Chief Geologist
Company: Turner Staffing Group
Location: Sahuarita
Posted on: February 17, 2026
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Job Description:
Job Description Job Description The Chief Geologist leads all
mine-site geological activities for a high-tonnage open-pit,
Cu-porphyry-skarn, processing sulfide ore by flotation. Emphasis is
on short-range grade control and ore routing, geometallurgical
domaining, resource growth, rigorous data collection/QAQC, and
timely geological inputs to mine planning. The role reports to the
Technical Services Manager and collaborates closely with the
Corporate Technical Team and Corporate Resource Manager. The
position operates with minimal supervision, exercises sound
professional judgment, and demonstrates visible leadership in
safety, environmental stewardship, and cross-functional teamwork
with Operations, Planning, Geotechnical, Hydrogeology, and
Metallurgy. Duties & Responsibilities: Lead and supervise the Mine
Geology and Ore Control teams (geologists, technicians, samplers);
ensure contemporary training, competency, and an inclusive,
high-performance culture Oversee daily geological mapping,
sampling, and logging- capturing lithology, structure, alteration,
and mineralization at appropriate scales for ore control and
reconciliation. Own short-range ore control: manage blasthole
sampling and assay QAQC (CRMs, blanks, duplicates), blast-movement
correction, and generation of clean dig polygons and grade control
models; differentiate mill (sulfide) vs. blend vs. waste as
required. Integrate pit mapping, drilling, and survey data into the
Leapfrog Geo 3-D model (with Seequent Central or equivalent) to
maintain current, auditable interpretations for dispatch,
short-range, and mid/long-range plans. Collaborate with Mine
Engineering (Hexagon MinePlan/MineSight) to deliver reliable
geological constraints for short-, mid-, and life-of-mine plans;
steward density models and dilution/loss assumptions. Lead grade
reconciliation (daily/weekly/monthly): ore control vs. plant vs.
resource model (tonnage, grade, metal, spatial); diagnose variances
and adjust domaining, parameters, or practices accordingly.
Coordinate drill programs—infill, metallurgical, condemnation, and
exploration—including design, supervision, sampling,
chain-of-custody, laboratory interfaces, and full QAQC adherence.
Partner with Metallurgy to define geometallurgical domains
controlling throughput, recovery, reagent consumption, and
concentrate quality and support blending and Mine-to-Mill
strategies. Direct field geology and structural mapping (including
UAV/LiDAR); provide structural models and rock-type controls to
Geotechnical and Hydrogeology for slope design inputs and
pore-pressure management. Develop and evaluate resource expansion
opportunities; plan and interpret RC/diamond drilling; advance
concepts efficiently from target to decision. Maintain a
single-source-of-truth geoscience database (e.g., acQuire or
equivalent); enforce data governance, coding standards, and version
control; automate dashboards and reporting (GIS/Power BI). Ensure
all technical records, block models, and geological disclosures are
SEC S-K 1300 compliant and aligned with international best practice
standards, and contribute to QP-level documentation for Technical
Reports. Provide timely geological input to waste characterization,
permitting, and environmental management. Manage contractors and
budgets (drilling, labs, consultants); track cost, quality,
schedule, and HSE performance. Promote a strong safety culture and
regulatory compliance; lead field risk assessments, task
observations, and continuous improvement. Prepare technical memos,
presentations, and training materials; clearly translate geologic
complexity into actionable guidance for operations. Other duties as
assigned that advance orebody knowledge, safe production, and value
generation. Requirements Knowledge, Skills & Experience: Bachelor's
degree in Geology or Geological Engineering required; M.S. in
Economic Geology preferred. Minimum 8 years in open-pit mine
geology for copper operations (grade control, modeling,
reconciliation); 10 years and prior team leadership preferred. Deep
understanding of porphyry-skarn copper systems, including
hypogene/supergene processes, oxide–transition–sulfide behavior,
and geometallurgical implications for flotation. Proficiency in
Leapfrog Geo and geological modeling best practices; experience
integrating mapping and drill data; competency with acQuire,
Hexagon MinePlan/MineSight or similar, and ArcGIS/QGIS; familiarity
with analytics/visualization. Demonstrated success in QAQC program
design and execution, resource classification, and compliance
reporting standards. Proven leadership, team development,
contractor management, and cross-functional collaboration with
Operations, Planning, Metallurgy, Geotechnical, and Hydrogeology.
Excellent technical writing and presentation skills; ability to
prioritize, manage multiple workstreams, and deliver to deadlines.
Valid driver's license; ability to work safely in pit conditions
and lead by example in the field.
Keywords: Turner Staffing Group, Oro Valley , Chief Geologist, Engineering , Sahuarita, Arizona
