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Regular, full-time employment with a leading global mining company at Ridgeway, a Rio Tinto site near Ridgeway, South Carolina focused on long-term site stewardship, monitoring and rehabilitation.
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Day shift only, Monday to Friday, 8:00am – 5:00pm roster, giving you more time for the things you love, more time outdoors, and more time with family and friends — while still building a rewarding career.
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A hands-on opportunity to support safe and well-managed site operations across a large site environment, with a mix of equipment operation, vegetation maintenance, roadway upkeep and other site operations and maintenance activities.
We are committed to building a diverse and inclusive workforce. Women are strongly encouraged to apply. All qualified applicants will be considered for employment without regard to gender or any other protected characteristic. Hiring decisions are based on merit, qualifications, and business needs.
We’re Finding Better Ways™ to provide the materials the world needs, now and in the future. Our values — care, courage and curiosity — guide how we work and how we treat each other.
About the role
We are looking for a motivated and safety-focused operator to join our team at Ridgeway, supporting day-to-day site operations across a 2,000-acre former mining site near Ridgeway, South Carolina. Ridgeway is a Rio Tinto-owned site with legacy infrastructure including a tailings storage facility and multiple water storage facilities, and is now focused on long-term closure, monitoring and rehabilitation activities.
This is a great opportunity for someone who enjoys practical outdoor work, takes pride in maintaining a safe and well-managed site, and can work both independently and as part of a collaborative team. The role supports a broad mix of responsibilities including vegetation maintenance, roadway upkeep for safe site access, equipment operation, site logistics and contractor oversight for ad hoc works.
Reporting to the site leader and working within a respectful and safety-focused team, you will be responsible for:
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Supporting vegetation maintenance and management across the site, particularly during the growing season from now through November
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Maintaining roadways and access routes to ensure safe movement across the site
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Performing inspections and other operations and maintenance activities at the site
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Operating site equipment such as skid steers, small excavators, front end loaders, graders and farm-style tractors
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Conducting pre-start inspections and identifying equipment, access or safety issues
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Assisting with site logistics, including monitoring inventory of consumables and supporting equipment maintenance needs
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Overseeing contractors completing ad hoc site projects as required
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Following site procedures, work plans and supervisor direction while showing initiative in day-to-day tasks
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Working safely and effectively on your own and as part of a team
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Contributing to a respectful, inclusive and supportive work environment
About you
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A strong commitment to the safety of yourself and your team
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A valid US Driver’s License
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Experience operating machinery such as skid steers, excavators, front end loaders and graders
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Ability to work independently and as part of a team
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A self-starter who can take initiative and manage day-to-day work with minimal supervision
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A positive, respectful and inclusive attitude
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Strong communication skills and willingness to follow site procedures and directions
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Experience in site-based maintenance, civil, earthmoving, farming, rehabilitation, construction or other heavy equipment environments will be highly regarded
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Willingness to complete or maintain required training and competency for site equipment operation
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Innovative thinking to assist in identifying and implementing sustainable technology for operations and maintenance activities.
Applicants must be authorized to work in the United States without current or future visa sponsorship.
Even if your experience doesn’t align perfectly, we encourage you to apply — transferable skills and the right attitude are highly valued.
What we offer
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A work environment where safety is always the number one priority.
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Competitive base salary reflective of your skills and experience with an annual incentive bonus.
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Access to top-tier family-friendly health programs including medical, prescription drug, dental, vision, life insurance coverage, and various voluntary benefits.
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Excellent retirement plan including up to 6% defined company contribution; Generous 401k matching program.
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Attractive share ownership plan.
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Comprehensive leave policies which cover all the moments that matter in life: PTO (paid time off), paid holidays, and paid bereavement leave.
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A generous parental leave policy, which ensures you’re able to spend quality time with your new family.
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Discount programs for leisure purposes and access to Virgin Pulse with incentives supporting your wellbeing.
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Access to our Employee Assistance Program (EAP), which provides confidential counselling or expert guidance for you and your family to help get through life’s challenges.
Where you'll be working
Rio Tinto Closure (RTC) safely transforms Rio Tinto’s end of life mining, processing and infrastructure assets by developing innovative and sustainable solutions to leave a positive closure legacy. We collaborate with all parts of Rio Tinto to focus on maximizing post operational opportunities, de-risking and reducing the scale of closure liabilities and executing existing and near term closures at optimal cost.
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 situations and meet opportunities.
Respect and Inclusion
Rio Tinto is committed to equal employment opportunity. All qualified applicants will be considered without regard to race, color, sex, age, religion, national origin, disability, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local law.
We are committed to an inclusive environment where people feel safe, respected and valued. We want our people to feel that all voices are heard and that a variety of perspectives are not only welcome but are essential to our success. We treat all our people fairly and with dignity.
Rio Tinto participates in E- Verify to confirm work authorization. Please visit http://www.ucis.gov/ for more information.
R54533
Rio Tinto is a leading global mining and materials company. We operate in 35 countries where we produce iron ore, copper, aluminum, 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.
Rio Tinto is committed to equal employment opportunity. All qualified applicants will be considered without regard to race, color, sex, age, religion, national origin, disability, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local law.
We are committed to an inclusive environment where people feel safe, respected and valued. We want our people to feel that all voices are heard and that a variety of perspectives are not only welcome but are essential to our success. We treat all our people fairly and with dignity.
Rio Tinto participates in E- Verify to confirm work authorization. Please visit http://www.ucis.gov/ for more information.
Start your application
Take your leadership career to the next level.
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
- 2022 - PresentManager Projects - Energy DevelopmentBrisbane, Queensland, Australia
- 2021Superintendent Operations CentreBrisbane, Queensland, Australia
- 2020Development / Drill and Blast SuperintendentPilbara, Western Australia
- 2019Deputy Quarry ManagerPilbara, Western Australia
- 2018Development SupervisorPilbara, Western Australia
- 2017Senior Engineer of Drill, Blast and SurveyPilbara, Western Australia
- 2016Production EngineerPilbara, Western Australia
- 2015Mine scheduler - 2 week plannerPilbara, Western Australia
- 2014Drill and Blast EngineerPilbara, Western Australia
- 2012Graduate Mining EngineerPilbara, Western Australia
- 2022 – PresentGeneral Manager Weipa OperationsWeipa, Far North Queensland, Australia
- 2020General Manager Bell Bay AluminiumLaunceston, Tasmania, Australia
- 2017Metal products DepartmentBoyne SmeltersGladstone, Queensland, Australia
- 2014Reduction line Manager – Boyne SmeltersGladstone, Queensland, Australia
- 2012Services department Manager Boyne SmeltersGladstone, Queensland, Australia
- 2011Manager Health, Safety, Environment and business improvement Boyne SmeltersGladstone, Queensland, Australia
- 2010Lean Six Sigma Black Belt – Boyne SmeltersGladstone, Queensland, Australia
- 2009Operations SuperintendentGladstone, Queensland, Australia
- 2005Operations SuperintendentLaunceston, Tasmania, Australia
- 2004Graduate EngineerLaunceston, Tasmania, Australia
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.
Our application process
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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.
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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.
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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.