SUMMARY
The Senior Mineral Geologist leads full life cycle evaluation of solid mineral resources in support of Tribal economic development and responsible land use. The role plans and guides field programs, interprets geologic, geochemical, geophysical, and drilling data, and produces defensible resource and reserve estimates across metals, coal, industrial minerals, and aggregates. The geologist coordinates closely with engineering, environmental, and GIS teams to inform mine planning inputs, reclamation concepts, and permitting strategies. The position prepares clear technical reports, maps, and decision briefs for Tribal leadership, federal partners, and industry stakeholders. The senior geologist will mentor junior staff, upholds rigorous QA and safety standards, and helps convert geologic insight into practical project recommendations that align with cultural, environmental, and economic goals.
ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS AND RESPONSIBILITIES
- Serves as a leadership position within the Mineral Geologist labor category and acts as a primary technical representative for Tribes in dealings with mining companies, contractors, and government agencies.
- May be expected to perform supervisory responsibilities, reporting to the On-Site Lead and Project Manager, and is responsible for the day-to-day direction of technical work as required by work orders.
- Provides comprehensive oversight for mineral evaluation and marketing projects, directing project development, technical analysis, and resource assessment from inception to completion.
- Assists Indian mineral owners with mineral lease contract negotiations and reviews proposed agreements with a focus on maximizing Tribal benefit and ensuring robust royalty terms and environmental protections.
- Prepares, reviews, and reports on resource estimates for industrial minerals and construction aggregate deposits, and develops detailed mine and reclamation plans for undeveloped properties.
- Travels frequently to Indian Reservations across the continental U.S. and Alaska to conduct fieldwork, collaborate with Tribal leaders and members, oversee contractors, and perform geologic mapping and resource sampling.
- Develops and manages GIS data and utilizes GIS software for mineral resource and market evaluations, converting field data, lab analyses, and published materials into integrated digital formats for mapping and interpretation.
- Communicates with Tribal members, leaders, and BIA officials to promote the Energy and Mineral Development Program (EMDP) and works closely with Tribes to prepare and submit grant applications.
- Evaluates grant entries from Tribal organizations, provides technical assistance, and is assigned grants to monitor throughout their lifecycle, ensuring compliance and successful project outcomes.
- Makes formal and informal presentations to Tribes, federal agencies, and the public on complex topics including geology, mining fundamentals, environmental regulations (NEPA), and mineral agreements.
SKILLS AND QUALIFICATIONS
- Technical Capacity: Deep applied geology expertise spanning solid mineral deposits and the physical, chemical, and economic properties of minerals, soils, and aggregates. Full-cycle exploration experience—including surface/subsurface sampling, geologic mapping, resource quality/quantity estimation, and integration of geologic interpretations with engineering/design needs. Proficient with GIS for resource evaluation, spatial analysis, and market/access assessments.
- Complex Problem Solving: Ability to evaluate multi-variable exploration and development scenarios by synthesizing sample data, geologic maps, geotechnical constraints, environmental factors, and market demand to assess technical, operational, and financial feasibility and recommend risk-aware paths forward.
- Critical Thinking & Initiative: Applies sound professional judgment to plan and execute conventional geologic assignments with defined objectives; independently prioritizes and advances multiple complex workstreams, performs QA/QC on datasets and interpretations, and proactively identifies data gaps and field/lab validation needs.
- Communication: Highly effective at translating technical geology into clear guidance for diverse audiences including Tribal leadership, government officials, industry partners, and the public. Produces defensible technical deliverables (reports, scopes of work, maps/figures) and prepares realistic project budgets and schedules aligned to work orders.
- Leadership and Direction: Provides day-to-day technical direction on exploration/evaluation tasks; coordinates with environmental/regulatory teams on federal clearance processes applicable to mineral activities on Tribal lands; mentors junior staff; and ensures deliverables meet scope, schedule, and quality requirements.
