Manager, Concentrator Technical
About The Position
Lead technical strategy and process optimization for one of North America’s largest copper concentrator operations. Work at our Kennecott operation near Salt Lake City, Utah, partnering across site, regional, and global teams. Develop high-performing technical teams while driving safety, innovation, and sustainable business value. 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 are 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 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, Concentrator Technical to join our Minerals Concentrator and Tailings leadership team in Salt Lake City, Utah. In this role, you will provide strategic technical direction, coaching, and governance to process engineering, process control, metal planning, and geometallurgy professionals supporting the concentrator operation. This is a great opportunity for a collaborative technical leader to influence operational performance, build organizational capability, and shape the long-term technical strategy for a world-class concentrator operation. Reporting to the General Manager - Concentrator and Tailings and working closely with operations, maintenance, and technical teams across the value stream, you will: Establish safety as the highest priority in technical strategies, process control logic, pilots, and operational decision-making Lead, coach, and develop a multidisciplinary technical team while fostering accountability, inclusion, technical excellence, and continuous learning Serve as the site technical authority for concentrator processing and governance, ensuring sound engineering practices, effective risk management, and compliance with Rio Tinto standards Partner with operations, maintenance, planning, commercial, and technical teams to improve throughput, recovery, concentrate quality, reliability, cost, and overall business performance Set technical priorities and allocate resources to support day-to-day operations, short-range planning, strategic improvement initiatives, and annual production commitments Provide technical oversight for metallurgical performance, process control strategies, metallurgical accounting, plant test work, and process improvement programs Develop and execute long-term technical strategies for process optimization, automation, digital solutions, technology deployment, water management, capital investments, and organizational capability Identify and evaluate emerging technologies, industry trends, vendors, and technical partnerships that support sustained improvements in safety, productivity, sustainability, and free cash flow.
Requirements
- A commitment to the safety of yourself and your team
- Significant leadership and technical experience in chemical engineering, metallurgy, geometallurgy, process engineering, or a related field within mining, minerals processing, manufacturing, or heavy industry
- Demonstrated success leading and developing engineering or technical teams and building technical capability across complex operations
- Proven ability to improve process performance, operational efficiency, asset utilization, product quality, cost outcomes, and business value
- Experience developing long-term technical strategies and translating them into practical, sustainable operational results
- Strong communication, stakeholder influence, technical problem-solving, budgeting, cost management, and resource allocation skills
Nice To Haves
- Bachelor’s degree in Metallurgical, Chemical, Geometallurgy, Mechanical, Mining, or a related Engineering discipline
- 10+ years of technical, operational, or process engineering experience within mining, minerals processing, manufacturing, or a comparable heavy industrial environment
- Experience leading multiple engineering teams or providing technical leadership across multiple operational areas
- Experience with process optimization, metallurgy, production planning, operational excellence, advanced process control, or continuous improvement methodologies
- Experience supporting major capital projects, technology implementation, or digital transformation initiatives
- Transferable skills and the right attitude are highly valued
Responsibilities
- Establish safety as the highest priority in technical strategies, process control logic, pilots, and operational decision-making
- Lead, coach, and develop a multidisciplinary technical team while fostering accountability, inclusion, technical excellence, and continuous learning
- Serve as the site technical authority for concentrator processing and governance, ensuring sound engineering practices, effective risk management, and compliance with Rio Tinto standards
- Partner with operations, maintenance, planning, commercial, and technical teams to improve throughput, recovery, concentrate quality, reliability, cost, and overall business performance
- Set technical priorities and allocate resources to support day-to-day operations, short-range planning, strategic improvement initiatives, and annual production commitments
- Provide technical oversight for metallurgical performance, process control strategies, metallurgical accounting, plant test work, and process improvement programs
- Develop and execute long-term technical strategies for process optimization, automation, digital solutions, technology deployment, water management, capital investments, and organizational capability
- Identify and evaluate emerging technologies, industry trends, vendors, and technical partnerships that support sustained improvements in safety, productivity, sustainability, and free cash flow
Benefits
- 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 and a generous 401(k) matching program
- Attractive share ownership plan
- Comprehensive leave policies which cover all the moments that matter in life, including paid time off, paid holidays, and paid bereavement leave
- A generous parental leave policy, which ensures you are 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
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Manager
