James Campbell

Senior Geotechnical Engineer at Newfields Mining Canada

Sparwood, British Columbia, Canada

About

Senior Geotechnical Engineer with over 13 years of experience and expertise in dam safety and mine waste management with experience working on mines in North America and the Caribbean. Recent experience working at two coal mining operations as the Responsible Tailings Facility Engineer governing and stewarding several TSFs and water dams. The experience included working with the Engineer of Record team on TSF designs, tailings management system improvements and completing projects to reduce risks to as low as reasonably practicable. My passion for geology, curiosity and systems thinking approach help drive my problem-solving abilities to deliver economical and innovative engineering solutions. Specialties: Dam Safety, GISTM Conformance, Governance, Tailings, Water Management, Soil and Rock Mechanics, Geological Engineering, Instrumentation design and monitoring, Subsurface Investigations, Health and Safety.

Experience

  • Senior Geotechnical Engineer at NewFields Canada Inc.
    Jun 2025 - Present · 1 yr 2 mos

    Senior geotechnical engineer position supporting a team of professionals with problem solving for mining clients on mine infrastructure such as mill foundations, tailings storage facilities, dam designs, heap leach pads and waste rock facilities.

  • Senior Engineering Advisor, Tailings at Elk Valley Resources
    Jul 2024 - Jun 2025 · 1 yr

    As the Responsible Tailings Facility Engineer for the Fording River and Line Creek Operations in the Coal Business Unit, I am responsible for the structural integrity of the water and tailings dams. Responsible for managing risks associated with the facilities and working with the Engineer of Records to resolve risks. Participate in management of change activities when there are activities that could impact the risk profile of a tailings facility or dam. Maintain the tailings management system and key documents such as the Operations, Maintenance and Surveillance manuals and the Emergency Preparedness and Response Plans.

  • Senior Engineering Advisor, Tailings at Teck Resources Limited
    May 2021 - Jul 2024 · 3 yrs 3 mos

    Focused on the geotechnical engineering focused Regulatory and Best Practice stewardship of tailings and water retaining (TWR) structures at the Line Creek and Fording River operations. In the Responsible Tailings Facility Engineer role for the TWR structures delegated from the operation's engineering superintendent and Manager of Tailings as well as the Tailings Working Group.

  • Infrastructure Engineer at Government of Alberta
    Mar 2019 - May 2021 · 2 yrs 3 mos

    As an Infrastructure engineer with the Water Infrastructure and Operations Branch in Alberta Environment and Parks, this position supports the owner/manager of infrastructure to ensure Albertans have a safe and sustainable supply of water, and that dam safety regulatory requirements are met through robust surveillance, monitoring, maintenance and repair programs that effectively manage the risks to public safety.

  • Geological Engineer at BGC Engineering
    Jul 2012 - Feb 2019 · 6 yrs 8 mos

    Employed as a Geological Engineer with a range of field, technical and analytical experience. Apply principles of geotechnical engineering to site investigations for dam foundations, pipeline crossings, new pipeline construction projects and natural landslides in complex terrain. Involved with many projects involving site characaterization techniques including test pit and drill hole logging, geological mapping, geohazard identification, air photo interpretation, in-situ testing, instrumentation installations and monitoring. Some involvement with quality assurance on construction projects in permafrost terrain.