Principal Advisor Underground Production

  • Excellent opportunity to be part of a world-class underground mining project
  • Great exposure and development opportunities within the Owner’s team
  • Collaborative and high performing environment at an exciting location

About the role

We are looking for a Principal Advisor Underground Production (Manager level role) to join our diverse team. This is a key role within the Owner’s team with the responsibility for growing a diverse and capable team to continue the development of and ramp up of production activities for four block cave mines. 

The Opportunity

A great opportunity to use your skills and experience in UG mine production activities to deliver the systems of work and resources required to meet the required cave production outputs. The role is responsible for both steady state production draw, secondary breaking activities and haulage level operations of existing production panels, as well as the expansion of the cave footprint with the construction of future production panels. 

What the role entails

Working 5 days on/ 2 days off based in Ulaanbaatar and FIFO to site roster, or with the option of 4 weeks on/ 2 weeks off international FIFO arrangement and reporting to Manager Production, you will:

  • Be responsible for execution of undercutting, extraction level draw point development, drawbell construction, production draw, secondary breaking, rehabilitation, haulage level operations and vertical development activities
  • Work with multiple stakeholders to grow a competent gender diverse national workforce capable of safely executing caving related activities to the required standard and schedule, focused on robust training programs and development pathways to prepare for expansion in production activities.
  • Providing coaching and mentoring to direct reports with a focus on the capability development and succession planning of the national workforce, inclusive of talent assessment and performance appraisals.
  • Refinement of Management Operating System (MOS) specific to Production activities that integrates with the mine-wide MOS processes.
  • Demonstrate rigor in incident investigation and action management to ensure essential factors are identified and robust controls are implemented to mitigate risk and prevent re-occurrence.
  • Contribute to the general education of the underground workforce regarding block caving methods, risks and constraints
  • Work collaboratively with the Business Improvement team to identify, evaluate and implement opportunities and initiatives related to productivity, schedule acceleration, cost reduction and safety improvements.

What you will need for this role

  • 10+ years’ experience in underground mines managing development, production and rehabilitation activities
  • Experience in management of operational teams
  • Block cave / Sublevel cave experience highly regarded
  • Demonstrated ability to work as part of an integrated delivery team
  • Quality assurance and continuous improvement skills
  • An ability to work autonomously within a highly complex project delivery environment.
  • Engineering qualification and or formal Mine management qualifications highly regarded

What we offer

  • A work environment where safety is always the number one priority
  • International relocation and visa assistance if required
  • Competitive package
  • Career development to further your ambitions
  • Access top tier family-friendly health and medical programs
  • Employee Assistance Program
  • Ongoing individual wellbeing support for you and your family for personal and professional matter
  • Leave for all of life’s reasons (vacation/ annual, paid parental, sick leave)

About us

Joining the Rio Tinto Oyu Tolgoi Underground Operations team is a great opportunity to be part of one of the most exciting developments in copper and gold mining for several decades. The mine contains reserves and resources that make it one of the world’s largest copper-gold deposits. 

This mega mining operation is expected to be a major contributor to Mongolia’s development. As part of the Rio Tinto Oyu Tolgoi Underground Operations team, you have the ability to contribute to something significant and learn and develop both personally and professionally. We offer a collaborative, high performing environment where success is achieved by working together.

Discover more about Mongolia and Oyu Tolgoi

Mongolia is increasingly becoming a destination for tourism and expatriate residents. As a rapidly developing city, Mongolia’s capital Ulaanbaatar is seen as a comfortable, yet exciting place to live. With an array of cultural and social activities available and a growing network of international schools, housing options, and leisure facilities, its home to a growing community of international expatriates.

Located in the South Gobi Desert, just 80 kilometres from the Chinese border, the Oyu Tolgoi open pit mine and camp is a large, well-run and comfortable site with multiple amenities including recreational and sports facilities, a cinema, shops, restaurants and bars catered to a growing community. For more information about OT site, please check out this video.

Where you’ll be working

Oyu Tolgoi is an operating Copper / Gold open pit mine with a brownfields underground mining project. The site is located in the Gobi Desert region of Mongolia. The reserves case for the underground project is in the order of 0.5 billion tonnes of ore to be mined from the 95,000 tonnes per day Hugo North Lift 1 (HNL1) panel cave mine with a 20-year operations life. There is also the potential for 3 further block cave districts to increase mine life beyond 100 years.

Every Voice Matters

At Rio Tinto, we particularly welcome and encourage applications from Indigenous Peoples, women, the LGBTQIA+ 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.

