Responsible Dam Engineer

Responsible Dam Engineer (Tailings & Water) | Weipa  

• Critical dam safety leadership role supporting Weipa operations and complex tailings & water assets  

• Key technical position aligned to Rio Tinto D5 Standard and GISTM, ensuring global best practice  

• Work alongside a global network of tailings and geotechnical experts across Rio Tinto Aluminium & Lithium  

• Influence major operational and sustaining capital decisions across TSFs and WSFs 

About the role 

All progress begins with pioneers. At Rio Tinto, it begins with you 

We are seeking a Responsible Dam Engineer (RDE) to join our Tailings & Water function supporting Weipa operations. This is a critical technical leadership role providing site-based expertise to ensure the safe, compliant, and effective management of tailings storage facilities (TSFs) and water storage facilities (WSFs). 

Working within a well-established global network of subject matter experts, you will contribute to the consistent application of best practice dam safety standards, including the Rio Tinto D5 Standard and the Global Industry Standard on Tailings Management (GISTM). 

Reporting to the Principal Adviser – Tailings & Water, you will work closely with site operations teams, sustaining capital projects, and external engineering consultants, including Engineers of Record. 

Key responsibilities include: 

• Providing technical leadership to support safe operation and risk management of TSFs and WSFs 

• Supporting the D5 Nominated Manager to identify, assess and manage facility risks 

• Conduct dam inspections and surveillance, coordinate monthly dam safety reporting and facilitate tailings and water steering committee meetings 

• Ensuring site conformance with D5 governance, assurance and reporting requirements 

• Contributing to sustaining capital works, including design criteria, hazard classification and risk assessments 

• Leading technical evaluation of dam safety incidents and development of corrective actions 

• Coordinating independent technical reviews and engaging with Engineers of Record 

• Interpreting monitoring data and communicating risk insights to stakeholders 

• Maintaining critical dam safety documentation and risk registers 

• Supporting delivery of brownfield and greenfield tailings and water projects 

About you 

To be successful in this role, you will bring strong technical capability and demonstrated experience in tailings and water storage facility management within a complex operational environment. 

You will have: 

• A Bachelor’s degree in Engineering (Civil, Geotechnical or equivalent) 

• Minimum 10 years’ experience across the design, construction, operation or management of TSFs and WSFs 

• Strong geotechnical knowledge and tailings technical management expertise 

• Experience in dam break studies and consequence classification aligned to ANCOLD, DETSI or equivalent, and GISTM 

• Proven experience in undertaking or coordinating risk assessments (e.g. FMEA) and applying ALARP principles 

• Capability to investigate and manage dam safety incidents and implement corrective actions 

• Strong communication skills, with the ability to clearly convey complex technical information 

• Demonstrated stakeholder engagement capability across operations, projects and external consultants 

• A strong commitment to safety, risk management and Rio Tinto values 

Where you will be working 

This role is preferably residential in Weipa, Queensland, a unique coastal community in Far North Queensland offering a relaxed lifestyle and strong community connections. 

Weipa operations are a key part of Rio Tinto’s aluminium value chain, with a focus on safe, sustainable operations supported by critical tailings and water infrastructure. 

What we offer 

• Competitive salary and benefits aligned to a remote, residential Weipa role 

• Access to a global network of tailings and water technical experts 

• Opportunities to work across multiple operations and complex assets 

• Ongoing professional development and exposure to industry-leading standards and practices 

• A supportive environment focused on safety, collaboration and continuous improvement 

#gts