PRINCIPAL ADVISOR GEOTECHNICAL ENGINEER

• 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
• Live and work in Brisbane while keeping close ties to a mine operation

About the role

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

We are looking for a Principal Advisor - Geotechnical Engineering to be responsible for geotechnical studies of the future underground block cave production panels at our Oyu Tolgoi operation.

This is a great opportunity be involved in a world class project from the start-up phase. You will contribute to something significant and learn and develop both personally and professionally.

We are an open, connected international team of technical specialists using some of the most exciting data and tools on the planet. We are the world leader in automation and smart mining.

We have technical development programmes that are industry-leading and recognise the unique nature of your role. These provide opportunities to grow your career through a dedicated technical path while being rewarded for your unique skills

Reporting to the Principal Engineer LOM Design & Caving and working in a challenging and exciting environment, you will be:

• Creating and delivering geotechnical designs and providing guidanceon geotechnical mine design parameters.
• Designing site data collection work programs for future block cave production panels.
• Developing and maintaining rock mass models for new underground mining blocks.
• Conducting rock mass / stability assessments and providing ground support recommendations for incorporation into mine design and planning.
• Managing external geotechnical consultants, rock mass characterization and numerical modelling work programs.
• Working collaboratively with the T&IP geotechnical team, geologists, project and mining engineers, schedulers, and broader Rio Tinto technical support groups.
• Implementing best practice guidelines in geotechnical engineering, mine design and mining operations.
• Undertaking in-house numerical modelling assessments.
• Managing of external technical reviews.
• Traveling to Mongolia (typical four two week trips per year).

What you’ll bring

• Proficiency in mine planning software (For example: Leapfrog, Vulcan, Deswik or GEMS, etc).
• Strong collaboration and management skills.
• Core underground mining geotechnical engineering experience.
• Excavation design and sequencing.
• Ground support design.
• Numerical modelling experience.
• Experience in rock mass characterization which includes rock mass data acquisition (through core logging, face mapping).
• Geotechnical monitoring – system installation, data acquisition and data analysis experience.
• Significant experience in the mining industry.

It will also be beneficial if you have:

• Experience in the design, development and construction of underground mines.
• Block caving mining experience.
• Strong computer / software skills.
• Numerical modelling skills.
• Geotechnical engineering qualification in the point of hire jurisdiction (professional engineer, AusIMM member).

What we offer

• A safety-focused and inclusive working environment
• A competitive salary package with annual cash incentive awards (STIP)
• Access to top tier family-friendly health and medical programs
• Excellent retirement plan
• A comprehensive leave policy that covers all moments that matter in life (vacation/annual, paid parental leave, short term sick leave, paid holidays)
• Ongoing individual wellbeing support for you and your family for personal and professional matters
• Generous Rio Tinto employee share program

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 aluminium – the world’s first to be certified “responsible” – 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.

Where you will be working

Oyu Tolgoi LLC, Mongolia’s largest copper and gold mining company, is a strategic partnership between the Government of Mongolia, Turquoise Hill Resources and Rio Tinto. Located in the South Gobi, Oyu Tolgoi commenced shipment of product to customers in July 2013. Oyu Tolgoi is managed by Rio Tinto, which is investing global expertise and cutting-edge technology to help develop Mongolia’s mining industry and ensure Oyu Tolgoi is one of the world’s most advanced mines. For Oyu Tolgoi, nothing matters more than safety. The business operates under the principle that if a job cannot be done safely, it will not be done at all.

Every Voice Matters

At 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.

Applications for this role will close on 26th February 2022 however we do reserve the right to close the role