Smelter Operators – Kennecott Copper

Smelter Operators – Kennecott Copper
 

• Permanent employment with a world-class mining organization, offering competitive pay and a comprehensive range of benefits to support you and your family

• Enjoy the rare opportunity to work in an urban mine — stay close to home in Salt Lake City and benefit from a family-friendly roster that supports your lifestyle

• We strongly encourage women and diverse applicants to apply and help shape the future of mining as we are committed to building a workforce that reflects the world around us

About the role

Finding better ways™ to provide the materials the world needs.

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 are looking for Smelter Operators to join both our Hot Metals and Materials Handling teams. In this hands-on role, you’ll be responsible for safely managing the flow of molten metal and slag, or supporting the movement and processing of materials across the smelter site.

Hot Metals Operators work in high-temperature environments, performing tasks such as tapping furnaces, removing slag buildup, and coordinating safely with other smelter personnel and equipment.

Materials Handling Operators focus on equipment operation and logistics, including front-end loader work and supporting the movement of raw and refined materials.

Reporting to the Supervisor, working a rotating, repetitive roster of day and night shifts, this is a physically demanding role that requires working on your feet for long hours in hot conditions, wearing full PPE. Training is provided, and you’ll be supported by experienced team members as you learn the process.

What you’ll bring

We’re looking for individuals who bring a strong, proactive safety mindset — not just for themselves, but for those working around them. Smelting is a high-risk environment, and every team member plays a vital role in maintaining a safe and controlled workplace.

To be successful, you’ll need:

• A genuine commitment to safety — consistently making safe choices, following procedures, and actively contributing to a culture of care and accountability

• A full driver’s license

• The ability to work in hot conditions while wearing a full-face respirator and fire-resistant PPE for the duration of your shift

• A clean-shaven face to ensure proper fit of respiratory protection

• Experience operating front-end loaders is highly regarded for roles within the Materials Handling team.

• A positive attitude and readiness to work in a manual, fast-paced environment

• Experience in smelting, refining or other industrial process environments beneficial

Please note: Applicants must be currently authorized to work for any employer in the United States. This position is not eligible for visa sponsorship, and we are unable to take over sponsorship of an employment visa at this time.

Where you’ll be working

Our Kennecott mine is a world-class, fully integrated copper mining operation located just outside Salt Lake City, Utah. We produce copper, precious metals including gold and silver, molybdenum, tellurium, 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 the advertised 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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