Quality and Commissioning Lead

Lead a critical role supporting the safe construction, commissioning and handover of life-of-mine infrastructure at Kennecott Underground. Live and work in Salt Lake City with a residential site-based role where you can be home every night. Join a rapidly growing Americas projects team with opportunities for career development across Rio Tinto’s global project portfolio. 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’re 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 the 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 roleWe are looking for a Quality & Commissioning Lead to provide regional leadership for quality, completions, commissioning, startup and turnover across Rio Tinto projects in the Americas. The immediate focus will be the Kennecott Underground Project, where the role will establish practical QA/QC and commissioning discipline to support safe, complete and reliable handover of assets to Operations. This is a senior individual contributor role within the Owner’s team, requiring strong field credibility, safety leadership, attention to detail and the ability to influence across project, operational and contractor teams without direct authority.Reporting to the Engineering Project Manager, you will lead commissioning and quality outcomes across all disciplines by engaging engineering, construction, operational readiness, operations and contractor stakeholders to support safe and effective project delivery.Your role responsibilities will include:Leading QA/QC, completions and commissioning activities to support the safe delivery and handover of life-of-mine infrastructure projects. Establishing and governing quality, inspection, testing and acceptance processes that support safe and reliable asset turnover. Driving commissioning activities from construction completion through startup, energization and handover to Operations. Providing leadership for Hexagon Smart Completions implementation and commissioning system requirements. Facilitating commissioning, QA/QC, punch list and turnover forums, ensuring clear actions, decisions and escalation pathways. Partnering with Engineering, Construction, Operational Readiness, Operations and contractor teams to ensure assets are safe, operable and ready for service. Managing non-conformances, deficiencies and rework activities through to resolution while maintaining quality and compliance standards.Coaching project and contractor teams to embed best practices in commissioning, quality and completions management.About youA commitment to the safety of yourself and your team. Demonstrated experience leading commissioning, completions or QA/QC activities within mining, heavy industrial or major capital project environments. Strong field leadership and the ability to influence project, contractor and operations stakeholders without direct authority. Experience managing commissioning, startup, testing, energization and asset handover activities. Strong understanding of quality systems, inspection and test plans, acceptance criteria, punch lists and turnover documentation. Experience with commissioning and completions management systems; experience with Hexagon Smart Completions is strongly desired. Ability to communicate effectively, resolve issues constructively and escalate risks when required.Experience coaching and developing teams through change and process improvement initiatives. Underground mining or underground infrastructure experience is strongly preferred. A degree in Engineering, Construction Management, Project Management or a related discipline is preferred. Equivalent trade qualifications and relevant heavy industry commissioning or construction quality experience will also be considered.What we offerA work environment where safety is always the number one priority.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; Generous 401k matching program.Attractive share ownership plan. Comprehensive leave policies which cover all the moments that matter in life: PTO (paid time off), paid holidays, and paid bereavement leave.A generous parental leave policy, which ensures you’re 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.Where you'll be workingOur Kennecott mine is a world-class, fully integrated copper mining operation, including a concentrator, smelter, and refinery, located just outside Salt Lake City, Utah, in the United States. We produce copper, precious metals including gold and silver, molybdenum, and sulfuric acid. Kennecott has been mining and processing minerals from the rich ore body of the Bingham Canyon Mine since 1903 and is one of the top producing mines in the world, comprising approximately 11 percent of U.S. annual copper production.About Rio TintoRio 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 situations and meet opportunities.Respect and InclusionRio Tinto is committed to equal employment opportunity. All qualified applicants will be considered without regard to race, color, sex, age, religion, national origin, disability, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local law.We are committed to an inclusive environment where people feel safe, respected and valued. We want our people to feel that all voices are heard and that a variety of perspectives are not only welcome but are essential to our success. We treat all our people fairly and with dignity.Rio Tinto participates in E- Verify to confirm work authorization. Please visit for more information.SummaryLocation: Salt Lake CityType: Full time