Principal Advisor Geotech Engineering

Natural Resources & Water (Mining, Resources & Energy)

Full time

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Finding better ways to provide the materials the world needs.

We are looking for a Principal Advisor Geotechnical Engineering within our Development & Technology Surface Mining Major Hazards team. These roles will focus on providing expert Geotechnical design and management support, as well as guidance and direction to our operations and site and product group leadership teams.

This position will be a opportunity for highly collaborative and motivated individual to lead or participate in Rio Tinto technical initiatives and provide slope geotechnical engineering advice across the mining lifecycle from design to closure. Our work is centered on the surface mining major hazards management areas of slope geotechnical engineering, and tailings and water storage facilites management.

We are an open, connected international team of technical specialists using some of the most exciting data and tools available. This is a great opportunity for someone who is hands on, adaptable, and passionate about their discipline and working with others to manage water risk across the Group. The role also contributes to technical assurance across the Group and is a key enabler of capability uplift in the business.

We have technical development programmes that are industry-leading and recognise the unique nature of your role. These provide opportunities to grow your career through a dedicated technical path while being rewarded for your unique skills. We offer competitive, performance-focused remuneration and a wide range of benefits to reward your contribution. With a global reach, the opportunities to develop and grow your career are broad and exciting.

Reporting to the Chief Advisor Major Hazards and working in a challenging and exciting environment you will be:

• Leading operational and technical support, governance and assurance of the slope geotechnical engineering management – D3 Group Standard.
• Champion safe and effective slope management within the Group
• Providing a technical authority on slope management for the Group
• Ensuring effective risk management through implementation and assurance of the Tailings Management System
• Facilitating geotechnical reporting across the Group and helping to keep senior leadership informed on slope risk
• Identifying and demonstrating technical and operational improvement opportunities in slope management
• Participate in due diligence activities to assess the appropriateness of geotechnical work presented as part of a potential transaction.
• Assisting with support for the Rio Tinto slope geotechnical engineering community and helping to plan for long-term succession of key roles.
• Maintaining an active and engaged community of internal and external stakeholders.
• Managing relationships with external partners
• Developing and governance of training for internal roles

What you’ll bring

• Extensive knowledge of mining and natural slope management across the project life cycle.
• In depth knowledge of soil mechanics and rock mechanics expertise in the safe operation and monitoring of slopes.
• Expertise in geotechnical investigations, analyses and designs
• Expertise in reviewing geotechnical design reports from quality and corporate assurance perspectives.
• Demonstrated leadership of technical teams and strong stakeholder engagement
• Proven ability to work collaboratively with senior technical professionals and senior leaders to achieve outcomes through the sharing of expertise, skills, and technical capability.
• Demonstrated ability to work within large multi-disciplinary teams to consistently achieve safety and operational outcomes and delivery of targets.
• Demonstrated ability to work with peers in different geographic locations
• Tertiary qualifications in civil engineering, engineering geology or related discipline with significant experience in mining and natural slope management
• A demonstrated willingness to train and mentor others ensuring that water issues are understood and embedded.
• Experience in risk assessment and risk management principles.

It will also be beneficial if you have:

• Master’s Degree or PhD in Civil/Geotechnical Engineering would be highly regarded
• Membership of relevant professional organization.
• Experience leading slope geotechnical programs
• A well-developed network across the mining industry
• Experience communicating with senior leaders.

What we offer

Be recognised for your contribution, your thinking and your hard work, and go home knowing you’re helping Rio Tinto effectively manage slope hazards.

• A work environment where safety is always the number one priority.
• A permanent position working directly for Rio Tinto
• A competitive base salary reflective of your skills and experience with Annual incentive program
• Comprehensive medical benefits including subsidised private health insurance for employees and immediate family.
• Attractive share ownership plan
• Company provided insurance cover
• Extensive salary sacrifice and salary packaging options
• Career development and education assistance to further your technical or leadership ambitions
• Ongoing access to family-friendly health and medical wellbeing support
• Leave for all of life’s reasons (vacation/annual, paid parental, sick leave)
• Exclusive employee discounts (banking, accommodation, cars, retail and more)

About Rio Tinto

Rio Tinto is a leading global mining and materials company. We operate in 35 countries where we produce iron ore, copper, aluminium, critical minerals, and other materials needed for the global energy transition and for people, communities, and nations to thrive.

We have been mining for 150 years and operate with knowledge built up across generations and continents. Our purpose is finding better ways to provide the materials the world needs – striving for innovation and continuous improvement to produce materials with low emissions and to the right environmental, social and governance standards. But we can’t do it on our own, so we’re focused on creating partnerships to solve problems, create win-win and meet opportunities.

Where you will be working

Rio Tinto’s Development and Technology group engages and partner with Rio Tinto businesses across 73 operating sites, 35 countries and 6 continents to help create value, manage risk and innovate for the future, whilst providing range of support and services functions, to ensure technical optimisation, establish and transfer best practices, develop strategies to drive performance improvements, and ensure that technical innovation provides a source of long-term competitive advantage.

The Major Hazards team is part of Group Technical (part of Development and Technology). Major Hazards:

• Provides technical governance and assurance over Rio Tinto’s standards for the management of slope geotechnical hazards and tailings and water storage.
• Facilitates and coordaining the communities of practice for slope geotechnical engineering, tailings and water storage and water management.

This role is planned for Perth or Brisbane Hubs with regular travel to sites.

Every Voice Matters

At Rio Tinto, we particularly welcome and encourage applications from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, women, the LGBTI+ community, mature workers, people with disabilities and people from different cultural backgrounds.

We are committed to an inclusive environment where people feel comfortable to be themselves. We want our people to feel that all voices are heard, all cultures respected and that a variety of perspectives are not only welcome – they are essential to our success. We treat each other fairly and with dignity regardless of race, gender, nationality, ethnic origin, religion, age, sexual orientation or anything else that makes us different.

Applications for this role will close on 7th July 2024 however we do reserve the right to close the role earlier.

This role is for applicants residing in or willing to permanently relocate to Western Australia or Queensland.

We’re a leading global mining and materials company. We operate in 35 countries where we produce iron ore, copper, aluminium, critical minerals and other materials needed for the global energy transition and for people, communities, and nations to thrive. Our purpose is finding better ways to provide the materials the world needs – striving for innovation and continuous improvement to produce materials with low emissions and to the right environmental, social and governance standards. But we can’t do it on our own, so we’re focused on creating partnerships to solve problems, create win-win and meet opportunities.

We’re a leading global mining and materials company. We operate in 35 countries where we produce iron ore, copper, aluminium, critical minerals and other materials needed for the global energy transition and for people, communities, and nations to thrive. Our purpose is finding better ways to provide the materials the world needs – striving for innovation and continuous improvement to produce materials with low emissions and to the right environmental, social and governance standards. But we can’t do it on our own, so we’re focused on creating partnerships to solve problems, create win-win and meet opportunities.

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