Underground Shift Supervisor

Rio Tinto; Superior (AZ); On-site; USD 85,000 - 110,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Annual cash incentive

401k matching

Employee share program

PTO and holidays

Bereavement leave

Health programs

EAP

Job summary

Rio Tinto is seeking 5 Shift Supervisors to provide frontline leadership for underground and surface mining activities near Superior, Arizona. You will oversee safe, efficient execution, ensure MSHA compliance, and coordinate with engineers, maintenance, and contractors to meet development and production targets.

Reporting to the Underground Operations Superintendent, you will foster a strong safety culture, supervise crews during shifts, review production metrics, and support training and

Qualifications

• High school diploma or equivalent. (technical or trade qualifications desirable)
• Previous supervisory experience in underground mining or heavy industrial environments is required.
• Strong knowledge of underground mining practices, safety systems, and permit-to-work processes.
• Proven ability to lead teams, manage contractors, and make sound operational decisions.
• Effective communication, problem solving, and leadership skills.
• Ability to work rotating shifts in a physically and safety-critical environment.

Responsibilities

• Supervise underground and surface mining crews and monitor contractors during assigned shifts.
• Maintain shift safety performance and ensure compliance with MSHA and site standards.
• Coordinate and execute shift plans to meet development and maintenance targets.
• Conduct pre-start meetings and field safety interactions to reinforce expectations and identify risks.
• Monitor underground conditions and coordinate timely responses to changes.
• Allocate personnel, equipment, and materials effectively.
• Coordinate with engineering, maintenance, operations, and contractor teams for integrated operations.
• Ensure planned shift activities are executed on schedule and resolve conflicts.
• Complete accurate shift reports covering production, delays, downtime, and safety incidents.
• Support training and development of underground personnel.

Skills

Supervisory experience

Underground mining knowledge

Team leadership

Effective communication

Education

High school diploma or equivalent

Job description

• Join a leader in mining & metals offering outstanding personal development & global career opportunities.
• Competitive salary and benefits.
• Work in an underground project located near Superior, Arizona.

About the Role

We are seeking 5 Shift Supervisors to provide frontline leadership and supervision of mining activities underground and on the surface. This role is responsible for the safe, efficient, and compliant execution of work during assigned shifts, ensuring people, equipment, and contractors operate in accordance with site standards, schedules, and production objectives.

Reporting to the Underground Operations Superintendent, the Shift Supervisor plays a critical role in fostering a strong safety culture, coordinating day‑to‑day underground and surface activities, and supporting operational performance across development, production, and support functions.

Role Responsibilities

• Supervise underground and surface mining crews and monitor contractors during assigned shifts, ensuring safe and efficient execution of all work
• Maintain full accountability for shift safety performance, ensuring compliance with MSHA, site, and company standards while promoting a strong safety culture
• Coordinate, prioritize, and execute shift plans to meet development, and maintenance targets
• Conduct effective pre-start meetings and field safety interactions to reinforce expectations and identify risks
• Monitor critical systems and underground conditions, coordinating timely response to upset or changing conditions
• Ensure effective allocation and utilization of personnel, equipment, and materials
• Coordinate with engineering, maintenance, operations, and contractor teams to support integrated and efficient operations
• Ensure planned shift activities are executed as scheduled, resolving conflicts and constraints as they arise
• Complete accurate shift reports, including production tracking, delays, downtime, safety incidents, and critical system issues
• Support the training, coaching, and development of underground personnel to build capability and reinforce standards
• Maintain clean and organized work areas and conduct regular housekeeping inspections and audits

About you

• High school diploma or equivalent (technical or trade qualifications desirable)
• Valid driver’s license
• Previous supervisory experience in underground mining or heavy industrial environments
• Strong knowledge of underground mining practices, safety systems, and permit‑to‑work processes
• Proven ability to lead teams, manage contractors, and make sound operational decisions
• Effective communication, problem‑solving, and leadership skills
• Ability to work rotating shifts in a physically and safety‑critical environment

What we offer

We are committed to providing our employees with a generous benefits package. Be recognized for your contribution, your thinking, your hard work, and go home knowing you’ve helped the world progress, we provide:

• A safety-focused and inclusive working environment
• Advantageous salary package with annual cash incentive awards (STIP) for eligible employees
• 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
• Generous Rio Tinto employee share program, which allows you to purchase Rio Tinto Company shares.
• Comprehensive leave policies which cover all moments that matter in life: PTO (paid time off), paid holidays, and paid bereavement leave.
• A favorable child-caregiver leave program (Up to 100% salary top-up)
• Discount programs for leisure purposes and access to Virgin Pulse with incentives supporting your wellbeing
• Ongoing Employee Assistance Program (EAP) for you and your family; to help in addressing educational opportunities, addiction treatment, depression, stress, domestic issues, financial management, and legal concerns.
• Our team and industry experts are here to support and work with you to explore your learning potential and career goals

Where you will be working

You will be joining Resolution Copper at a pivotal moment in the project’s history. With the Resolution Copper Land Exchange now complete, the project is advancing its next phase of technical work, community engagement, and state permitting activities.

Resolution Copper has the potential to supply nearly 25% of total U.S. copper demand and generate several thousand direct and indirect jobs in the Pioneer Mining District of Arizona, delivering an economic value of several billion dollars over the life of the mine. The project will rely on block caving, a proven underground mining method that uses gravity to extract ore from a deposit located more than 2,000 meters below the surface. This technique is the most viable way to safely and efficiently recover the resource.

As development continues, Resolution Copper will expand its underground operations, conduct extensive drilling and orebody characterization, and maintain both the permitting process and ongoing public engagement with Native American tribes, local communities, and stakeholders.

The Resolution Copper project is vital to securing America’s energy future, infrastructure needs, and national defense by providing a domestic supply of copper and other critical minerals. Once operational, it has the potential to become one of the largest copper mines in the United States, contribute approximately $1 billion annually to Arizona’s economy, and create thousands of local jobs in a region with more than a century‑long mining heritage.

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.