Job application closes on Sep 25 2024

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Take your leadership career to the next level.

You’ve got the abilities, passion, and drive to lead. We’ll provide you with the resources, support, and opportunities you need to grow and advance in your leadership career with us. Our signature leadership training programs empower your natural leadership skills and experience.

As you grow in your leadership role, you’ll enjoy competitive pay, great benefits, and the flexibility to balance work with your outside interests and commitments. Above all, you’ll work with people who inspire and motivate you in an organisation that values curiosity and creativity. Working with us means touching people’s lives, from exploring new materials to finding ways to tackle climate change.

At Rio Tinto, you can follow a career path through varied leadership roles:

Functional leaders

You’re the expert. That makes you the perfect person to lead others. As a Functional Leader, you’ll provide direct leadership within your specialised field of expertise.

Operational leaders

Leading on the frontline is one of the most important jobs in our business. You motivate our teams so they can provide the metals and minerals that help the world progress, while ensuring they all go home safely at the end of every shift.

Senior leaders

As one of Rio Tinto’s senior leaders, you’ll help run a company that drives human progress. Modelling our values and behaviours, you’ll lead some of the industry’s best and brightest minds, working to solve global challenges.

You’ve got the abilities, passion, and drive to lead. We’ll provide you with the resources, support, and opportunities you need to grow and advance in your leadership career with us. Our signature leadership training programs empower your natural leadership skills and experience.

As you grow in your leadership role, you’ll enjoy competitive pay, great benefits, and the flexibility to balance work with your outside interests and commitments. Above all, you’ll work with people who will inspire and motivate you in an organisation that values curiosity and creativity. Working with us means touching people’s lives, from exploring new materials to finding ways to tackle climate change.

At Rio Tinto, you can follow a career path through varied leadership roles:

Operational leaders

Leading on the frontline is one of the most important jobs in our business. You motivate our teams so they can provide the metals and minerals that are essential to human progress, while ensuring everyone goes home safely after every shift.

Senior leaders

As one of Rio Tinto’s senior leaders, you’ll help run a company that drives human progress. Modelling our values and behaviours, you’ll lead some of the industry’s best and brightest minds, working to solve global challenges.

Where can Rio Tinto take you?

You’re passionate and ambitious with tremendous career aspirations. The breadth and growth of our organisation empowers you to define your ideal career path.

Take a look at Katie’s career journey

Take a look at Shona’s career journey

Rio Tinto employee Shona Markham

Rio Tinto employee Shona Markham

  • 2022 - Present
    Manager Projects - Energy Development
    Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
  • 2021
    Superintendent Operations Centre
    Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
  • 2020
    Development / Drill and Blast Superintendent
    Pilbara, Western Australia
  • 2019
    Deputy Quarry Manager
    Pilbara, Western Australia
  • 2018
    Development Supervisor
    Pilbara, Western Australia
  • 2017
    Senior Engineer of Drill, Blast and Survey
    Pilbara, Western Australia
  • 2016
    Production Engineer
    Pilbara, Western Australia
  • 2015
    Mine scheduler - 2 week planner
    Pilbara, Western Australia
  • 2014
    Drill and Blast Engineer
    Pilbara, Western Australia
  • 2012
    Graduate Mining Engineer
    Pilbara, Western Australia
  • 2022 – Present
    General Manager Weipa Operations
    Weipa, Far North Queensland, Australia
  • 2020
    General Manager Bell Bay Aluminium
    Launceston, Tasmania, Australia
  • 2017
    Metal products Department
    Boyne Smelters
    Gladstone, Queensland, Australia
  • 2014
    Reduction line Manager – Boyne Smelters
    Gladstone, Queensland, Australia
  • 2012
    Services department Manager Boyne Smelters
    Gladstone, Queensland, Australia
  • 2011
    Manager Health, Safety, Environment and business improvement Boyne Smelters
    Gladstone, Queensland, Australia
  • 2010
    Lean Six Sigma Black Belt – Boyne Smelters
    Gladstone, Queensland, Australia
  • 2009
    Operations Superintendent
    Gladstone, Queensland, Australia
  • 2005
    Operations Superintendent
    Launceston, Tasmania, Australia
  • 2004
    Graduate Engineer
    Launceston, Tasmania, Australia
VIEW MORE

Working at Rio Tinto

Help us deliver the materials that make human progress possible.

The plane you’re flying in just landed. You fire up your phone and get your laptop out of the overhead bin. Immediately, you’re in work mode – thousands of miles from your office. Do you ever stop to think about all the materials that make life in the 21st century possible? At Rio Tinto, we discover, develop and deliver the materials that drive human progress. When you work with us, you’ll experience advantages you won’t find anywhere else.

