Senior Geoscientist

Rio Tinto; Salt Lake City (UT); On-site; USD 110,000 - 160,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health programs

401k retirement plan

Parental leave

Relocation support

Employee assistance program

Job summary

Rio Tinto seeks a Senior Geoscientist in Salt Lake City to identify and evaluate exploration targets and support the discovery of ore bodies with the potential for large, low-cost, long-life operations.

Reporting to Exploration Manager – USA, you will lead field programs, deliver high-quality geoscience input from program design to field delivery, and mentor a small team in a collaborative environment.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Geology, Geoscience, or related discipline.
• 8–10+ years’ field-based exploration experience.
• Experience leading small field teams and managing contractors remotely.
• Proven ability to plan and execute exploration programs (mapping, geochemistry, geophysics, drilling).
• Strong understanding of mineral systems, especially copper.
• Ability to integrate field, geochemical, geophysical, drilling, and assay data.
• Working knowledge of geological software and data management systems.

Responsibilities

• Lead field-based exploration programs from design to field delivery, interpretation and recommendations.
• Plan and deliver mapping, sampling, geophysics, and drilling safely, on time and within budget.
• Translate exploration concepts into practical field plans and adapt based on results.
• Integrate data to refine geological understanding and targets.
• Mentor a small team of geoscientists and manage contractors for safe field execution.
• Collaborate with multidisciplinary teams to align field activities and drive progress.

Skills

Safety leadership

Field-based exploration

Geoscience expertise

Team leadership

Field logistics

Data integration

Geological software

Education

Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Geology/Geoscience

Tools

Geological software

Data management systems

Job description

• Be part of a group that is safety driven and values inclusion
• Opportunity to travel across the United States, working directly in the field and contributing to exploration programs across diverse project locations.
• Role is located in Salt Lake City, Utah, with domestic relocation support available.

• Be part of a group that is safety driven and values inclusion
• Opportunity to travel across the United States, working directly in the field and contributing to exploration programs across diverse project locations.
• Role is located in Salt Lake City, Utah, with domestic relocation support available.

We’re Finding Better Ways™ to provide 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 Role

We are looking for a Senior Geoscientist to identify and evaluate exploration targets and support the discovery of ore bodies with the potential to deliver large, low-cost, long-life operations.

This is a great opportunity for an experienced Geoscientist to contribute to value creation through disciplined area selection, safe and efficient project execution, and clear decision-making that supports advancing or exiting projects based on results.

Reporting to Exploration Manager – USA, and working in a collaborative community, you will be

• Leading and executing field-based exploration programs, providing high-quality geoscience input from program design through to field delivery, interpretation, and recommendations.
• Planning and delivering mapping, sampling, geophysics, and drilling programs safely, on time, and within budget while ensuring strong data collection and QA/QC standards.
• Translating exploration concepts into practical field plans and adapting programs based on results, field observations, and emerging geological insights.
• Integrating field data, observations, and assay results to refine geological understanding and advance priority targets toward drill testing.
• Leading, supervising, and mentoring a small team of geoscientists, setting clear priorities and supporting safe, effective field execution.
• Managing contractors and service providers to ensure safe performance and delivery against scope, budget, schedule, and project objectives.
• Collaborating with multidisciplinary teams, including technical, HSE, land, and permitting, to align field activities, monitor project performance, identify improvement opportunities, and deliver clear recommendations that support timely progress and decision-making.
• Mentor and develop early-career geoscientists, fostering a culture of collaboration, capability development, and continuous improvement

About You

• A strong commitment to the safety of yourself and your team
• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Geology, Geoscience, or related discipline
• ~8–10+ years’ experience with a strong focus on field-based exploration and program execution
• Demonstrated experience leading small field teams and managing contractors in remote environments, with the ability to coordinate logistics, budgets, and schedules to deliver safe and efficient field programs.
• Proven capability to plan and execute exploration programs, including mapping, geochemistry, geophysics, drilling, logging, sampling, and QA/QC workflows.
• Strong technical understanding of mineral systems, particularly major copper mineralization styles, with the ability to apply this knowledge to exploration targeting.
• Ability to integrate and interpret field, geochemical, geophysical, drilling, and assay data to refine targets and guide ongoing exploration programs.
• Strong working knowledge of geological software and data management systems, supported by effective communication and stakeholder engagement skills.

What We Offer

Be recognized for your contribution, your thinking and your hard work, and go home knowing you’ve helped the world progress.

• A 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 working

Rio Tinto Explorationstrives to be the world’s best explorer, building on a 70-year legacy of transformative discoveries. With explorers operating in more than a dozen countries across the globe, we’re actively pursuing opportunities in our core commodities whilst also being opportunistic in identifying other valuable minerals that underpin modern life and economic development.

Our global exploration team plays a pivotal role in discovering and safely delivering high-quality growth options for Rio Tinto. With diverse expertise across geoscience, technology, land access, data and information.

management, logistics and operations, communities and social performance, commercial and more, we work collaboratively to unlock value responsibly and sustainably, wherever we operate.

About Rio Tinto

Rio 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 Inclusion

Rio 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 http //www.ucis.gov/ for more information.