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…