Mechanical Specialist - Hoist | Prominent Hill - FIFO

BHP; Adelaide; On-site; AUD 120,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

Prominent Hill in South Australia seeks a Mechanical Specialist - Hoist to join a skilled maintenance team. You will apply expertise in hoisting systems, ropes, brakes and hydraulics to keep critical underground and ore handling assets running safely and efficiently.

This role reports to the Superintendent Hoisting and works within a rotating 8/6 FIFO roster from Adelaide or Port Augusta. You will develop scope of work, review technical procedures and mentor teammates while prioritising safety

Qualifications

• An Australian recognised Mechanical Trade qualification.
• Extensive experience in underground mining, hoisting, heavy industrial or materials handling environments.
• Advanced knowledge of mine hoisting systems, ropes, braking systems, hydraulic systems, winches and associated critical infrastructure.
• Strong understanding of reliability-centred maintenance principles, asset management practices and condition monitoring techniques.
• Experience developing shutdown scopes and technical work packages for major maintenance activities.
• Proven ability to assess equipment risks, prioritise maintenance activities and provide technical recommendations that improve asset performance and availability.
• Knowledge of alignment practices, torque requirements, critical tolerances, and precision maintenance techniques.
• Strong stakeholder engagement skills, with the ability to influence and work collaboratively across Operations, Maintenance, Engineering and Planning functions.
• Experience providing technical coaching and mentoring to supervisors, maintainers, and contractors.
• Experience using SAP or similar maintenance management systems.
• Underground mining experience, hydraulics expertise, Working at Heights certification and Integrated Tool Carrier (IT) competency will be highly regarded.
• Most importantly, you will demonstrate a genuine commitment to safety, teamwork, technical excellence and continuous improvement.

Responsibilities

• Lead by example and contribute to a strong culture of safety, care, and accountability within the Hoisting team.
• Provide specialist technical leadership for hoisting systems, ropes, winches and associated mechanical assets, ensuring safe, reliable and efficient operation of critical infrastructure.
• Complete inspections, condition monitoring activities and mechanical assessments to identify equipment risks, emerging defects and reliability improvement opportunities.
• Participate in complex fault-finding and root cause investigations, providing technical recommendations to improve equipment performance and prevent repeat failures.
• Work closely with Operations, Maintenance and Engineering teams to ensure equipment reliability risks are appropriately identified, prioritised and managed.
• Provide technical oversight for hoisting shutdowns and major maintenance activities, including scope development, work prioritisation, execution support, and post-outage reviews.
• Partner with Planning teams to optimise maintenance strategies, shutdown schedules, and resource allocation to maximise asset availability and reliability.
• Develop, review, and assure the quality of maintenance work scopes, technical procedures, Task Hazard Analyses (THAs) and maintenance standards.
• Support long-term asset management and reliability improvement initiatives through defect elimination, lifecycle planning and continuous improvement activities.
• Create and review high-quality maintenance notifications, work orders, inspection records, and technical reports to support effective decision making.
• Provide technical coaching and mentoring to supervisors, maintainers and contractors to build capability across the Hoisting team.
• Maintain high standards of housekeeping, tool management, and work area organisation.
• Identify and champion opportunities to improve safety, reliability, maintainability, and operational performance across hoisting and ore handling systems.

Skills

Mechanical trade

Underground mining

Hoisting systems

Condition monitoring

Safety leadership

Asset reliability

Education

Australian recognised Mechanical Trade qualification

Tools

SAP

Job description

About Copper SA Operations At BHP

BHP is a global resources company operating across more than 90 locations worldwide, with a purpose to improve lives and support a more sustainable future.

About Copper SA Operations At BHP

BHP is a global resources company operating across more than 90 locations worldwide, with a purpose to improve lives and support a more sustainable future.

Through Copper South Australia (Copper SA), we are building a leading copper portfolio that supports the global energy transition, supplying materials essential for renewable energy, electric vehicles and digital infrastructure.

For you, this is an exciting opportunity to grow your career, make a meaningful impact, and help shape the future of one of Australia's leading copper businesses.

About Prominent Hill

Prominent Hill is a well-established copper-gold operation within BHP's Minerals Australia portfolio, with a strong future and ongoing investment.

Located 650km north-west of Adelaide, the site operates across underground and surface mining on an 8/6 FIFO roster.

A major shaft project is supporting underground expansion and extending mine life to at least 2040, creating long-term opportunities across the operation.

It's a technically complex site where you can build your skills, take on new challenges, and be part of a team where safety and looking out for each other matters.

We currently have a vacancy for a Mechanical Specialist - Hoist, reporting to the Superintendent Hoisting.

The Challenge Ahead

As a Mechanical Specialist - Hoist, you'll play an important role in supporting the reliability, safety and performance of Prominent Hill's hoisting and ore handling systems. Working within a highly skilled maintenance and engineering team, you'll apply your technical expertise to planned and breakdown maintenance activities while providing specialist support for hoisting equipment and associated infrastructure.

This is an opportunity to work on critical assets that are central to underground mining operations while contributing to a significant phase of growth and development at Prominent Hill. You'll collaborate closely with Operations, Maintenance and Planning teams to identify improvement opportunities, resolve equipment issues efficiently and support safe, reliable production outcomes.

Safety is at the core of everything we do. You'll help foster a strong culture of care by leading through example, supporting your team and ensuring work is completed to the highest standards of safety, compliance and operational excellence.

