Manager Operational Excellence

Manager Operational Excellence

• Be part of a group that is safety driven and values inclusion
• Join an encouraging leadership group, committed to your growth and development
• Three permanent residential opportunities supporting Rio Tinto’s Aluminium assets

About the role

Finding better ways to provide the materials the world needs.

Our people are at our heart. We have introduced a function called Operational Excellence (OE) which will build the foundations of the future state. Enabling operational excellence is imperative to becoming the best operator and our OE teams will be critical to realising our strategic objectives and priorities. Our OE teams will be the heart of the Rio Tinto Safe Production System at our operations by building, maturing and sustaining the system over time.

We are looking for three Managers, Operational Excellence, to support our Aluminium assets in Weipa, Yarwun and Bell Bay. You will provide end to end oversight of the Business Improvement, Capital and Risk and Administration functions, including supporting the strategic deployment and sustainability of the Rio Tinto Safe Production Systems (RTSPS).

This is a great opportunity for those who put people at the centre, have a change mindset and a genuine interest in our fundamental principle of being the best operator. You will have the opportunity to Lead the newly created Operational Excellence team in alignment with the annual plan to deliver business priorities. You’ll be responsible for site wide tactical and strategic initiatives, including embedding replication of best practices to enable RTSPS sustainability.

The vision is to embed an organisational blueprint for Rio Tinto’s Aluminium assets, which will be the standard for future organisational design at every site moving forward.

Reporting to the General Manager specific to the site you will be supporting, and working in a collaborative community, you will:

• Actively foster and communicate a positive safety culture to promote safety awareness and compliance, encouraging prioritisation of safety in all activities and operations
• Lead the Operational Excellence function, including Business Improvement, Risk & Capital and Contractor Management and Learning and Development
• Oversee the design of end-to-end business improvement projects, providing thought leadership on maximising benefits and minimising implementation risks
• Support site in achieving Rio Tinto’s vision to become ‘best operator’
• Oversee the deployment and embedment of the RTSPS, taking accountability for outcomes
• Manage and coordinate annual and strategic planning for the site
• Manage change through the implementation of new processes and improvement activities
• Provide coaching and support to operational leaders on operational excellence best practice
• Build business improvement capability in the business to ensure sustained results and continuous improvement
• Apply discipline, governance and quality assurance across capital planning
• Identify, document, manage and communicate compliance risks within the Operational Excellence team
• Develop strong interfaces and relationships with external partners and stakeholders

Leading on the frontline is one of the most important jobs in our business and comes with a huge amount of responsibility. We need you to motivate, inspire and keep your people safe and well. With signature leadership training programmes, growing and developing is more than an opportunity – it is something we actively plan and make happen. Every day our leaders grow, while our rosters are designed to help you live the lifestyle that is right for you and your family.

About you

As we introduce the new OE function, a key component of the role will require you to interface with multiple stakeholders, therefore your communication and relationship building skills are important to succeed in this role.

To be successfully considered you’ll bring:

• Demonstrated ability to learn and the passion for a newly created operational excellence model
• Your appetite for an operational focus and demonstrated exposure to Operations
• A commitment to the safety of yourself and your team
• Commitment to Rio Tinto value drivers of Care, Courage and Curiosity
• Leadership experience, including leading change
• Strong problem solving and business process optimisation skills
• Solid influencing skills and ability to develop and build credibility among peers
• Strong teamwork, communication and interpersonal skills
• Current C Class driver’s license

Although not essential, you may also bring:

• Commercial experience in the Business Improvement six sigma space
• Lean qualifications or experience

What we offer Be recognised for your contribution, your thinking and your hard work, and go home knowing you’ve helped the world progress. 

• 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 & salary packaging options 
• Career development & 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) 
• Possible domestic relocation assistance

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 almost 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’ll be workingWeipa

Weipa is a coastal mining town in the local government area of Weipa Town in Queensland. It is the largest town on the Cape York Peninsula. It exists because of the enormous bauxite deposits along the coast. Our Weipa operations in Far North Queensland includes three bauxite mines, processing facilities, ship loaders, an export wharf, two ports power stations, a rail network and ferry terminals.

Bell Bay

Bell Bay, Northern Tasmania, is situated on the mouth of the Tamar River, approximately five kilometres from George Town and 45 kilometres from Launceston. Bell Bay Aluminium has a long and proud history of supporting the Tasmanian community. Our initiatives in education, environment, health and wellbeing, arts and diversity are designed to make a positive difference and create quality outcomes.

Yarwun

Located in Gladstone, Queensland, the region is famous for fishing and boating. With Australia's most northerly surf beach, Agnes Water and Town of 1770, proximity to National Parks, laid back coastal villages and rural hinterland lifestyles, make it an attractive destination to live and work. The Yarwun refinery provides test platforms for our bauxite technologies globally, which helps market our northern Australian bauxite all around the world.

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 close on 25 August 2023 (Rio Tinto reserves the right to remove advertised roles prior to this date).

Please note, to be successfully considered for this role all application questions must be answered.