Senior Adviser – Drilling Safety | Brisbane
- Lead drilling safety across multiple RTAL operations
- Partner with geology, operations and contractors to deliver critical resource drilling programs safely and effectively
- Drive continuous improvement and embed leading industry practices across drilling and field activities
- Work across diverse exploration and operational programs
- Brisbane based position with regular site travel
About the role
Finding better ways to provide the materials the world needs.
We are seeking a Senior Adviser – Drilling Safety to support the Bauxite Geology Team (BGT) across Rio Tinto Aluminium Pacific Operations. This is a critical role responsible for planning, delivering and supervising drilling programs and associated field activities, ensuring they are executed safely and effectively across multiple sites.
Rio Tinto Aluminium & Lithium (RTAL) operates globally across bauxite mining, refining and smelting, with Pacific Operations supporting a diverse portfolio of assets and development projects. The Bauxite and Alumina division provides technical expertise across Orebody Knowledge (OBK), Mine Planning and Asset Management to support both current operations and future growth.
The Bauxite Geology Team (BGT) plays a key role in de-risking mining operations and project development through the collection and interpretation of mineral resource data. Drilling programs range from early-stage exploration through to close-spaced assured drilling, often delivered in remote, logistically complex environments.
In this role, you will provide expert guidance to internal teams and contractors, ensuring compliance with Rio Tinto safety standards, critical risk management processes, and drilling procedures. You will also lead continuous improvement initiatives, with a focus on embedding leading industry practices and uplifting drilling safety performance across RTAL Pacific Operations.
Key responsibilities include:
- Leading the safe planning, execution and supervision of drilling programs and associated field activities
- Providing expert guidance to teams and contractors to ensure compliance with Rio Tinto safety standards and critical risk management processes
- Conducting compliance inspections of drilling and earthworks equipment, ensuring alignment with the RT Drilling Procedure and Guidance Note
- Maintaining and improving risk assessments, risk registers, SOPs and JSEAs
- Leading and supporting incident investigations, ensuring timely close-out and organisational learning
- Managing contractor performance, including site access compliance, certifications and training matrices
- Partnering with Procurement and contractors to support effective contract management
- Driving continuous improvement initiatives and representing RTAL in the global drilling community to embed best practice
About you
You are a visible safety leader with strong drilling experience and the ability to influence outcomes across complex, remote environments.
You will bring:
- 10+ years’ experience across drilling methods such as Diamond, RC, RAB, Aircore, Sonic or Geotechnical
- Strong experience supervising field-based teams and managing drilling contractors
- Proven background in mining and remote field operations, including camp-based environments
- Demonstrated capability in safety systems, risk management and incident investigation
- Strong stakeholder engagement skills, with the ability to influence across multiple functions
- A proactive, solutions-focused mindset with a passion for continuous improvement
Highly desirable:
- Experience with incident investigation methodologies (e.g. ICAM / Essential Factors)
- Familiarity with safety systems such as Enablon
- Cert IV OHS
- Certified in Training & Assessing
Where you will be working
You will support Rio Tinto Aluminium Pacific Operations, working closely with the Bauxite Geology Team across operating sites and regional exploration and evaluation projects.
This role is Brisbane based and involves regular travel to remote field locations, including camp-based environments, where drilling and geological programs are delivered. You will play a key role connecting site teams, contractors and central technical functions to ensure safe and effective execution of field activities.
What we offer
- A unique opportunity to influence drilling safety performance across multiple operations and projects
- Competitive salary with annual incentive program
- Access to a global network of drilling, geology and safety professionals
- Ongoing professional development and leadership growth opportunities
- A strong safety culture where your expertise directly impacts people and operational outcomes
- A dynamic role combining field-based leadership with strategic safety influence
#gts
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
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.
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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.
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 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 who we are.
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.
Working in a technical role at Rio Tinto
Your advanced expertise will help drive human progress.
We’ve developed technical capabilities through nearly 150 years of discovering, planning, and operating mines in every corner of the world. We’re an open, connected international team of technical specialists using some of the most sophisticated tools and robust data on the planet. Join us and experience:
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.