Maintenance Superintendent

• Be part of the team powering New Zealand’s only aluminium smelter — surrounded by nature and powered by renewable hydroelectricity

• Lead an industrial-scale maintenance team with purpose, challenge and impact

• Permanent leadership opportunity based at Tiwai Point, Invercargill

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

New Zealand Aluminium Smelter (NZAS) operates one of the most efficient aluminium smelters in the world, producing some of the highest purity primary aluminium globally. Powered primarily by renewable energy from the Manapouri hydroelectric power station, NZAS plays a critical role in supporting a low‑carbon future.

We are seeking an experienced and driven Maintenance Superintendent to lead one of our maintenance teams. This role is accountable for the health and performance of assets critical to sustaining 24/7 smelter operations, including both planned and breakdown maintenance activities.

This is a leadership opportunity within a technically complex and safety‑critical environment, where your expertise in asset management, people leadership and continuous improvement will directly influence reliability, sustainability, performance and cost effectiveness.

Reporting to the Department Manager and working within a values‑based and safety‑focused environment, you will be responsible for:

• Providing technical and asset management strategic leadership across the department

• Championing a strong safety culture through effective risk management and continuous improvement

• Developing and implementing lifecycle asset strategies and reliability‑centred maintenance plans

• Supporting capital and sustaining project delivery for department infrastructure

• Leading, coaching and developing a high‑performing team of maintainers, project managers and technical specialists

About you

• A commitment to the safety of yourself and others

• A relevant engineering degree or trade background with demonstrated leadership experience

• Proven experience in the operation and maintenance of large‑scale industrial plant and systems

• A strong track record of leading high‑performing teams with a focus on safety, engagement and performance

• Well‑developed communication and stakeholder management skills

• Experience with SAP, Ellipse or similar asset management systems (desirable)

What we offer

• A key leadership role in a critical operational area with genuine impact

• Competitive salary and benefits including medical insurance, superannuation, incentive awards and paid parental leave

• Access to the Rio Tinto share ownership plan

• Career progression and technical development opportunities within a global organisation

• A safety‑focused and inclusive working environment

• Domestic or Australian relocation assistance where required

Where you’ll be working

NZAS is located at Tiwai Point near Invercargill, at the southern tip of Aotearoa New Zealand. Invercargill offers an easy, relaxed lifestyle with affordable living, short commutes and access to some of the country’s most stunning natural environments.

Just two hours from Queenstown, you’ll have world‑class skiing, hiking, mountain biking and wineries within reach, making Southland an exceptional place to live, work and raise a family.

#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 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.

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