Principal Advisor – Safe Production Systems and Improvement Lead

• Join of the world’s most unique rehabilitation projects at the heart of world heritage listed Kakadu National Park

• 2/1 roster Bus-In/Bus-Out Darwin to Jabiru or  Fly-In/Fly-Out Brisbane to Jabiru

• An exciting opportunity to challenge the status quo and drive smarter, better ways of working with real scope to make meaningful impact

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 Principal Advisor – Safe Production System (SPS) and Improvement Lead to lead and coordinate the implementation of Safe Production System (SPS) across the Ranger Rehabilitation Project with Rio Tinto. This will include establishing and maintaining the SPS implementation plan to ensure best and fit-for-purpose SPS practices are prioritised, engaging with various stakeholders to facilitate the SPS cultural journey and ensure the long-term sustainability of SPS. In addition, the role is responsible for the operationalisation of the Ranger Business Improvement Program, particularly supporting the delivery of the highest priority initiatives and providing active engagement with the Ranger Project workforce; ultimately driving reductions in project costs and/or risk profile.

This role will see you living and commuting from either Brisbane or Darwin on a 2/1 roster. Living in Darwin, you’ll take full advantage of the strong community based outdoor lifestyle on offer, as you’ll commute to our Ranger Site in Jabiru a Bus-In; Bus-Out arrangement. Or from Brisbane, you’ll enjoy the perks of living in a capital city whilst gaining exposure to a unique, rural project via a Fly In; Fly Out arrangement. Regardless of where you are coming from, you’ll be based in Jabiru for your days-on and contribute towards the rehabilitation of lands surrounded by world heritage listed Kakadu National Park.

Reporting to the Senior Manager Ranger Project Execution, you will:

• Drive delivery of the SPS plan, ensuring implementation, maturity, and alignment with project cost, schedule and strategic goals

• Embed SPS best practice through coaching, training and capability building across leaders and frontline teams

• Identify improvement opportunities using SPS, Lean Six Sigma and diagnostic tools to uplift performance

• Monitor SPS progress using KPIs, report outcomes and address barriers to operational excellence

• Lead the Ranger Business Improvement Program and support operational readiness activities

• Proactively identify, prioritise and implement improvement initiatives that enhance safety, culture, cost and performance

• Build strong stakeholder relationships, align competing priorities, and contribute as an active member of the site leadership team

• Promote a strong safety culture, role model Rio Tinto standards, and lead self and others to achieve organisational outcomes.

About you

• Bachelor’s degree or extensive relevant industry experience (construction, major projects or mining) within complex operating environments

• Expertise in Lean methodologies, operational excellence and continuous improvement practices, delivering business improvement initiatives and processes

• Proven ability to lead cultural and organisational change programs

• Strong leadership with highly effective communication, presentation, training, facilitation, coaching skills and stakeholder engagement

• Skilled in translating strategy into practical business objectives and system‑driven outcomes

• Autonomous, hands‑on and results‑focused, with strong problem‑solving and analytical ability.

It will also be beneficial if you have Six Sigma Black Belt, Lean certification, or other Business Improvement methodology certifications.

If you are excited about the role though your experience doesn't align 100%, we still want to hear from you.

What we offer

• A work environment where safety is always the number one priority

• A permanent position working directly for Rio Tinto

• A competitive base salary reflective of your skills and experience with annual incentive program

• Comprehensive medical benefits including subsidised private health insurance for employees and immediate family

• Attractive share ownership plan

• Company provided insurance cover

• Extensive salary sacrifice & salary packaging options

• Career development & education assistance to further your technical or leadership ambitions

• Ongoing access to family-friendly health and medical wellbeing support

• Leave for all of life’s reasons (vacation/annual, paid parental, sick leave)

• Exclusive employee discounts (banking, accommodation, cars, retail and more)

• Relocation assistance

Where you’ll be working

Energy Resources of Australia Ltd (ERA) operated the Ranger Uranium Mine near the town of Jabiru in the Northern Territory, Australia, previously mining and producing uranium oxide. In January 2021, ERA ceased all mining and processing activities at Ranger after 40 years of operation with the focus now shifting to rehabilitation.

The Ranger Rehabilitation Project is committed to the rehabilitation of the Ranger Project Area to a standard that will establish an environment similar to the adjacent Kakadu National Park. In 2024, ERA entered into a Management Services Agreement (MSA) with Rio Tinto to manage the Ranger Rehabilitation Project, which will build on ERA’s existing rehabilitation work with Rio Tinto’s technical expertise in designing, scoping and executing closure projects. We remain committed to working with all key stakeholders, including the Mirarr People to complete this important rehabilitation work.

Applications close on Thursday the 12 March 2026 (Rio Tinto reserves the right to remove advertised roles prior to this date).

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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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