities, reduced regulatory risk for clients, and measurable growth in team capability.
About you
- A university degree in natural sciences, resource management, engineering, business, or related discipline; Masters degree is an asset.
- 15+ years of relevant professional experience in Canada, including leading integrated EA and permitting programs for major projects (mining emphasis).
- Demonstrated experience leading full EAs end-to-end, from early strategy and application development through regulator review and approvals.
- Strong track record acting as a trusted advisor to clients and senior stakeholders on complex, high-risk regulatory issues.
- Experience navigating multi-jurisdictional regulatory environments and guiding teams through critical regulatory milestones.
- Proven ability to influence outcomes with senior client executives, regulators, and Indigenous leadership.
- Strong commercial and market acumen, with experience shaping pursuits, scopes, budgets, and contributing to client growth and repeat work.
- Demonstrated leadership in mentoring, technical oversight, and practice development.
- Excellent writing, editing, and strategic review skills, with a focus on defensible, regulator-ready documentation.
- Professional designation (e.g., R.P.Bio., P.Eng.) preferred.
We’re committed to a fair and human hiring process. All applications are reviewed by a member of our team and are not automatically screened or rejected by AI.
Why Ausenco?
We support individual growth and aim to allow you to work in a way that plays to your strengths. Beyond a competitive remuneration package, we offer:
- Career advancement – Embark on a journey of continuous growth through technical training, mentorship initiatives, and networking opportunities
- Work Life Balance – Experience the best of both worlds with our hybrid work model, allowing you to balance office days with working from home, and progressive parental leave benefits to foster family needs and professional life
- Holistic approach to wellness – Take a proactive approach to your overall wellbeing. Access to confidential counselling, information services and a benefits program that supports your health and wellness
- Accessible leadership team – Work with highly reputable industry leaders who value your contribution
Our people don’t settle for the status quo. If you have an entrepreneurial spirit and want to help set a new standard in sustainability, we’ll help you find your place. This means working with you to develop a unique career path and skillset to match your ambition.
We’re proud of the work we do, and we do it within a culture that is open, honest, and cooperative. We have a history of attracting visionary people who embrace challenges and deliver creative solutions for every project, and your voice is an important part of the conversation.
As a global company we embrace and encourage diversity in its fullest sense – gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, age, experience, nationality, colour, language, religion, location, disability, education, skills, working styles and time availability. Our work environments are based on mutual trust and respect for the rights and opportunities of every individual.
Salary range $140,000 - $180,000 annually
Expected Salary: Variation in salary is determined by factors such as qualifications, relevant years of experience, and prevailing market conditions for the specific role.
Join us and work a better way.
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