Tailings, Water & Treatment Systems Manager

• Take ownership of some of the most critical infrastructure at Kennecott, protecting people, communities, and the environment
• Lead with influence and purpose in a role where your technical judgement directly shapes long‑term sustainability and closure outcomes
• Build a rewarding career in the Salt Lake Valley while contributing to globally recognized standards in tailings and water stewardship

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

This role offers the opportunity to lead complex systems that matter deeply to people, the environment, and the future of mining. As Tailings, Water & Treatment Systems Manager, you will guide the full lifecycle of tailings and water assets while championing best practice, regulatory compliance, and continuous improvement. You will operate in a collaborative environment where your expertise is respected, your decisions carry weight, and your leadership helps shape Kennecott’s long‑term closure and sustainability strategy.

Some days require steady leadership under pressure. An unexpected water quality issue or emerging tailings risk demands immediate attention, clear communication, and decisive action. You balance regulatory requirements, operational needs, and community expectations, ensuring safety and compliance remain front and center. These moments test your judgement and resilience, and they are also where your leadership has the greatest impact.

Reporting to the General Manager, Concentrator & Tailings, you will be supported by a multidisciplinary site leadership team and connected to Rio Tinto’s global technical networks. Together, you will focus on strengthening tailings and water governance, improving system performance, and building confidence with regulators and communities through the following accountabilities.

• Lead with visible safety leadership, ensuring the protection of employees, contractors, communities, and the environment is never compromised
• Champion compliance with internal standards and external frameworks including GISTM, Copper Mark, EPA, State of Utah requirements, Division of Water Quality, local municipalities, and ISO14001
• Provide end‑to‑end oversight of tailings storage facilities, covering design, construction, operation, monitoring, and closure of facilities
• Lead integrated site water management, including water balance, recovery, storage, reuse, and distribution across operations
• Oversee water treatment systems, including the reverse osmosis facility and copper precipitation plant, ensuring safe and reliable performance
• Establish and maintain robust monitoring programs to assess TSF stability, performance, and risk, enabling timely and informed decision‑making
• Ensure preparedness for key failure modes including slope instability, liquefaction, internal erosion, and extreme hydrologic events
• Drive the adoption of best available technologies and practices to reduce environmental impact and support long‑term closure objectives
• Work closely with internal teams and external regulators and community partners to maintain trust, transparency, and compliance

What you will bring

• A strong personal commitment to safety and environmental stewardship, with experience managing high‑consequence infrastructure
• Tertiary qualifications in civil engineering, engineering geology, or a related discipline, with significant experience in tailings and water management
• 10+ years of leadership experience across mining, water resources, civil infrastructure, environmental management, utilities, or similar sectors
• Proven ability to lead diverse teams, collaborate across disciplines, and influence stakeholders at all levels
• A practical, solutions‑focused mindset when navigating complex technical, operational, and regulatory challenges
• Willingness to maintain a regular and visible presence across site operations including TSFs, water systems, treatment plants, and processing facilities
• Strong communication skills and the ability to work effectively with operations, engineering, health and safety, environmental teams, regulators, and community partners
• A commitment to building an inclusive, respectful, and high‑performing work environment

What we offer   

Be recognized for your contribution, your way of 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
• 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; Generous 401k matching program
• Attractive share ownership plan
• Comprehensive leave policies which cover all the moments that matter in life: PTO (paid time off), paid holidays, and paid bereavement leave
• A generous parental leave policy, which ensures you’re able to spend 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 (EAP), which provides confidential counselling or expert guidance for you and your family to help get through life’s challenges

Where you’ll be working

Kennecott, a wholly owned subsidiary of Rio Tinto, has been mining and processing minerals from the Bingham Canyon Mine for over 120 years. Today, it remains an important economic contributor and is committed to being a valued community partner through strong local engagement, responsible operations, and sustainable development practices.

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.

R57693