Lead a high-performing technical team at one of the world’s leading mining operations with a strong reputation for safety and operational excellence.
Shape the future of underground mining by driving mine design, planning, scheduling, and technical governance that directly supports safe, productive operations.
Grow your leadership capability while working with experienced technical specialists and operational leaders in Salt Lake City, Utah.
At Rio Tinto, we are committed to creating an inclusive and welcoming workplace where everyone feels safe, respected, and able to succeed. We actively encourage applications from women and from people with diverse backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives. We know that great technical capability comes in many forms, and we’re focused on building teams that reflect the communities we operate in and support each other to do their best work.
We’re Finding Better Ways™ to provide the 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
We are looking for a Manager Underground Technical to lead a team of technical professionals responsible for delivering mine designs, production schedules, and technical planning that enable safe, productive, and efficient underground operations. This is a key leadership role where you will provide direction across mining engineering, geoscience, and surveying functions, partnering closely with operational leaders to execute short and long-term mine plans, manage technical risk, and drive continuous improvement. Combining strong technical expertise, commercial acumen, and stakeholder engagement skills, you will play an important role in developing team capability, improving operational performance, and ensuring the successful delivery of production commitments.
Reporting to the GM Underground and working collaboratively with operational and functional teams, you will be responsible for:
Leading and overseeing a team of technical professionals.
Overseeing technical teams responsible for mining engineering, geoscience, and surveying activities.
Collaborating with technical functions and suppliers to support best-practice mining operations and capability development.
Reviewing mine designs and short- and long-term forecasts to ensure key deliverables are achieved.
Ensuring compliance with technical standards, site requirements, and management of change processes.
Participating in technical risk assessments and supporting the development of processes to manage technical risks.
Monitoring technical capability within the team to support safe and productive delivery of mine plans and schedules.
Reporting mine plans and technical outcomes to stakeholders.
Delivering mine production reporting against budgets.
About you
A commitment to the safety of yourself and your team.
Bachelor’s degree in Mining Engineering or a related field.
10+ years of underground mining experience.
5+ years of direct mining or maintenance operational leadership experience.
Demonstrated ability to implement and manage continuous improvement initiatives.
Strong commercial acumen aligned to operational and business priorities.
Effective communication, coaching, and leadership skills.
Strong time management and organizational skills.
Genuine curiosity and an open-minded approach to understanding business needs and delivering practical solutions.
Ability to work independently and apply feedback constructively.
Proven stakeholder management experience.
What we offer
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 Virgin Pulse 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
Our Kennecott mine is a world-class, fully integrated copper mining operation, including a concentrator, smelter, and refinery, located just outside Salt Lake City, Utah, in the United States. We produce copper, precious metals including gold and silver, molybdenum, and sulfuric acid. Kennecott has been mining and processing minerals from the rich ore body of the Bingham Canyon Mine since 1903 and is one of the top producing mines in the world, comprising approximately 11 percent of U.S. annual copper production.
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.
Skills Required
- Bachelor's degree in Mining Engineering or a related field
- 10+ years of underground mining experience
- 5+ years of direct mining or maintenance operational leadership experience
- Experience implementing and managing continuous improvement initiatives
- Strong commercial acumen aligned with operational and business priorities
- Effective communication, coaching, and leadership skills
- Strong time management and organizational skills
- Ability to work independently and apply feedback constructively
- Proven stakeholder management experience
- Commitment to workplace safety
Similar Jobs
What We Do
Rio Tinto is a leading global mining group focused on finding, mining and processing the Earth’s mineral resources. The company operates across 34 countries and six continents, with more than 61,000 employees working to provide materials the world needs. Its business is centered on large-scale exploration, extraction and processing of minerals and metals for industrial and everyday applications worldwide across global markets.
