Regional Operations Superintendent – USA

• Be part of a group that is safety driven and values inclusion

• Opportunity to travel across the United States, working directly in the field and contributing to exploration programs across diverse project locations.

• Role is located in Salt Lake City, Utah, with domestic relocation support available.

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.

About the role

We are looking for a Regional Operations Superintendent – USA to lead safe, efficient field operations and logistics across our exploration programs in the United States.

This is a great opportunity for a hands-on field operations leader to play a key role in enabling safe and effective exploration delivery across the USA.

Reporting to the Exploration Manager – USA, you will:

• Lead field operations, logistics, and infrastructure across a portfolio of USA exploration programs, enabling safe, efficient and effective programme delivery.

• Plan, establish and manage mineral exploration field operations for surface and drilling campaigns, including access, earthworks, rehabilitation, demobilisation and field readiness.

• Manage and support field teams, seasonal/project-based personnel and contractors across multiple locations, providing hands-on leadership, coaching and problem-solving support.

• Oversee the full contractor lifecycle, including tendering, onboarding, performance management and compliance with HSEC, environmental, community and company standards.

• Develop and manage field rosters, travel plans and fatigue management processes to support safe, well-coordinated and sustainable field operations.

• Partner with Exploration Managers, project leads and central support teams to align operational delivery with project plans, schedules, budgets and regional strategy.

• Prepare, deliver and manage operational plans and budgets that support programme requirements, performance targets and continuous improvement opportunities.

• Manage and maintain field vehicles, equipment and assets, ensuring reliability, compliance and readiness to support safe and efficient exploration activities.

About you

• A strong commitment to the safety of yourself and your team 

• Extensive experience (10+ years) in exploration or remote field operations, with significant time supporting multi-project exploration programmes

• Solid technical understanding of mineral exploration systems, with the ability to work effectively with geoscience teams to support drilling, sampling and data collection activities.

• Strong operational and logistical capability, including planning and delivering field programs in remote, complex and multi-site environments.

• Proven leadership experience managing and mentoring small teams and contractors to deliver safe, high-quality outcomes.

• Demonstrated experience in contractor engagement, performance management, risk identification and operational hazard control, ensuring compliance with HSEC and company standards.

• Strong communication and stakeholder engagement skills, with the ability to collaborate effectively across multidisciplinary teams and external partners.

• A flexible, hands-on approach, with willingness to travel regularly across the USA, spend extended periods in the field and maintain a valid driver’s license.

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.

• 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

Rio Tinto Exploration strives to be the world’s best explorer, building on a 70-year legacy of transformative discoveries. With explorers operating in more than a dozen countries across the globe, we’re actively pursuing opportunities in our core commodities whilst also being opportunistic in identifying other valuable minerals that underpin modern life and economic development.

Our global exploration team plays a pivotal role in discovering and safely delivering high-quality growth options for Rio Tinto. With diverse expertise across geoscience, technology, land access, data and information.

management, logistics and operations, communities and social performance, commercial and more, we work collaboratively to unlock value responsibly and sustainably, wherever we operate. 

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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