Principal Mine Planning | WAIO | Perth Office Based | Mon - Fri

BHP Group; Western Australia; On-site; AUD 180,000 - 280,000; Full time

Job summary

BHP Group invites applications for Principal Mining Engineer roles within WAIO Mine Planning in Perth, Western Australia. This remote-hub/onsite position focuses on strategic long-term planning, portfolio optimisation, and value maximisation across one of the world’s leading iron ore operations.

You will partner with Operations, Strategy and Resource Engineering to drive high‑quality planning outcomes. Success requires a Mining Engineering degree and extensive experience in large‑scale open pit

Qualifications

• Tertiary qualification in Mining Engineering (or related discipline).
• Extensive experience in large-scale open pit mining operations and across planning horizons.
• Experience with Mineral Resource and Ore Reserve reporting processes is desirable.

Responsibilities

• Champion safety, sustainability, inclusion and operational excellence.
• Develop and optimise Life-of-Asset, strategic and medium-term mine plans to maximise value.
• Collaborate with Operations, Resource Engineering, Business Planning and Strategy to enable value delivery.
• Coach and develop planning teams to build capability and performance.
• Drive continuous improvement of planning methodologies, standards and governance.
• Ensure planning risks and opportunities are identified, assessed and managed.
• Provide field leadership to support compliance with company standards and regulatory requirements.
• Align Hub plans with Life-of-Asset strategies and WAIO objectives.
• Influence enterprise-wide planning through data-driven recommendations.

Skills

Mining software

Strategic mine planning

Stakeholder engagement

Education

Mining Engineering degree

Tools

Industry-leading mining software

Job description

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Principal Mine Planning | WAIO | Perth Office Based | Mon - Fri

Job Country: Australia

Job State/Province: Western Australia

Job Location/Region: Perth

About BHP

At BHP we support our people to grow, learn, develop their skills and reach their potential. With a global portfolio of operations, we offer a diverse and inclusive environment with extraordinary career opportunities. Our strategy is to focus on creating a safe work environment where our employees feel strongly connected to our values and objectives, and where the capability of our people is key to our success.

Come and be a part of this success.

About the Role

We are currently seeking applications for Principal Mining Engineer roles within our WAIO Mine Planning team. Opportunities exist across both the Eastern Pilbara Hub and the Central & Northern Pilbara Hub.

Reporting to the Superintendent Mine Planning, this role provides a unique opportunity to influence the long‑term future of WAIO through strategic mine planning, portfolio optimisation, capital investment studies, and value maximisation across one of the world's leading iron ore operations.

Working closely with Operations, Resource Engineering, Business Planning, Strategy, and other technical functions, these positions drive optimisation initiatives and deliver high‑quality planning outcomes that effectively balance value, risk, and operational performance.

Responsibilities within the role will include:

• Champion a culture of safety, sustainability, inclusion, and operational excellence.
• Develop and optimise integrated Life‑of‑Asset, strategic and medium‑term mine plans that maximise resource value and support sustainable mine progression.
• Build strong partnerships across Operations, Resource Engineering, Business Planning, Strategy, and other technical functions to enable effective decision‑making and value delivery.
• Coach, mentor and provide technical leadership across planning teams to build capability, engagement and high performance.
• Drive continuous improvement of mine planning methodologies, standards, systems, and governance frameworks.
• Ensure planning risks and opportunities are effectively identified, assessed, and managed.
• Provide visible field leadership and support assurance activities to maintain compliance with company standards and regulatory requirements.
• Validate alignment between Hub plans, Life‑of‑Asset strategies, and WAIO's broader strategic objectives.
• Provide thought leadership in strategic mine planning and influence enterprise‑wide planning decisions through data‑driven recommendations

About You

To be successful in this role you will hold a tertiary qualification in Mining Engineering (or related discipline) and have extensive experience in a large‑scale open pit mining operation and across all mine planning horizons.

In addition, you will have the following desired skills:

• Advanced proficiency in industry‑leading mining software for optimisation, mine design and strategic planning, with demonstrated application to complex operational and business challenges.
• Demonstrated experience in strategic mine planning, mine optimisation, and value‑based decision making within large‑scale open pit mining operations.
• Experience supporting Mineral Resource and Ore Reserve reporting processes, with the ability to act as a Competent Person, is desirable.
• Strong commitment to teamwork and collaboration.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to influence, collaborate with, and engage a diverse range of stakeholders
• The ability to balance technical, operational, and commercial considerations to maximise business value.
• The ability to establish, maintain, and leverage effective internal and external stakeholder networks.
• A commitment to continuous improvement, inclusion, sustainability, and safe work practices.

Location

You will be based in Perth, Western Australia, in the multi award winning office tower - ‘City Square’. You will have stunning river views from your modern open plan office, state of the art facilities including virtual whiteboards and video conferencing facilities, 550 bicycle racks with ample lockers, showers and change room amenities and a large outdoor terrace with barbecues.

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 a number of 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.

Supporting a diverse workforce

The size, stability and magnitude of our business not only provides significant opportunity for professional development, but also attractive salary packages with performance‑based bonuses and a best‑in‑class employee share program. We know there are many aspects of our employees' lives that are important, and work is only one of these, so we offer benefits to enable your work to fit with your life. These benefits include flexible working options, a generous paid parental leave policy, other extended leave entitlements and parent rooms.

At BHP, we know that we are strengthened by diversity. We are an Equal Opportunity employer that is committed to making BHP a safe and inclusive workplace where everyone can thrive and be at their best every day. We are focused on creating a workforce that’s more diverse and represents the communities where we work and live. providing a work environment in which everyone is included, treated fairly and with respect. We are an Equal Opportunity employer and recognise that true diversity includes gender, age, race, disability status, sexual orientation, religion, neurodiversity, education levels, and many more aspects of your identity.

BHP is committed to providing a recruitment process that is fair, equitable and accessible for all. If you have a disability, we know that it may be helpful for us to adjust our process to make it equitable for your individual situation. If you would like to reach out to someone about your situation and our recruitment process, please email us at [e-mail].