Principal Operational Readiness | Bhp Chile

Bhp Limited; Santiago; On-site; CLP 9,000,000 - 13,000,000; Full time

Job summary

BHP Chile seeks a Principal Operational Readiness professional to lead readiness across a portfolio of mining projects. You will develop robust asset and maintenance strategies, align with safety standards, and drive value through risk-informed decisions alongside the Operational Readiness Manager.

You will apply deep understanding of operations, plan readiness deliverables, engage diverse stakeholders, and ensure successful ramp-up, handover, and execution with a focus on tailings processing

Qualifications

• Requires tertiary degree in Metallurgical Engineering or Civil Engineering.
• Experience in Project Management or site operations.
• Diversity of experience, strong critical reasoning and problem-solving abilities.
• Excellent engagement, communication skills, proactive and credible.
• Experience with tailings thickening/transport processes preferred.

Responsibilities

• Lead Operational Readiness across a sub-portfolio of investments or a single critical project.
• Develop and govern asset/maintenance strategies and readiness plans.
• Apply understanding of operation systems, risk handover, and key processes.
• Plan and execute readiness deliverables, ensure compliance with standards.
• Engage diverse stakeholders and manage project risks and change governance.

Skills

Metallurgical Engineering

Civil Engineering

Project Management

Stakeholder Engagement

Travel Availability

Education

Engineering degree (Metallurgical or Civil)

Job description

Principal Operational Readiness | BHP Chile

About BHP

At BHP, we bring people and resources together to build a better world. We foster an inclusive, diverse, and high‑performing culture where everyone feels safe, respected, and empowered to thrive. With a global portfolio and a strong commitment to sustainability, we offer our teams opportunities to grow, lead meaningful transformations, and make a lasting impact.

We are united by our values, our dedication to safety, and our belief that great people drive great outcomes.

Why not you? Why not BHP?

The challenge Ahead

The purpose of this role is Provides Operational Readiness leadership across a sub-portfolio of investments or single critical investment. Supports the Operational Readiness Manager / Area Lead Manager in execution of Operational Readiness within the broader region or portfolio.

Core Activities:

• • Develops, optimises and governs asset/maintenance strategies to drive continuous improvement and replication of best practices across assets and equipment while optimising value for the long term.
• • Applies an understanding of the Operation's systems, activities, risk handover and key processes, terminology, and workflow.
• • Develops operational readiness plans/schedules and deliverables, evaluates systems/procedures for compliance with standards and defines training/handover requirements to efficiently prepare the asset for operations.
• • Verifies construction methodologies and advises on engineering decisions for projects in alignment with Project/Construction/Commissioning Engineering Standards
• • Employs specific/relevant discipline engineering expertise and leadership to meet BHP's technical expectations
• • Identifies, engages and manages a range of diverse internal and external stakeholders.
• • Identifies and assesses risks, makes risk informed decisions, uses BHP's risk management framework and builds a risk aware culture to support safe and productive performance outcomes.
• • Plans, tracks the delivery of and manages a project to generate value and drive the achievement of project outcomes.
• • Sources information, plans and conducts analyses to support evidence based decision making.
• • Designs and implements governance/assurance practices and Management of Change procedures to control value outcomes across BHP.
• • Embeds operational key requirements, key operational value drivers and operational inputs in the project scope, design and preparation for execution and handover.
• • Ensure ramp-up planning and project support during stabilization is define and incorporate into the project planning.
• • Responsible to ensure Ops readiness cost and schedule are embedded in project master plans and costs.
• • Ensures operations impacts are considered in the trade-offs and alternatives evaluation during the execution of the Value Optimization and Minimum Viable Solution process in each project and portfolio.

What We Expect From You

Required:

• Tertiary Qualification degree in Metallurgical Engineering or Civil Engineering (Mechanical, Electrical, Process).
• Relevant experience in Project Management or site operations.
• Diversity in experience and career history will testify to your ability to demonstrate strong critical reasoning skills, proactively identify issues and ultimately develop solutions. Energetic and driven, with a strong understanding of safe operations and safe behaviour fundamentals you work well under pressure and uncertainty bringing a high attention to detail and the consistent ability to meet multiple deadlines.
• A performance and achievement orientated professional, your technical strengths will be complemented by excellent engagement and communication skills. Proactive, credible and influential, you relate well with people, communicating confidently and building strong working relationships with key stakeholders.
• Experience in tailings thickening and transport processes is required, ideally with experience in growth projects related to tailings projects. Knowledge of unit processes and operations, electromechanical equipment, operating costs, and an understanding of operational philosophy.

Recommended:

• Mandatory Requirement: Availability to travel on site if the project requires.

Why You’ll Love Working Here

At BHP Chile, we understand that to give your best, you need to feel your best. That’s why our benefits are designed to support you at every stage, caring for your health, driving your development, and promoting a real balance between your personal and professional life.

Professional Development: Continuous learning and real growth opportunities.

Compensation: Fair and competitive, reflecting your role, skills, and achievements.

Inclusive Culture: We promote a workplace where everyone feels valued, respected, and free to express their authentic identity.

Recognition: We reward your achievements through our global recognition program Big Thanks | Muchas Gracias.

About Our Process

At BHP, we hire people who align with our values and meet the role requirements. As part of the process, we may review compliance with minimum requirements.

If you already work at BHP, apply through the internal portal using your corporate email.

We Support a Diverse Workforce

At BHP, we adhere to Inclusion Law 21.015.

We know diversity makes us stronger. That’s why we focus on creating a more diverse workforce that represents the communities where we operate and live, ensuring a workplace where everyone is included and treated with respect.

We are committed to a fair, equitable, and accessible selection process for all. If you have any type of disability, please write to [emailprotected] so we can adjust our selection process and provide the necessary support.

Our purpose is to bring people and resources together to build a better world.