Senior Advisor, Health, Safety & Environment (HSE)
- Be part of a pioneering team advancing Rio Tinto's innovative heap leaching technology.
- Drive sustainable solutions while accelerating your career growth.
- This Role is based at Johnson Mine Dragoon, Arizona, USA
About the role
Finding better ways to provide the materials the world needs.
We are seeking a Senior Advisor, Health, Safety & Environment (HSE) to lead risk management activities supporting the deployment and operation of Nuton technology. This role will play a critical part in Supporting Nuton’s compliance with the regulatory frameworks applicable to Nuton’s industrial scale deployment at Gunnison Copper’s Johnson Camp Mine (JCM) in Arizona, and Nuton’s Salt Lake City (SLC) laboratory facility. Whilst identifying, assessing, and managing health and safety risks across operational, project, and laboratory environments, ensuring alignment with Rio Tinto standards and applicable regulatory requirements.
Reporting to the Technology Principal Advisor, you will be a key contributor to the implementation, validation, and ongoing operation of Nuton technology, ensuring that robust, risk‑based health and safety systems are embedded from design through to execution.
Nuton, Rio Tinto’s latest entrepreneurial venture, is a suite of innovative, bio-heap leaching technologies that harness natural processes to unlock new sources of critical metals. Nuton not only pushes the boundaries of copper recovery but also sets a new standard for sustainability in mining. Learn more about Nuton here Our Technology – Nuton
Your key responsibilities will include:
- Accountable for design, implementation, and effectiveness of HSE governance and management systems for the Nuton venture, Nuton activities at the JCM site, and Nuton’s SLC Laboratory facility.
- Safety management, including inspections, critical risk management, incident management, emergency response, journey management, fatigue management, and business resilience.
- Leads on‑site safety culture maturity strategy and coaching
- Clear alignment and delineation of Nuton staff responsibilities, accountabilities and safety resources.
- Support asset management for facilities and Nuton process infrastructure.
- Owns the health and safety risk management framework for operational and project risk, including verification against relevant industry standards and regulatory compliance with MSHA.
- Health & safety-related commissioning and handover logistics between Nuton, contractors, consultants, and partner sites.
- Facilitate industrial hygiene monitoring and protection (noise and dust), procedures and systems for monitors and alarms, long-term health outcomes, and mental health.
- Develop and deliver health & safety systems for Nuton SLC Laboratory Facility including facility design and safety compliance needs
- Primary HSE interface for internal and external stakeholders
What you’ll bring
To be successfully considered for this role, you will have:
- A commitment to the safety of yourself and your team.
- Bachelor's degree in health and safety or another relevant discipline.
- 5+ years of experience in roles with health, safety, and technical responsibilities, preferably in operational or major project environments
- Excellent communication skills with the ability to build positive relationships with internal and external stakeholders.
- Risk management, budget management, contract and contractor management, analysis & reporting and operational knowledge.
- Experience with Emergency Response or Mines Rescue Team programs, Mine Safety & Health Administration (MSHA), Occupational Safety & Health Administration (OSHA) & Health, Safety, Security and Environment Management System tools.
- Highly proficient in the use of Microsoft Office software, to gather, assess, and synthesize key metrics, trends, and insights, delivering actionable reports to inform strategic decision-making.
Preferred Qualifications:
- MSHA Certified Instructor
- Certified Safety Professional
Benefits offered
- Competitive salary with performance-based bonuses.
- Retirement options that include a 6% company contribution to a defined plan, 401(k) matching, and a share ownership program.
- Generous time-off opportunities include paid time off, holidays, bereavement leave, and four months of parental leave for all parents.
- Comprehensive health plans covering medical, dental, vision, life insurance, and additional voluntary benefits.
- Access to wellness initiatives, including employee discounts and an employee assistance program for confidential support.
Where you’ll be working
The role will be based in the Johnson Camp Mine site in Arizona.
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.
R50299
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.
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.
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
Take a look at Theresia’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
- 2022 – PresentChief advisor Nature SolutionsJohannesburg, Gauteng, South Africa
- 2018 – 2022Head of Environment, Global HSESMontreal, Quebec, Canada
- 2016 – 2018Principal advisor: EnvironmentJohannesburg, Gauteng, South Africa
- 2013 – 2016Superintendent: Ecology and RehabilitationRichards Bay Minerals, KZN, South Africa
- 2012 – 2013EcologistRichards Bay Minerals, KZN, South Africa
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.
Working in one of our function’s teams
We supply the materials that drive human progress. You make it all possible.
With business operations that stretch from Vancouver, British Columbia, to Perth, Western Australia, we have exciting opportunities in virtually every discipline imaginable. From HR to marketing, finance to technology, infrastructure to supply chain, and much more, the opportunities are endless. Join us and enjoy:
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.