Manager Northern Operations

Rio Tinto

Posted on:  24th Apr 2025

Manager – Northern Operations 

  • Join a dedicated management team, committed to your growth and development

  • Key leadership role with pit to port accountability

  • Coastal location working a 9 day fortnight – Weipa 

About the role 

Finding better ways to provide the materials the world needs.

We are looking for a Manager to lead our Northern Operations.  This is an exciting opportunity for a strong operational leader who has demonstrated performance with strategic and analytical exposure across multiple facets of the supply chain from mine to market.

This high profile role is responsible for an integrated business which involves the safe execution of mining, processing, maintenance, rail and ship loading activities.  The next 5 years are critical at Weipa as we move towards closure of our Andoom mine.  The successful applicant will be key in driving culture and supporting our 550 strong Northern Operations workforce through this change.

Leading on the frontline is one of the most important jobs in our business. With it comes the responsibility to motivate, inspire and keep your people safe and well every day, every shift. 

With signature leadership training programmes available, growing and developing is more than an opportunity – it is something we actively plan and make happen. Every day our leaders grow through experience, formal training and coaching, while our rosters are designed to help you live the lifestyle that is right for you and your family. 

Reporting to the General Manager and working in a challenging and dynamic environment, you will:

  • Provide supportive and collaborative leadership to the Northern Operations team and broader Weipa site, leading a team of 6 Superintendents;

  • Ensure that all aspects of the operation meets all health, safety and environmental regulatory, compliance and business values requirements;

  • Work closely with peers and teams who provide strategic planning, execution direction and support through an integrated business model to Northern operations;

  • Represent Weipa in customer and community relations and activities;

  • Working closely with the broader Weipa leadership team to ensure services delivery across the portfolio.

What you will bring 

  • A strong commitment to the safety of yourself and your team;

  • Tertiary qualifications preferably within a related field;

  • Significant leadership experience within either a mining, plant or maintenance senior leadership role or similar challenging operational role;

  • Ability to promote, mentor and drive a diverse way of thinking and ability to challenge the status quo;

  • Strong analytical and system development skills;

  • Demonstrated excellence in leading and developing complex teams;

  • An understanding of the technical aspects involved, in mining and plant operations and maintenance;

  • Experience using business improvement methodologies. 

What we offer 

Be recognised for your contribution, your 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

  • 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)

  • Domestic relocation assistance on offer

  • Weipa accommodation benefit

  • Remote area allowance

  • Remote area holiday travel assistance

Where you will be working 

Our Weipa operations in Far North Queensland includes three bauxite mines, processing facilities, shiploaders, an export wharf, two ports, power stations, a rail network and ferry terminals. Amrun, our newest mine, was completed in 2018 and will extend our Weipa bauxite operations by decades, significantly building on our 55-year history on the Western Cape, and providing jobs and supporting business growth in the region. The mine is located on traditional land. We work closely with the Traditional Owners to implement our agreements, ensuring that the benefits generated from mining support future generations and that important cultural heritage sites are identified and preserved.

Applications close on Thursday 1st May 2025 (Rio Tinto reserves the right to remove advertised roles prior to this date).

About Rio TintoRio 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.

Every Voice MattersAt 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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