Supervisor Plant Shutdown
- Be part of a group that is safety driven and values inclusion
- Join an encouraging leadership team, committed to your growth and development
- FIFO from Brisbane, Cairns or Darwin on a 9‑day fortnight
About the role
We are seeking an engaging and safety‑focused Supervisor Plant Shutdown to join our Fixed Plant Shutdown team at Gove Operations, supporting the reliability and sustainability of our fixed plant assets.
In this role, you will lead contractor management and shutdown activities across a diverse range of fixed plant assets, working closely with our contractor partners to deliver safe, efficient, and high‑quality shutdown outcomes.
You will be part of a supportive and inclusive team, where your leader will encourage your development and support you to achieve both your personal goals and the goals of the wider shutdown team.
Reporting to the Superintendent Shutdowns, you will work in a dynamic environment where strong leadership, collaboration, and safety excellence are essential.
Key responsibilities include:
- Championing a strong safety culture and ensuring compliance with legislation, statutory obligations, and Rio Tinto’s Shutdown Procedures
- Partnering with stakeholders, functional teams, and contractor representatives to align shutdown activities with operational priorities
- Planning and delivering shutdown maintenance activities, balancing safety, cost, schedule, and environmental considerations
- Leading, coaching, and developing fixed plant shutdown personnel, including defining resourcing needs and capability development
- Overseeing work order quality, daily plans, scheduling, and productivity to ensure effective execution
- Managing contractor performance in line with governance requirements, quality standards, and safety expectations
- Providing guidance on SAP, work management systems, critical orders, and warranty processes
- Leading safety investigations, implementing corrective actions, and driving continuous improvement across shutdown activities
What you’ll bring
- A genuine commitment to the safety of yourself, your team, and our contractor partners
- Experience in mining operations, shutdown planning, and fixed plant maintenance environments
- Strong knowledge of mine safety legislation, risk assessments, permits to work, and emergency response planning
- Capability in shutdown scheduling, logistics, budgeting, and documentation
- Proven leadership experience, with strong communication skills and the ability to lead teams through high‑pressure shutdown environments
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 our number one priority
- A permanent role working directly for Rio Tinto
- Competitive base salary reflective of your skills and experience, plus an annual incentive program
- Comprehensive medical benefits, including subsidised private health insurance for employees and immediate family
- Attractive share ownership plan and company‑provided insurance cover
- Extensive salary sacrifice and salary packaging options
- Career development and education assistance to support your technical or leadership ambitions
- Ongoing access to family‑friendly health, wellbeing, and medical support
- Leave for all of life’s reasons (annual, parental, and personal leave)
- Exclusive employee discounts across banking, accommodation, vehicles, retail, and more
In addition, Gove Operations offers:
- Remote area allowance (25% of base salary)
- FIFO from Brisbane, Cairns, or Darwin
Where you’ll be working
Our Gove Operations, located in Australia’s Northern Territory, have supplied the global aluminium industry with high‑quality bauxite for more than 40 years. The operation produces approximately 12 million tonnes of bauxite per year and employs around 460 people across mining, maintenance, asset management, shutdown execution, export operations, cultural heritage management, and closure activities.
Following the closure of the alumina refinery in 2017, we are undertaking significant work to responsibly manage the future closure of the operation, with mining expected to cease in 2030.
We recognise that our operations are located on Indigenous‑owned land, and we are committed to working in partnership with Traditional Owners and the community to support a positive future for Nhulunbuy and the Gove Peninsula beyond mining.
#gts
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
Take a look at Shona’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 – PresentGeneral Manager Weipa OperationsWeipa, Far North Queensland, Australia
- 2020General Manager Bell Bay AluminiumLaunceston, Tasmania, Australia
- 2017Metal products DepartmentBoyne SmeltersGladstone, Queensland, Australia
- 2014Reduction line Manager – Boyne SmeltersGladstone, Queensland, Australia
- 2012Services department Manager Boyne SmeltersGladstone, Queensland, Australia
- 2011Manager Health, Safety, Environment and business improvement Boyne SmeltersGladstone, Queensland, Australia
- 2010Lean Six Sigma Black Belt – Boyne SmeltersGladstone, Queensland, Australia
- 2009Operations SuperintendentGladstone, Queensland, Australia
- 2005Operations SuperintendentLaunceston, Tasmania, Australia
- 2004Graduate EngineerLaunceston, Tasmania, 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.