Principal Advisor Mine Desing and Planning

Oyu Tolgoi’s workforce today is more than 97 per cent Mongolian, and a major strategic focus for the company is to develop a skilled workforce that is continuously learning. We aim to attract the best talent, so that we can together deliver a safe and globally competitive copper business that contributes to the prosperity of Mongolia. 

Oyu Tolgoi LLC is operating a copper-gold mine in southern territory of Mongolia. The company aspires a vision ‘Natural wealth to enduring value, knowledge, and skill’, and pursues a mission, 'Together deliver a safe and globally competitive copper business that contributes to the prosperity of Mongolia' to build one of the largest copper-gold mines worldwide.
 

Principal Advisor – Mine Design and Planning

• Make an impact and contribute to the development of a world-class project within a pioneering organisation
• Great opportunity to work for a global company at the forefront of mining
• Dynamic work culture and great exposure to multicultural teams

Join one of the world’s most exciting copper-gold mining projects

Oyu Tolgoi is one of the most exciting projects in copper and gold mining for several decades. It contains reserves and resources that make it one of the world’s largest known copper and gold deposits. The project, managed by Rio Tinto, is expanding underground. With a high demand of skills required to complete the project safely and successfully, Oyu Tolgoi is expected to be a significant contributor to Mongolia’s development and the prosperity of the Mongolian people.

Discover more about Mongolia and Oyu Tolgoi

Mongolia’s increasingly becoming a destination for tourism and expatriate residents. As a rapidly developing city, Mongolia's capital Ulaanbaatar is seen as a comfortable, yet exciting place to live. With an array of cultural and social activities available and a growing network of international schools, housing options, and leisure facilities; its home to a growing community of international expatriates.

Located in the South Gobi Desert, just 80 kilometres from the Chinese border, the Oyu Tolgoi mine and camp is a large, well-run and comfortable site with multiple amenities including recreational and sports facilities, a cinema, shops, restaurants and bars catered to a growing community. For more about OT site, please check out this video.

As part of the Oyu Tolgoi Underground Mining Operations team, you’ll have the opportunity to contribute to something significant and learn and develop both personally and professionally. We offer a collaborative, high-performing environment where success is achieved by working together.

The Opportunity

The Principal Advisor – Mine Design and Planning is the Senior leadership position performing a critical role in leading, advising and supporting the Underground Technical team in all phases of the design, scheduling and planning of the production ramp up of HNL1 to ensure full potential of the underground operation. The purpose of this role is to provide safe leadership, guidance, and assurance to the Underground Mine Design and Planning department and to ensure customer focus of technical services are provided to the Oyu Tolgoi underground operation in a timely and accurate manner.

What the role entails

This role is a great opportunity to take the next step in your career on a truly global project. Working 5 days on, 2 off roster residential in Ulaanbaatar with FIFO to site or FIFO internationally on 4 weeks on, 2 weeks off roster. The role will report to the Manager – Mine Design and Planning.

The role will be reporting to the Manager Mine Design and Planning, with its key duties and responsibilities including:

• Support, assist and provide coverage for the Manager Mine Design and Planning to succeed and sustain their role
• Provide guidance, apply experience and knowledge to all facets of the Underground Mine Design and Planning department workflow
• Provide mentoring and coaching capacity to the members of the Underground Mine Design and Planning department
• Weekly underground inspections and quality checks on the Underground Mine Design and Planning department deliverables
• Lead the management of change framework within the Mine Design and Planning horizon; including cost control, ground support design, mine sequencing etc to maximize ore extraction
• Ensure QA/QC processes are set up and maintained to ensure all work that is produced or provided to other parties is the correct and has undergone rigorous review to minimize corrections and maintain trust with stakeholders
• Ensure all reporting is accurate and timely, including EOM, corporate, and other external parties as required
• Ensure all SWPs and procedures are written and up to date and reviewed regularly from all teams
• Ensure projects are generated, initiated, monitored, and completed to standard to ensure a continuous improvement environment exists in the Underground Mine Design and Planning department
• Provide leadership, experience and assistance in safety investigations, as required
• Assist in providing strategic direction to, and management of the Underground Mine Design and Planning department
• Assists in establishing and maintaining mine technical standards
• Assist to coordinate and oversee all team functions are completed in a timely manner
• Assist in completing an annual workforce plan and budget to ensure correct staffing and funding requirements for team outputs

What you will need for this role

To succeed in this role, you will have:

• Tertiary qualification in Mining Engineering or a related discipline (Bachelor’s degree or equivalent)
• Over 15 years of relevant industry experience, supported by substantial practical knowledge
• Minimum 15 + years underground mine experience with varied multiple appointed UG technical positions at multiple mines (ideally block caving or sub-level caving)
• Minimum of 5 years in leadership roles
• Strong communication skills and proven ability to engage and build relationships across multiple layers of the organization from management to front line leaders and workers
• Strong organizational skills with the ability to effectively prioritize tasks and work both independently and as part of a team
• Proven problem solving skills with a solutions mindset
• Willingness and ability to work in remote locations for extended periods
• Exceptional communication and presentation skills, with the ability to convey technical concepts to diverse audiences
• Experienced in working within multicultural teams and committed to fostering an inclusive and collaborative work environment

About us

As pioneers in mining and metals, we produce materials essential to human progress.

Our long history is filled with firsts. We’ve developed some of the world’s largest and best quality mines and operations, and our people work in around 35 countries across six continents. We’ve led the industry in partnerships, with customers in new markets, and with local communities.

We’ve pioneered technological innovations, such as our Mine of the Future™ programme and our low-CO2 aluminium from hydropower. And we’ve paved the way in areas such as safety, tax transparency and legacy management.

Inclusion & Diversity

We are a diverse team of talented, enthusiastic individuals who foster a culture of inclusion. No matter how they may differ, our people share one thing in common. It’s a belief that work is more rewarding when we are accepted and valued for our differences, not judged by them. We all have something to contribute, and it’s this contribution that makes for a great organization and fulfilling career.

So, if this sounds like you and the opportunity you are looking for, apply now.

Please note, in order to be successfully considered for this role you must complete all pre-screening questions.

If you would like to know more about careers at Rio Tinto Australia, you can like us on Facebook, follow us on Twitter or join us on LinkedIn. 

Deadline of the advertisement is on Aug 27, 2025

#GTS

Every Voice Matters

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 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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