Working in our Operations teams

The most important thing you’ll uncover is your own potential.

Working in Operations at Rio Tinto means you can make a hands-on difference in the discovery and delivery of the materials that make human progress possible. In return, we strive to help you achieve and even exceed your career goals. Join us and experience:

Meaningful work

We’re industry innovators – driving responsible progress and exploring the boundaries of everything we do. And we work hard to leave a lasting, positive legacy for everywhere we work. Nothing could be more rewarding.

Three female Rio Tinto employees smiling while sitting at a table under a tree

Opportunities for growth

With a business as expansive and diverse as ours, the opportunities for professional advancement are limitless. We’ll work with you to create a career plan, develop your skills, and further your education.

Female Rio Tinto worker holding hard hat and standing a railing

Excellent compensation and benefits

We offer great pay as well as a benefits package that recognises your contributions and provides you with everything you need to enjoy a truly rewarding life.

Man playing with daughter in the sand on a beach

Safety

Though we’re continually focused on discovering, developing, and delivering the materials that make human progress possible, the safety and wellbeing of our employees have been and always will be our bottom line.

Rio Tinto employee wearing jacket, hard hat and respirator

Inspiring people and an empowering culture

Whatever our individual roles, we’re each here to contribute to extremely important work. And we do it together. We inspire, encourage, empower and truly care for each other.

Two male Rio Tinto employees in jackets and hard hats in front of a processing plant - one employee is placing his hand on the other's shoulder

A commitment to inclusion and diversity

We’re committed to an inclusive environment where people feel comfortable being 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 and value our differences for the strength and diversity they bring to our organisation.

Close-up of a line of work boots with rainbow-colored laces on clay soil

Safety

The safety and well-being of our employees have been and always will be our priority. We do the work only if it is safe, and we invest to make sure every member of our team has the quality tools they need to do their job.

Rio Tinto employee wearing jacket, hard hat and respirator

Quality of life

Our rosters are designed to provide you with the flexibility you need to balance your work life with your home life, your family, and your other outside interests and commitments.

Male Rio Tinto employee with his smiling family, holding his son

Opportunities for growth

With a business as expansive and diverse as ours, the opportunities for professional advancement are limitless. We’ll work with you to create a career plan, develop your skills, and further your education.

Three smiling Rio Tinto employees wearing hard hats and protective eye wear enjoying a conversation

Meaningful work

We’re industry innovators – driving responsible progress and exploring the boundaries of everything we do. And we work hard to leave a lasting, positive legacy for everywhere we work. Nothing could be more rewarding.

Smiling female employee wearing a hard hat and goggles in front of industrial equipment

A commitment to inclusion and diversity

We’re committed to an inclusive environment where people feel comfortable being 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, and value our differences for the strength and diversity they bring to our organisation.

Close-up of a line of work boots with rainbow-colored laces on clay soil

Quality of life

We’re committed to providing you with the flexibility you need to balance your work life with your home life, your family, and your other outside interests, passions, and commitments.

Female Rio Tinto employee and her son playing foosball in an arcade

People and culture

Whatever our individual roles, we’re each here to contribute to extremely important work. And we do it together. We inspire, encourage, empower and truly care for each other.

Three smiling Rio Tinto employees gathered around a small conference table

Opportunities for growth

With a business as expansive and diverse as ours, the opportunities for professional advancement are limitless. We’ll work with you to create a career plan, develop your skills, and further your education.

Female Rio Tinto employee is business casual clothing presenting to large group in auditorium

Meaningful work

We’re industry innovators – driving responsible progress and exploring the boundaries of everything we do. And we work hard to leave a lasting, positive legacy for everywhere we work. Nothing could be more rewarding.

Female Rio Tinto employee in high technology center writing on glass board

A commitment to inclusion and diversity

We’re committed to an inclusive environment where people feel comfortable being 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.

Female Rio Tinto employee in foreground working on laptop with other employees in the background

Inspiring people and an empowering culture

Whatever our individual roles, we’re each here to contribute to extremely important work. And we do it together. We inspire, encourage, empower and truly care for each other as we live out the values and deliver the performance that defines Rio Tinto.

Diverse group of smiling Rio Tinto employees standing over table looking at project plans

Meaningful work

You’ll be joining a global technical community with the best tools and data at your fingertips. We are innovation leaders and are committed to advancing the promise of a more sustainable world. Nothing could be more rewarding.

