Senior Advisor – Health, Safety & Environment
Rio Tinto Kennecott | Smelter | Salt Lake City, Utah
- Be a trusted health, safety and environment partner to operational and maintenance leaders
- Shape risk reduction and continuous improvement across complex smelter operations
- Build capability through coaching, field engagement and practical HSE leadership
We’re Finding Better Ways™ to provide the 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 Senior Advisor – Health, Safety & Environment to provide trusted leadership, technical expertise and practical guidance to operational, maintenance, project and technical teams at the Kennecott Smelter. With a primary focus on the Hot Metals, Anodes and Material Handling areas, you will help leaders and teams strengthen health, safety and environmental performance, meet regulatory and company requirements, and continuously improve how risk is managed.
This is an opportunity to influence HSE performance in a large and complex mining and manufacturing operation. You will work directly with leaders and frontline teams, use field observations and data to identify improvement opportunities, and build capability through coaching, training and collaborative problem-solving.
Reporting within the Kennecott Smelter, Refinery and Rail HSE team, you will serve as the primary HSE partner for leaders in the Hot Metals, Anodes and Material Handling areas while drawing on specialist support from the broader HSE team when needed. The role also requires some after-hours availability and response to support operational needs.
What you’ll be doing
- Partner with operational and maintenance leaders to implement health, safety and environmental programs in line with regulatory requirements and Rio Tinto performance standards.
- Facilitate hazard identification, risk assessments and the development of practical controls and mitigation strategies.
- Coach and train leaders and teams to strengthen HSE systems knowledge, hazard recognition, risk management and safety leadership capability.
- Lead or support HSE investigations, remedial plans and corrective actions, helping teams translate learnings into sustainable improvements.
- Analyze HSE performance data, field observations and leader engagement insights to identify trends, anticipate risks and recommend improvement priorities.
- Work with operational, project, technical and HSE stakeholders to develop and implement improvement initiatives across the HSE risk profile.
- Communicate HSE performance, risks and priorities clearly to employees, contractors, leaders and other relevant stakeholders.
- Contribute to Rio Tinto HSE initiatives and standardized practices, share innovative ideas and support capability growth across the team.
About you
To be successfully considered for this role, you will bring:
- A visible and consistent commitment to the safety and wellbeing of yourself and others.
- A bachelor’s degree in a relevant discipline or equivalent practical experience.
- Significant experience in health, safety and environment within mining, construction, manufacturing or another complex industrial environment.
- Strong knowledge of applicable HSE regulations, management systems and risk management practices, including the ability to complete risk assessments and develop mitigation strategies.
- The ability to build trust, influence decisions and provide calm, credible guidance to leaders and teams, including during high-pressure or time-sensitive situations.
- Strong analytical, written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to prioritize competing deliverables and turn data, field insights and technical information into practical action.
Role requirements: You must be able to meet the site’s fit-for-duty requirements. Work in the Smelter focus areas requires respirator use, including successful completion of the required respirator fit test and comfort working while wearing a respirator. Some after-hours availability and response are expected.
This role is open to candidates who are legally authorized to work in the United States. International relocation is not available for this position.
Even if your profile does not fully meet every qualification, we encourage you to apply. Transferable skills and the right attitude are highly valued.
What we offer
Be recognized for your contribution, your thinking and your hard work, and go home knowing you have 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 and a generous 401(k) matching program
- Attractive share ownership plan
- Comprehensive leave policies covering the moments that matter, including paid time off, paid holidays and paid bereavement leave
- A generous parental leave policy to support quality time with your new family
- Discount programs for leisure purposes and access to Personify Health with incentives supporting your wellbeing
- Access to our Employee Assistance Program, providing confidential counseling or expert guidance for you and your family
Where you’ll be working
Rio Tinto Kennecott is a fully integrated mining operation located just outside Salt Lake City, Utah. For more than 120 years, Kennecott has mined and processed minerals from the Bingham Canyon ore body. The operation extends from the Bingham Canyon Mine at the south end of the Salt Lake Valley to the smelter and refinery at the north end. This role is based at the Kennecott Smelter.
Rio Tinto reserves the right to remove advertised roles prior to the posting end 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.
R65138
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 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
- 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.
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.



















