Senior Advisor – Technology Development

Senior Advisor Technology Development (USA) – NutonTM

• Be part of the team pioneering the commercialization of Rio Tinto’s novel NutonTM heap leaching technology. You challenge. We reward.
• Key role in a diverse and global organization.
• Role is based in Tucson, Arizona, USA.

About the role

Finding better ways to provide the materials the world needs.

NutonTM is an innovative new venture that aims to help grow Rio Tinto’s copper business. At the core of NutonTM is a portfolio of proprietary copper leach related technologies and capability – a product of almost 30 years of research and development. The NutonTM technology offers the potential to economically unlock known low-grade copper sulphide resources, copper bearing waste and tailings, and achieve higher copper recoveries on primary copper sulfide material, allowing for a significantly increased copper production outcome. One of the key differentiators of NutonTM is the potential to deliver leading environmental performance, including more efficient water usage, lower carbon emissions, and the ability to reclaim mine sites by reprocessing mine waste.

We are seeking a Senior Advisor for Technology Development to support programs focused on testing various ores and advancing Nuton technologies. The goal is to enhance unit processes and design modules specific to the Nuton process. This role will involve directly overseeing and managing test programs at Nuton partner laboratories.

The role will be based in Tucson Arizona, USA. The successful candidate will undergo an initial training period at Rio Tinto’s Bundoora Technology Development Centre in Melbourne, Australia.

Reporting to the Principal Advisor Technology Development, you will:

• Plan, conduct, lead, and analyze Nuton test work programs at external commercial laboratories. This includes testing ore samples from partner ore bodies to assess their amenability to Nuton’s primary copper sulfide leach technology and supporting the advancement of Nuton technologies.
• Lead the setup of a new partner testing facility to analyze ores from our first industrial-scale deployment site at Johnson Camp Mine.  
• Provide technical support to the Deployment Manager and Technical Delivery Leads as needed.
• Support the development of process design criteria for various scales of operation and engineering stages in collaboration with the Nuton Technology Transfer and the Technical Delivery teams.
• Provide and / or review technical design and engineering specifications as needed by the broader Nuton team.

What you’ll bring

To be successfully considered for this role, you will have:

• A commitment to the safety of yourself and your team.
• A tertiary qualification in Chemical or Metallurgical Engineering.
• Strong data analysis skills
• Strong problem-solving ability incorporating troubleshooting of technical and complex issues
• A minimum of 6 years of processing related work experience in the mining or engineering industry. This experience should include the design and management of hydrometallurgical test work programmes and/or pilot plant trials.
• Good understanding of sampling theory and experimental statistical analysis/design
• Experience in copper heap leaching
• Ability to work in multi-functional and multi-disciplinary teams and deliver measurable outcomes.
• Excellent verbal, written, and interpersonal skills to effectively communicate with employees at all levels of the organization and external vendors and stakeholders.

What we offer

Be recognized 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 competitive salary package with annual cash incentive awards for eligible employees
• Career development & education assistance to further your ambitions
• Access top tier family-friendly health and medical programs and pension plan
• Wellbeing benefits
• Generous Rio Tinto employee share program
• Employee Assistance Program
• Ongoing individual wellbeing support for you and your family for personal and professional matters
• Leave for all of life’s reasons (vacation/annual, paid parental, sick leave)

Where you’ll be working

The role will be based in Tucson, Arizona and include an initial assignment to Melbourne, VIC, Australia, at the Bundoora Technical Development Centre.

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.

Every Voice Matters

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.

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