Rio Tinto Hiring for Production Operator Job at Invercargill Full Time

Production Operator

• Full training provided
• Opportunity to kick-start your career by securing a permanent, entry-level role within Heavy Industry
• Attractive remuneration and benefits
• Day/Night shift roster offering a great work-life balance

All progress begins with pioneers. At Rio Tinto, it begins with you

About the role

Have you ever considered a role as a Production Operator at New Zealand’s Aluminium Smelter (NZAS)? Located in Invercargill, we are looking for talented and motivated women and men to join our Tiwai community and accept the rewarding challenge of a career in smelting.

Every hour of every shift, your safety and wellbeing is our number one priority. We do the work only if it is safe, and we invest to make sure every member of the team has the quality tools they need to do their job.

Reporting to our Crew Leaders and Superintendents, you’ll join our close-knit, proud and hardworking teams. The role of a Production Operator is vital to the success of our business. Working in a strong team environment, you will be responsible for supporting our operational teams to ensure the safe and sustainable production of aluminium through the operation of mobile and fixed plant equipment in conjunction with manual duties. The role of an Operator includes carrying out routine and assigned tasks specific to smelting operations, within guidelines specified by the Crew Leader and Line Superintendent.

Our Production Operator team members work across a variety of departments on-site, including Reduction, Carbon Rodding, Carbon Green & Bake and Casting & Logistics.

Some of the tasks include:

• Operating and housekeeping of machinery such as Cranes, Sweepers and Forklifts
• Working on reduction lines; tapping metal, cell dressing, raising beams
• Furnace preparation, pit operations, production inspections and mobile equipment operation

Our main roster is a 12-hour day/night shift (two-day, two‑night, and four-day off rotation), allowing you the opportunity to balance your work and other lifestyle commitments. In addition to paying competitively and providing great benefits packages, we want you to live the lifestyle that is right for you and your family. And because of our size and scale, there are many opportunities to learn, grow and do more than you ever thought possible.

What we offer

• Full training provided
• A work environment where safety is always the number one priority
• A competitive base salary reflective of your skills and experience with annual incentive program
• Comprehensive medical assistance scheme
• Attractive share ownership plan
• Leave for all of life’s reasons (vacation/annual, paid parental, sick leave) including long service leave
• Access to transport assistance between Invercargill and Tiwai
• Competitive superannuation programme
• Career development & education assistance to further your technical or leadership ambitions

What you’ll bring

Prior experience in the industry is not essential and training will be provided to ensure you are able to work safely and efficiently. Ideally you’ll be self-motivated with the desire to learn, and have the ability to demonstrate an unwavering commitment to safe work practices. You will also require strong communication skills, team orientation and the ability to undertake physical work in a hot industrial environment are essential. A New Zealand Class 1 Driver’s License is a requirement for this role.

About Rio Tinto

Every idea, every innovation, every little thing the world calls ‘progress’ begins with a first step, and someone willing to take it: explorers, inventors, entrepreneurs. Pioneers.

For nearly 150 years, Rio Tinto has been a company of pioneers – generations of people spanning the globe, all with the grit and vision to produce materials essential to human progress.

Our iron ore has shaped skylines from Shanghai to Sydney. Our aluminium – the world’s first to be certified “responsible” – helps planes fly and makes cars lighter. Our copper helps wind turbines power cities and our boron helps feed the world and explore the universe. Our diamonds help us celebrate the best parts of life.

Where you’ll be working

Rio Tinto Aluminium – Pacific Operations

Rio Tinto is a global leader in aluminium, one of the world’s most widely used metals.

Active in the sector for more than 110 years, today we operate large-scale, high-quality bauxite mines and alumina refineries, and have the world’s most modern and competitive aluminium smelter portfolio.

Our Pacific Operations sites are located along the east coast of Australia, at the tip of the Northern Territory and in New Zealand’s south. With more than 6,000 employees, we operate a full value chain approach—mining, refining and smelting. Our portfolio includes four bauxite mines, two refineries, four smelters and one power station, and is supported by technical experts located in our Brisbane hub, including a fully operational Operations Centre for our bauxite mines https://tiwaistories.co.nz/

Invercargill, New Zealand’s southernmost city is the commercial hub of Southland. The city is famous for its’ easy access to outdoor adventure—fly fishing, snow sports, rugged terrain, waterfalls and wildlife—with a balance of all the modern facilities you would expect from a thriving city, with well-regarded schools, child care, restaurants, creative and cultural experiences, shopping and sporting opportunities.

Every Voice Matters

We are committed to an inclusive environment where people feel comfortable to be themselves. We want our people to feel that all voices are heard, all cultures respected and that a variety of perspectives are not only welcome – they are essential to our success. We treat each other fairly and with dignity regardless of race, gender, nationality, ethnic origin, religion, age, sexual orientation or anything else that makes us different.

At Rio Tinto, we particularly welcome and encourage applications from Indigenous Peoples, women, the LGBTQIA+ community, mature workers, people with disabilities and people from different cultural backgrounds.

This recruitment process will include testing, pre-employment checks and medicals and this advertisement may be used for both current and future vacancies.