Manager Strategic Production Planning

Manager Strategic Production Planning

• Rare opportunity to lead the long term strategic direction of Rio Tinto’s Copper business
• Global, collaborative, and inclusive working environment
• Permanent position based in Salt Lake City, Utah

About the role

Finding better ways to provide the materials the world needs.

The purpose of Rio Tinto Copper’s (RTCu’s) Strategic Production Planning team is to advise Senior Leadership in the strategic options available to develop and grow the copper groups asset base.

We are looking for a Manager Strategic Production Planning (SPP) to work collaboratively within RTCu’s business to identify and quantify strategic production options that develop current and future resources for maximum asset value.

This role is a rare opportunity for an experienced professional to draw on their extensive background and creative thinking to further enhance the long-term value of the Copper’s business.

Reporting to the General Manager - Surface Mining and Strategic Production Planning, you will lead our Principal Engineering and Advisory Teams, guiding the wider business’ understanding and utilisation of SPP standardisation, processes, and practices.

In this role you will:

• Lead the Strategic Production Planning team to develop, identify and communicate strategic pathways for RTCu’s current and future assets.
• Build and develop the capacity of the team to meet the growth aspirations of the Copper business. Recognising and matching the strengths of the team in order to deliver the optimal outcome for the business whilst at the same time broadening the teams’ capabilities.
• Manage the preparation and facilitation of strategic scoping workshops that define the extents of the strategic production options for each asset.
• Work with the GM of Surface Mining and SPP to redefine, reshape and communicate SPP practices for RTCu, ensuring that we have a fit for purpose process to meet our growth aspirations.
• Provide guidance on consolidation of production data and defining a range of production planning assumptions for modelling including production scale and asset performance.
• Review the development of production models and optimised strategic production plans prepared by the teams’ Principal and Senior Engineers.
• Develop SPP strategy for RTCu’s growth pipeline, including the review of Merger and Acquisition (M&A) matters.
• Collaboratively engage with internal and external stakeholders across RTCu’s assets to ensure alignment and use of strategic production models.
• Understand and communicate the strategic production planning results and outcomes to stakeholders across the Copper business.
• Review and provide strategic direction for Life of Mine (LOM) plans and year-end disclosure of mineral resources and reserves.
• Engage with Rio Tinto’s group Strategic Planning team to ensure work programs are aligned with group standards, systems and outcomes. 

About you

To be successfully considered for this role, you will have:

• Bachelor degree in Engineering, Mining, Processing, Geology, or a similar technical discipline. Ideally combined with a commercially oriented qualification or demonstrated commercial experience in a corporate environment.
• Extensive knowledge of the mining value chain with significant experience in mine design, planning, and production scheduling.
• Experience managing and developing a team of high performing technical team, across a wide range of locations.
• A hands on approach with regards to completing projects with demonstrated leadership of small technical teams.
• Strong skills in engaging, influencing and respectfully challenging technical personnel to achieve commonly agreed assumptions and work direction.
• Ability to breakdown and communicate complex conclusions to senior leadership.
• Strong stakeholder management and project management skills, with demonstrated ability to deliver outcomes within a corporate environment.
• Experience with LOM plan preparation and Reserves and Resource reporting processes. Prior experience or familiarity with strategic production planning highly regarded.
• Proficient with Microsoft Office especially with Excel and Access.
• A proficient understanding of linear programming and how optimisation tools are used in mine planning. 

What we offer

We are committed to providing our employees with a generous benefits package. Be recognized for your contribution, your thinking, your hard work, and go home knowing you’ve helped the world progress, we provide: 

• A safety-focused and inclusive working environment 
• Advantageous salary package with annual cash incentive awards (STIP) for eligible employees
• 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 
• Generous Rio Tinto employee share program, which allows you to purchase Rio Tinto Company shares. 
• Comprehensive leave policies which cover all moments that matter in life: PTO (paid time off), paid holidays, and paid bereavement leave.
• A favorable child-caregiver leave program (Up to 100% salary top-up) 
• Discount programs for leisure purposes and access to Virgin Pulse with incentives supporting your wellbeing 
• Ongoing Employee Assistance Program (EAP) for you and your family; to help in addressing educational opportunities, addiction treatment, depression, stress, domestic issues, financial management, and legal concerns.
• Our team and industry experts are here to support and work with you to explore your learning potential and career goals

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 and meet opportunities.

Where you will be working

The Rio Tinto Copper group is a global organisation with operations in the U.S. (Kennecott Utah Copper, “RTKC”, and Resolution), Mongolia (Oyu Tolgoi) and Western Australia (Winu Cu-Au project). The portfolio also includes interests in a non-managed joint venture in Chile, in addition to exploration & evaluation interests and other minor investments. 

Our operations across the globe including a range of open pit and underground mines that supply key materials to global markets. Our copper operations supply products in China, Japan and the US which plays an important role in almost every home, office and vehicle.

Every Voice Matters

At Rio Tinto, we particularly welcome and encourage applications from Indigenous Peoples, women, the LGBTQIA 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. 

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.