Specialist Business Improvement
- Tremendous career growth potential to work with a global mining organisation
- Be part of a dynamic and collaborative improvement team
- Residential full‑time permanent position on a 9‑day fortnight
- While others dream of visiting the Cape, for you it’s right in your backyard
About the role
All progress begins with pioneers. At Rio Tinto, it begins with you.
Reporting to the Superintendent, Business Improvement, we are seeking an experienced and motivated Specialist, Business Improvement to join our Business Improvement team in Weipa. In this role, you will support critical improvement initiatives across the Weipa Bauxite Operations portfolio, working closely with leaders and frontline teams to enhance operational excellence and deliver sustainable value across people, planet and profit.
You will play a key role in improving reliability, productivity, and value delivery across our mining, processing, maintenance, and export operations. This role is ideal for a structured, people‑focused professional with strong BI capability, analytical thinking, and a passion for enabling better ways of working.
In addition to competitive pay and a comprehensive benefits package, you will enjoy the lifestyle advantages of living on the Western Cape. With the scale and diversity of our operations, you will also have significant opportunities for ongoing personal and professional development within a global organisation.
Key responsibilities
In this role, you will be responsible for delivering a range of business improvement activities that strengthen operational performance, build capability, and support continuous improvement across the Weipa Operations. Your key responsibilities include:
- Lead and support structured problem‑solving activities including Kaizen events and practical problem‑solving sessions.
- Coach and mentor colleagues to foster a culture of continuous improvement.
- Deploy Business Improvement tools, systems and methodologies aligned with operational strategy.
- Facilitate cadence forums, SPS deployment and continuous improvement governance processes.
- Apply the Plan‑Do‑Check‑Act (PDCA) framework to strengthen business processes and improve operational outcomes.
- Partner with operational leaders to identify, prioritise and implement improvement opportunities.
- Deliver Lean Six Sigma (LSS) projects and perform supporting data analysis to inform decision‑making.
- Capture, manage and report Business Improvement project data to ensure accuracy and transparency.
- Deliver training in BI tools, frameworks and methodologies to build capability across site.
- Build strong cross‑functional relationships to drive collaboration and influence positive outcomes.
What you will bring
To be successfully considered for this role, you will have:
- Ability to work effectively in an operational mining environment, including in-field, plant, and production areas.
- Demonstrated experience in Business Improvement or strong capability to identify, analyse, and deliver improvement opportunities.
- Ability to build strong relationships across all organisational levels.
- Coaching and mentoring skillset.
- Strong analytical skills, including the ability to interpret operational data and make evidence‑based recommendations.
- Proven ability to work proactively and independently while maintaining strong stakeholder engagement.
- Exceptional written and verbal communication skills.
- Experience leading small project teams, facilitating improvement workshops, or coaching others.
- High attention to detail and a structured communication style.
- High proficiency in Microsoft Office, particularly Excel (modelling, analysis) and PowerPoint (clear communication).
- A valid C‑Class driver’s licence.
Highly regarded:
- Experience in business analysis, commercial analysis or operational planning.
- Experience applying BI processes within mining, manufacturing, or heavy industry.
- Lean Six Sigma, continuous improvement, or BI qualifications.
- Project management, engineering, or technical background.
- Degree in business, engineering, analytics or related discipline.
- Experience with data visualisation tools such as Power BI.
What we offer
Be recognised 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
- Career development and education assistance
- Competitive salary with annual incentive program
- Family‑friendly health and medical programs, pension and savings plans
- Attractive share ownership plan
- Leave for life’s needs (annual, parental, sick leave)
- Employee discounts
- Domestic relocation assistance
- Weipa accommodation benefit
- Remote area allowance and remote area holiday travel assistance
Where you will be working
Our Weipa operations in Far North Queensland include three bauxite mines, processing facilities, shiploaders, an export wharf, two ports, power stations, a rail network and ferry terminals. Amrun, our newest mine, extends our 55‑year history on the Western Cape, creating long‑term opportunities for the region. We work closely with Traditional Owners to ensure benefits are shared across generations and that cultural heritage is respected and protected.
Applications close: 22nd February 2026
Rio Tinto reserves the right to remove job postings prior to the stated closing date. If you are interested in applying, please submit your application as soon as possible.
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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 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, women, the LGBTI+ 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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Rio Tinto is a leading global mining and materials company. We operate in 35 countries where we produce iron ore, copper, aluminum, 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 and meet opportunities.
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 being 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 who we are.
Start your application
Take your leadership career to the next level.
Where can Rio Tinto take you?
You’re passionate and ambitious with tremendous career aspirations. The breadth and growth of our organisation empowers you to define your ideal career path.
Take a look at Katie’s career journey
- 2022 - PresentManager Projects - Energy DevelopmentBrisbane, Queensland, Australia
- 2021Superintendent Operations CentreBrisbane, Queensland, Australia
- 2020Development / Drill and Blast SuperintendentPilbara, Western Australia
- 2019Deputy Quarry ManagerPilbara, Western Australia
- 2018Development SupervisorPilbara, Western Australia
- 2017Senior Engineer of Drill, Blast and SurveyPilbara, Western Australia
- 2016Production EngineerPilbara, Western Australia
- 2015Mine scheduler - 2 week plannerPilbara, Western Australia
- 2014Drill and Blast EngineerPilbara, Western Australia
- 2012Graduate Mining EngineerPilbara, Western Australia
Working at Rio Tinto
Help us deliver the materials that make human progress possible.
The plane you’re flying in just landed. You fire up your phone and get your laptop out of the overhead bin. Immediately, you’re in work mode – thousands of miles from your office. Do you ever stop to think about all the materials that make life in the 21st century possible? At Rio Tinto, we discover, develop and deliver the materials that drive human progress. When you work with us, you’ll experience advantages you won’t find anywhere else.
Our application process
01
Apply
The first thing you’ll need to do is apply to the role. You can do this with your LinkedIn profile or you can upload your resume. We’ll also ask you to complete a few questions before you submit your application.
02
Undergo assessments
Our assessments are designed to help us work out whether you are suitable for the role. We will let you know which ones you’ll need to complete.
03
Interview(s)
Our interviews could be in person or online. It’s a great opportunity for us to get to know you a bit better, answer any of your questions and talk about the exciting career opportunity you have applied for.
04
Offers and checks
At this stage, we will let you know if you have been successful. If you have been, we’ll need to conduct a couple of checks, such as a background or security check. You may also need to do a medical assessment depending on the role you have applied for.
05
Join the Rio Tinto team
Once the checks have been completed, we’ll be in touch to talk with you about your start date and answer any questions you may have before you start with us.