EDUCATION & EXPERIENCE
- Must meet one of the following minimum requirements:
- A B.S. in Geology with three years of experience in solid mineral exploration and evaluation; OR
- A B.S. in Mining or Civil Engineering with at least 20 hours of geology classes and three years of experience in solid mineral exploration and evaluation; OR
- A B.S. in Mining or Civil Engineering with at least five years of experience in solid mineral exploration and evaluation; OR
- Any undergraduate degree combined with an M.S. degree in Geology is preferred.
- Professional Geologist (PG) licensure preferred (or ability to obtain within 12 months).
- 6-8 years of progressively responsible experience in solid-mineral exploration and evaluation across surface and/or underground contexts.
- Demonstrated success in resource and reserve estimation across multiple commodities metals, coal, industrial minerals, and aggregates including geo-statistics, 3D modeling, and reconciliation under NI 43-101/S-K 1300/JORC style frameworks.
- Significant experience leading the exploration lifecycle: target generation, mapping and structural interpretation, drill program design and supervision (core/RC), logging and sampling protocols, QA/QC (standards, blanks, duplicates), geophysics/geochemistry integration, and creation of defensible block models.
- Mine planning interface & geometallurgy: provides geologic inputs to pit/UG design, slope/ground control, dilution/ore-loss assumptions, recovery/processing considerations, LoM scheduling, and risk registers that inform economic evaluations (NPV/IRR, sensitivities).
- Regulatory and land-use coordination: supports permit packages and environmental/heritage reviews (e.g., NEPA/NHPA touchpoints) for mineral activities on Tribal and other jurisdictions; prepares technical sections and responses to regulator queries.
- Commercial support: represents mineral owners/operators in technical due diligence for leases, royalties, and surface use/ROW agreements; prepares clear decision memos and exhibits for negotiations with counterparties and agencies.
- Executive communication: proven track record delivering executive-level presentations and concise technical reports for senior stakeholders (Tribal leadership, boards, investors, agencies), translating uncertainties and trade-offs into actionable recommendations.
- Supervisory/mentoring experience: manages and develops junior geologists/field crews/consultants; sets work plans, oversees day-to-day technical tasks, and conducts QA/QC of models, maps, and reports with a strong safety culture.
- Toolset proficiency: Leapfrog/Seequent, Vulcan/Surpac/Datamine (or similar), ArcGIS/QGIS, geostatistical packages; advanced Excel/Power BI; familiarity with geotech tools (e.g., Rocscience) a plus.
- Field readiness & safety: comfortable with remote fieldwork, contractor/OEM coordination, and MSHA/OSHA safety practices; willingness to travel to project sites and Tribal communities
SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITY
This position may be expected to perform supervisory responsibilities, including directing the technical work of junior staff as required by specific work orders, and reports to the On-Site Lead and Project Manager.
Work Environment
This job operates in a professional office environment and routinely uses standard office equipment such as computers, phones, and photocopiers. Work will primarily be performed at the DEMD facility in Lakewood, Colorado, with options for authorized remote work.
Position Type/Expected Hours of Work
This is a full-time position. Normal business hours align with DEMD’s core hours of 6:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Mountain Time, Monday through Friday, excluding Federal holidays. Evening and weekend work may occasionally be required to meet project demands.
Travel Requirements
Travel is required to provide support at government or Tribal sites, attend meetings, conduct grant site visits, and represent DEMD at conferences. All travel must be pre-approved by the Contracting Officer's Representative (COR) and will be reimbursed in accordance with Federal Travel Regulations (FTR).
Clearance/License Requirements
- A Public Trust clearance is required for this position. A minimum background investigation (NACI) is required for access to DOI facilities and information systems.
- Must maintain a valid Driver’s License and be insurable under the company insurance program.
Our Values: Native American Owned & Proud | Accountable | Team Focused | Innovative | Visionary | Excellence
AAP/EEO Statement Ho-Chunk, Inc. is an equal opportunity employer. All applicants are considered without regard to age, sex, race, national origin, religion, marital status or physical disability. However, preference may be extended to persons of Indian descent in accordance with applicable laws.