Two male Rio Tinto employees controlling large, state-of-the-art drone

Quality of life

Enjoy efficient and effective work processes with strong support to help you balance your other interests and commitments.

Male Rio Tinto employee with his smiling family, holding his son

Opportunities for growth

With a business as expansive and diverse as ours, the opportunities for professional advancement are limitless. Our technical development programs are industry-leading and enable you to grow your career through a dedicated technical path while being rewarded for your unique skills.

A male and a female Rio Tinto employee are at a project site and looking at a computer tablet

A commitment to inclusion and diversity

We’re committed to an inclusive environment where people feel comfortable being 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 and value our differences for the strength and diversity they bring to our organisation.

Close-up of a line of work boots with rainbow-colored laces on clay soil

Opportunities for learning and development

You can build on your education with real-world work that makes a difference. With our Global Development Program and other key initiatives, you’ll help shape the future of Rio Tinto as you enhance your professional potential and broaden your career options. You’ll network with experienced industry leaders and expand your knowledge base through many specific development activities.

Two Rio Tinto employees look on as a third employee writes on a white board

Meaningful work

You’ll get to work on a variety of assignments that present exciting challenges and complexity. If you receive rotations, you’ll also participate in many different roles, teams, and environments.

A female Rio Tinto professional in business attire sitting at a desk in an office setting

A focus on sustainability

You’ll be able to play a significant role in sustainability initiatives and help us develop global solutions for environmental and climate change challenges.

Wind turbine in field of flowering bushes

Inspiring people and an empowering culture

You’ll experience the benefits of our unique culture. Our leadership is active, engaged, supportive, and ready to help you translate your education into a rewarding career.

Diverse group of Rio Tinto employees walking through industrial building

A commitment to Inclusion and Diversity

We’re committed to an inclusive environment where people feel comfortable being 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 and value our differences for the strength and diversity they bring to our organisation.

Close-up of a line of work boots with rainbow-colored laces on clay soil

Life at Rio Tinto

We’re a mining and metals company with operations in 35 countries around the world. We work in an incredible variety of settings – in mines, smelters, and refineries; in sales offices and data centres; in research facilities and development labs; and with artificial intelligence. All of this adds up to tremendously varied lifestyle options. We’ll work with you to determine the lifestyle opportunities that are available for your role.

1/6

Residential

You’ll be part of a friendly, welcoming community close to our mining operation. You’ll be home after each shift to enjoy your life away from work.

2/6

FIFO

Flying into a site, staying at a camp for the duration of your roster, then flying home again. We call this FIFO.

3/6

BIBO

For certain sites, you will take a bus or a boat into the site, stay at a camp, and then bus or boat out again.

4/6

Operations Centre

Advanced facilities in certain regions enable our teams to control some systems remotely.

5/6

City hubs

State-of-the-art offices connect you seamlessly with colleagues around the world.

6/6

Our application process

01

Apply

The first thing you’ll need to do is apply to the role. You can do this with your LinkedIn profile or you can upload your resume. We’ll also ask you to complete a few questions before you submit your application.

02

Undergo assessments

Our assessments are designed to help us work out whether you are suitable for the role. We will let you know which ones you’ll need to complete.

03

Interview(s)

Our interviews could be in person or online. It’s a great opportunity for us to get to know you a bit better, answer any of your questions and talk about the exciting career opportunity you have applied for.

04

Offers and checks

At this stage, we will let you know if you have been successful. If you have been, we’ll need to conduct a couple of checks, such as a background or security check. You may also need to do a medical assessment depending on the role you have applied for.

05

Join the Rio Tinto team

Once the checks have been completed, we’ll be in touch to talk with you about your start date and answer any questions you may have before you start with us.

01

Apply

The first thing you’ll need to do is apply to the role. You can do this with your LinkedIn profile or you can upload your resume. We’ll also ask you to complete a few questions before you submit your application.

02

Undergo assessments

Our assessments are designed to help us work out whether you are suitable for the role. We will let you know which ones you’ll need to complete.

03

Interview(s)

Our interviews could be in person or online. It’s a great opportunity for us to get to know you a bit better, answer any of your questions and talk about the exciting career opportunity you have applied for.

04

Offers and checks

At this stage, we will let you know if you have been successful. If you have been, we’ll need to conduct a couple of checks, such as a background or security check. You may also need to do a medical assessment. depending on the role. you have applied for.

05

Join the Rio Tinto team

Once the checks have been completed, we’ll be in touch to talk with you about your start date and answer any questions you may have before you start with us.

Your questions answered

Your questions answered

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