Rio Tinto Project Operations Officer (Zambia)

Rio Tinto is a leading international mining group headquartered in the UK. Rio Tinto's business is finding, mining and processing mineral resources. Major products are aluminium, copper, diamonds, energy (coal and uranium), gold, industrial minerals (borax, titanium dioxide, salt, talc) and iron ore. Activities span the world but are strongly represented in Australia and North America with businesses in South America, Asia, Europe and Southern Africa. For more information, please visit www.riotinto.com.

The mandate of Rio Tinto Exploration (RTX) is to grow the value of Rio Tinto by discovering or acquiring resources that can increase future cash-flows. The objective in RTX is to discover one Tier 1 resource each year. This is achieved through the effective application of Geoscience techniques and processes, taking account of HSEC, economic, commercial and political factors.

RTX operates as a global, integrated business comprising 5 regional exploration teams, a Project Generation Group and 5 global support teams (HR, Finance & Compliance, HSEC, IS&T and Laboratories). The work environment covers the full spectrum of geographic areas and time zones. It comprises a wide variety of countries, cultures, language groups, environments and jurisdictions. It requires operation in co-located and virtual teams, in field and city locations, supported by effective collaboration, relationships and engagement.

Seeking an experienced Project Operations Officer to manage a small team that is responsible for delivering effective and efficient Operations Support (OS) to a specific exploration project in Zambia. It is the management and maintenance of field camps and oversight of drill rigs which are critical components of the role.

Other responsibilities include:

• Coordinating processes involved in a supply chain and liaison with stakeholders involved in airborne surveys, drilling programmes, surface sampling, office and camp work, local travel, international shipping operations, camp construction and purchasing.
• To manage and develop a small team who are involved with the running of the camp and all OS aspects in support of ongoing exploration activities.
• To optimise the use of resources to support effective exploration activities across the project in accordance with recognised HSEC standards and policies.
• To liaise with the HSEC team and implement HSEC compliance with specific reference to community liaison.
• Occasionally this role will have control over larger logistics teams and individuals at remote sites as directed by the Project Operations Supervisor.
• To build local capacity in the workforce via training and coaching.

To succeed in the role you will need to optimise the use of resources by:

• Managing and improving the structure and equipment of the camp(s)
• Developing and directing a small team of staff
• Supporting the OS team in overseeing equipment husbandry in general; including servicing and maintaining generators and all other mechanical equipment
• Procuring and managing a stock of essential spare parts and tools at the camps
• Assisting in the implementation and management of vehicle tracking systems
• Managing hydrocarbon volumes, safety and quality on site and at the garage
• Ensuring camps, vehicles, equipment and team adhere to RT HSEC standards
• Sourcing mechanical suppliers and producing price comparisons
• Occasionally acting as relief manager at remote camps
• Acting as general building, electrical and IT maintenance trouble shooter as required
• Assisting in management of logistics operations as appropriate
• Providing leadership in HSEC by anticipating current and future risks and managing them
• Managing all HSEC related activities by setting and monitoring objectives to ensure standards are met
• Managing individual and team performance to achieve individual and organisation results
• Growing capability and talent to meet current and future requirements
• Providing leadership through collaboration and Living the Values
• Collaborating with the exploration project teams as directed by the Project Operations Supervisor and/or Regional Superintendent to provide services as required
• Collaborating with the HSEC team to ensure HSEC standards are adhered to properly
• Identifying and implementing improvements to all OS aspects of the operation
• Collaborating with the regional exploration team and management to develop new and improved processes to maximize efforts for delivery of OS

To be considered for the role, it is essential:

• A good knowledge of the field camps and their management is required.
• Proven experience in managing camps.
• Prepared to work 4 weeks onsite then 2 weeks at home
• A wide Operations Support technical knowledge to share the burden of trouble-shooting is required.
• Rights to work in Zambia
• Experience of operating in arduous conditions in remote sites.
• Experience of working in a multicultural environment:
• Experience of managing teams in remote conditions.
• Experience of working with local officials.
• MS Office competency is required
• Language skills in-line with local requirements (desireable)
• Supervisory training (recommended)

This position is based in Zambia (local contract, not expatriate). Ads close Friday 21 September 2012.

This role is subject to Rio Tinto's Pre-employment Screening Standard and will involve your consent to conduct a pre-employment medical and reference checks.

Project Operations Officer (Zambia)