Safety and Environment (HSE) Specialist

• Shape health, safety and environmental outcomes across the RTX Canada exploration portfolio, partnering closely with field teams, leaders and contractors.
• Build your HSE expertise through varied operational work, including risk assessment, assurance, coaching and continuous improvement across remote exploration activities.
• Permanent role based in either Thunder Bay, Ontario, with a salary range between 103,200 – 141,900 or Vancouver, British Columbia, with a salary range between $103, 200 – 154,800

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 field Health, Safety and Environment (HSE) Specialist to help Rio Tinto Exploration Canada (RTX) strengthen safe, responsible and compliant exploration activities across its portfolio. In this role, you’ll design, implement and monitor occupational health, safety and environmental programs, while partnering with operational, technical, logistics, Communities and Social Performance, and contractor teams. This is a great opportunity for someone who enjoys practical problem-solving in varied field environments and wants to broaden their HSE influence across a diverse, global organization.

What you’ll be doing

Reporting to the Senior Advisor HSES and working across the RTX Canada portfolio, you will:

• Identify field hazards, assess health, safety and environmental risks, and recommend practical controls using the hierarchy of controls.
• Implement Rio Tinto standards, processes and HSE programs across the region, providing technical advice and hands-on support to operations.
• Review safety exposures, performance trends and legal requirements, then recommend and implement improvements that strengthen workforce safety.
• Coordinate safety audits, monitor corrective actions and support HSE risk assessments so hazards are addressed effectively and on time.
• Advise line leaders on critical HSE issues and coach employees and contractors to make informed, risk-based decisions.
• Partner with Logistics and Operations, Technical and Geology, Communities and Social Performance, and peer HSE professionals to resolve safety and environmental challenges.
• Oversee contractor HSE management to support compliance with RTX Canada policies, contractual requirements and applicable legislation.
• Promote a culture of care, learning and continuous improvement by engaging teams and influencing safe behaviours across field activities.

About you

We’re looking for someone whose experience aligns with the key requirements below. You do not need to meet every “helpful for success” item to apply. If you bring relevant experience and are excited by the opportunity, we encourage you to submit an application.

Required for Success

• A commitment to the safety of yourself and your team, with the confidence to speak up when something is not right.
• Demonstrated experience applying occupational health, safety and environmental practices in mineral exploration, mining or a comparable safety-critical field environment.
• Ability to identify hazards, assess risk, recommend controls and support audits, corrective actions and contractor HSE oversight.
• Ability to communicate practical HSE advice and work toward shared outcomes with leaders, employees, contractors and cross-functional partners.
• