Principal Engineer Tailings & Dams

Principal Engineer Tailings & Dams

• Provide technical leadership and expertise in promoting technical excellence and risk reduction
• Great opportunity to join a global mining organisation offering outstanding personal development & career opportunities
• Permanent full-time role based in Perth

About the Roles

Finding better ways to provide the materials the world needs.

We have an opportunity for a Senior Tailings professional within our Rio Tinto Iron Ore Product Group. This role will focus on providing expert tailings storage (TSF) design and management support, as well as guidance and direction to our operations.

This role is a great opportunity for a highly collaborative and motivated individual to lead and participate in initiatives that positively impact how we manage our tailings storage facilities from planning to closure. Reporting to the Manager Tailings and Dams, this position will:

• Lead operational and project technical support across the Product Group by managing a small team of technical specialists
• Provide a technical authority for the Product Group
• Provide technical review and approval of project deliverables and major operational changes
• Champion safe and sustainable tailings management
• Develop and assist in governing technical and operational standards
• Maintain engagement with other internal technical stakeholder leads
• Facilitate and provide input to working groups, including making a contribution to our global Tailings Working Group
• Contribute to Independent Technical Review Boards in other Product Groups as the internal board member
• Lead the technical development of the team to enable succession in the future
• Contribute to the maintenance of an active and engaged community of internal and external stakeholders

What you’ll bring

• Extensive knowledge of tailings storage facility and dams design, construction and operations
• Demonstrated ability to communicate effectively and constructively with senior business leaders and other technical stakeholders
• Demonstrated leadership of technical teams and strong stakeholder engagement
• In depth knowledge of soil mechanics from a dam safety perspective and expertise in the safe operation and monitoring of tailing facilities
• Expertise in geotechnical investigations, analyses and designs relating to tailings and water storage facilities and associated infrastructure
• Expertise in reviewing geotechnical design reports from quality and corporate assurance prospective
• Demonstrated ability to work within large multi-disciplinary teams to consistently achieve safety and operational outcomes and delivery of targets
• Strong oral and written communication
• Tertiary qualifications in civil engineering, engineering geology or related discipline with significant experience in tailings management
• Deep understanding of relevant standards and guidelines, including GISTM
• 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 tailings or other asset management programs
• A well-developed network across the tailings industry

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 will be working

In the Pilbara region of Western Australia, we own an integrated portfolio of iron ore assets: a world-class, integrated network of 16 mines, four independent port terminals, a 1,700 kilometre rail network and related infrastructure – all designed to respond rapidly to changes in demand.

We are one of the world’s leading producers and exporters of iron ore.

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 20^th March 2023 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.