Opportunity Lead (Study Manager) – Nuton™

• Apply your passion and expertise with the entrepreneurial team pioneering Rio Tinto’s innovative heap leaching technology.
• Join us and grow your career with this unique and attractive opportunity as we build a more sustainable future.
• Experience why Utah is the best state to live and work as ranked by the U.S. News and World Report.

About Nuton

Our Nuton™ proprietary technology offers the potential to economically unlock copper sulphides resources, copper bearing waste and tailings. This helps us to achieve higher copper recoveries on oxide and transitional material, which allows for a significantly increased copper production outcome. To lean more visit our venture website.

About the role

In this new pivotal role, you will be joining a diverse and entrepreneurial team to lead the engagement with one or more of our external partners during the associated evaluation of the viability, and subsequent deployment of, the Nuton™ technology at our partner sites. This encompasses engaging subject matter experts and functional teams and coordinating work in areas such as resource/orebody evaluation, laboratory-scale test work, predictive process modeling, engineering design, capital and operating cost estimation, financial modeling, and business case evaluation.

In this role, you will report to the Opportunity Evaluation and Development Director, and some of your tasks will include:

• Lead and consistently act with care, courage, and curiosity as part of the Rio Tinto values and aspirations.
• Engage with our partner’s Project Manager and other key external stakeholders to advance studies in accordance with the study objectives, budget, and stage requirements.
• Assess project and technical risks and manage mitigating action plans to achieve an acceptable risk profile to support major funding and project advancement decisions.
• Lead overall study progress reporting and stakeholder engagement to provide updates and gather feedback to maintain alignment and buy-in for your project(s).
• Prepare stage reports, study execution plans, and other project management documentation as needed for your project(s).
• Effectively collaborate with the Nuton™ technology development team that directs, monitors, manages, and reports on relevant evaluation test work programs.
• Effectively collaborate with the technology transfer team to bring project specific aspects into the engineering package design.
• Effectively collaborate with internal subject matter experts to complete essential due diligence activities that are appropriate for each stage of the project(s).
• Participate with the Nuton™ environmental social governance team to ensure leading practice in this area.
• Identify opportunities and contribute to the improvement and development of the technology.

What you’ll bring

• A commitment to the safety of yourself and your team.
• A bachelor’s degree in engineering or any mining related discipline. A master’s degree in business administration or similar degree will be advantageous.
• A minimum of 15 years of experience in the industry with significant experience as study manager or project manager in early and advanced study stages within the mining or similar industry.
• Experience in copper heap leaching and working in a non-managed joint venture is favorable.
• Demonstrated verbal, written, and interpersonal skills to effectively communicate with internal and external stakeholders at all levels.
• Proven experience and a collaborative approach to working with cross-functional teams and in a matrix environment.
• Solid influencing skills and the ability to develop effective and trustworthy relationships.
• Initiative, innovative thinking, and commitment to technical excellence.

What we offer

• A safety-focused and inclusive working environment.
• Competitive salary package with an annual cash incentive award.
• 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 and a generous 401k matching program.
• Generous employee share program, which allows you to purchase Rio Tinto shares.
• Comprehensive leave policies to cover the moments that matter in life: paid time off, paid holidays, and paid bereavement leave.
• A favorable child-caregiver leave program.
• Discount programs for leisure purposes and access to incentives to support your wellbeing.
• An employee assistance program for you and your family to help you to address educational opportunities, addiction treatment, depression, stress, domestic issues, financial management, and legal concerns.
• Access to our team of experts who are here to support and work with you and to explore your learning and career goals.

Where you’ll be working

This role is based in Salt Lake City, Utah which will also include some domestic and international travel.

About Rio Tinto

Every idea, every innovation, every little thing the world calls ‘progress’ begins with a first step, and someone willing to take it: explorers, inventors, entrepreneurs. Pioneers. For nearly 150 years, Rio Tinto has been a company of pioneers – generations of people spanning the globe, all with the grit and vision to produce materials essential to human progress. Our iron ore has shaped skylines from Shanghai to Sydney. Our aluminum is the world’s first to be certified responsible, and it helps planes fly and makes cars lighter. Our copper helps wind turbines power cities, and our boron helps feed the world and explore the universe. Our diamonds help us celebrate the best parts of life.

Every Voice Matters

At Rio Tinto, we particularly welcome and encourage applications from Indigenous Peoples, women, the LGBTQ community, mature workers, Veterans and active-duty armed forces, people with disabilities and people from different cultural backgrounds.

Equal Opportunity Employer M/F/D/V

Rio Tinto participates in E-Verify to confirm work authorization. Please visit http://www.uscis.gov/ for more information.