Project Manager – Surface Mine Projects

• Broaden your project leadership experience across studies, governance, funding and execution, with support from experienced team members as you learn Kennecott processes. 

• Work a Monday to Friday, nine-day fortnight schedule at the Surface Mine near Salt Lake City, supporting work-life balance. 

• Lead meaningful capital projects across mining, closure, asset management, electrical, water and geotechnical programs at Kennecott’s fully integrated copper operation. 

We’re Finding Better Ways™ to provide 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.

At Rio Tinto, we are committed to creating an inclusive and welcoming workplace where everyone feels safe, respected, and able to succeed. We actively encourage applications from women and from people with diverse backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives. We know that great technical capability comes in many forms, and we’re focused on building teams that reflect the communities we operate in and support each other to do their best work.

About the role

We are looking for a Project Manager to help the Surface Mine Projects team deliver moderate to major capital projects and studies. In this role, you’ll contribute to safe, sustainable and efficient mining operations, while working with operational, technical and support teams. This is a great opportunity for someone who enjoys leading complex projects from initiation through completion and wants to shape funding, governance and execution outcomes.

What you’ll be doing

Reporting to the Manager – Surface Mine Projects and working in a collaborative, cross-functional environment within the Surface Mine Projects team, you will be:

• Managing moderate to major capital projects from initiation through completion, achieving objectives through effective management of scope, resources, budgets, schedules, risks and change.

• Planning and coordinating project studies and execution activities, including analysis, technical evaluations and engagement of third-party contractors and consultants.

• Preparing technical documentation, business cases, funding submissions and presentations to support project governance and stage-gate approvals.

• Delivering projects safely while meeting technical, quality, cost and schedule requirements and embedding hazard identification, critical risk management and mitigation planning.

• Monitoring and controlling projects through execution and completion, including regular reporting and coordination with cost and scheduling teams.

• Collaborating across operations, asset management, closure, HSEC, electrical, water services, geotechnical and other support groups to achieve project and business outcomes.

• Managing relationships with project sponsors, senior leaders and stakeholders across multiple functions to maintain alignment and support decisions.

• Supervising contractors and developing scopes of work to ensure compliance with Rio Tinto standards and project requirements.
  

About you

We’re looking for someone whose experience aligns with the key requirements below. You do not need to meet every “helpful for success” item to apply — if you bring relevant experience and are excited by the opportunity, we encourage you to submit an application.

Required for Success

• A commitment to the safety of yourself and your team

• A bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Project Management, Regulatory, Earth Sciences or another relevant technical discipline.

• Extensive experience in progressively responsible project management experience in mining, heavy industry, construction or a related industrial environment.

• Experience managing project scope, cost, schedule, quality and risk. 

• Strong technical writing and verbal communication skills, with the ability to manage stakeholders effectively. 

• Ability to read and interpret complex engineering plans, drawings, specifications and technical documentation, and to develop scopes of work. 

• Business acumen to track cost, safety, schedule and quality metrics. 

• Experience using Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Project. 

Helpful for Success 

• Project management certification (PMP or CAPM) or advanced project management training. 

• Experience in contract management, project controls, business improvement, risk management or change management. 

• Electrical project experience, quality assurance, commissioning or schedule development experience. 
  

What we offer 

• A work environment where safety is always the number one priority. 

• Competitive base salary reflective of your skills and experience with an annual incentive bonus. 

• Access to top-tier family-friendly health programs including medical, prescription drug, dental, vision, life insurance coverage, and various voluntary benefits. 

• Excellent retirement plan including up to 6% defined company contribution; Generous 401k matching program. 

• Attractive share ownership plan. 

• Comprehensive leave policies which cover all the moments that matter in life: PTO (paid time off), paid holidays, and paid bereavement leave. 

• A generous parental leave policy, which ensures you’re able to spend quality time with your new family. 

• Discount programs for leisure purposes and access to Virgin Pulse with incentives supporting your wellbeing. 

• 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 

Our Kennecott mine is a world-class, fully integrated copper mining operation, including a concentrator, smelter, and refinery, located just outside Salt Lake City, Utah, in the United States. We produce copper, precious metals including gold and silver, molybdenum, and sulfuric acid. Kennecott has been mining and processing minerals from the rich ore body of the Bingham Canyon Mine since 1903 and is one of the top producing mines in the world, comprising approximately 11 percent of U.S. annual copper production. 

Rio Tinto reserves the right to remove advertised roles prior to closing date.

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.

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