What You Will Bring To The Role

You are a safety-focused mechanical tradesperson with strong technical capability and a practical approach to maintenance in a mining or heavy industrial environment. You enjoy solving problems, collaborating with others and contributing to equipment reliability and operational performance.

To Be Successful, You Will Bring

• An Australian recognised Mechanical Trade qualification.
• Extensive experience in underground mining, hoisting, heavy industrial or materials handling environments.
• Advanced knowledge of mine hoisting systems, ropes, braking systems, hydraulic systems, winches and associated critical infrastructure.
• Strong understanding of reliability-centred maintenance principles, asset management practices and condition monitoring techniques.
• Experience developing shutdown scopes and technical work packages for major maintenance activities.
• Proven ability to assess equipment risks, prioritise maintenance activities and provide technical recommendations that improve asset performance and availability.
• Knowledge of alignment practices, torque requirements, critical tolerances, and precision maintenance techniques.
• Strong stakeholder engagement skills, with the ability to influence and work collaboratively across Operations, Maintenance, Engineering and Planning functions.
• Experience providing technical coaching and mentoring to supervisors, maintainers, and contractors.
• Experience using SAP or similar maintenance management systems.
• Underground mining experience, hydraulics expertise, Working at Heights certification and Integrated Tool Carrier (IT) competency will be highly regarded.
• Most importantly, you will demonstrate a genuine commitment to safety, teamwork, technical excellence and continuous improvement.

Key Responsibilities

In this role, you will:

• Lead by example and contribute to a strong culture of safety, care, and accountability within the Hoisting team.
• Provide specialist technical leadership for hoisting systems, ropes, winches and associated mechanical assets, ensuring safe, reliable and efficient operation of critical infrastructure.
• Complete inspections, condition monitoring activities and mechanical assessments to identify equipment risks, emerging defects and reliability improvement opportunities.
• Participate in complex fault-finding and root cause investigations, providing technical recommendations to improve equipment performance and prevent repeat failures.
• Work closely with Operations, Maintenance and Engineering teams to ensure equipment reliability risks are appropriately identified, prioritised and managed.
• Provide technical oversight for hoisting shutdowns and major maintenance activities, including scope development, work prioritisation, execution support, and post-outage reviews.
• Partner with Planning teams to optimise maintenance strategies, shutdown schedules, and resource allocation to maximise asset availability and reliability.
• Develop, review, and assure the quality of maintenance work scopes, technical procedures, Task Hazard Analyses (THAs) and maintenance standards.
• Support long-term asset management and reliability improvement initiatives through defect elimination, lifecycle planning and continuous improvement activities.
• Create and review high-quality maintenance notifications, work orders, inspection records, and technical reports to support effective decision making.
• Provide technical coaching and mentoring to supervisors, maintainers and contractors to build capability across the Hoisting team.
• Maintain high standards of housekeeping, tool management, and work area organisation.
• Identify and champion opportunities to improve safety, reliability, maintainability, and operational performance across hoisting and ore handling systems.

Work Location

This position is based at Prominent Hill, South Australia, operating on a rotating day/night 8/6 FIFO roster from Adelaide or Port Augusta.

Why You Will Love Working Here

Benefits

At BHP, you will do meaningful work in an environment that supports you to perform at your best; on site and at home. That's why our benefits are designed to support your health, your growth, and your personal balance:

• Grow your career your way, with opportunities to develop and move across BHP
• Be rewarded with competitive pay, performance bonuses and our BHP employee share plan
• Work in an inclusive team where people support each other every day
• Enjoy flexibility and family-friendly options that help you balance work and life
• Access wellbeing support, including 24/7 confidential assistance for you and your family
• Build your future with benefits like paid parental leave, recognition programs, etc.

Life at Prominent Hill

Life On Site Is Designed To Help You Switch On For Work And Switch Off When It Matters, With a Modern On-site Village That Supports Comfort And Wellbeing

• Your own private, comfortable room to relax and recharge.
• Great facilities including a state-of-the-art gym (open daily from 3am to 9pm, with personal training available), sporting areas, and places to unwind.
• A wide range of activities to stay active and social, including basketball, tennis, soccer, mini-golf, and a music room.
• Opportunities to recharge your way, swimming, walking tracks between site and village, bike hire, and quiet spaces.
• Dedicated areas to relax and disconnect, including gaming spaces and wellness options such as meditation or stargazing on the star deck.
• Reliable Wi-Fi to stay connected with family and friends.
• A unique site environment, including sunrises you won't see anywhere else.

And so much more!

APPLICATIONS CLOSE - Thursday 26 November at midnight SA time

About Our Process

At BHP, we are committed to employing individuals who align with the BHP Charter Values and meet the requirements of the role. As part of the recruitment process, there are several checks which may be conducted to demonstrate applicants’ suitability for a role including police / criminal background checks, medical, drug and alcohol testing, due diligence checks, right to work checks, and/or reference checks.

We Support a Diverse Workforce

At BHP, we believe diversity makes us stronger. We are committed to creating a safe, inclusive workplace where everyone is treated fairly and can thrive. Our workforce reflects the communities where we operate, and we value all aspects of identity; gender, age, race, disability, sexual orientation, religion, neurodiversity, education, and more.

We ensure that our recruitment process is fair, accessible, and equitable.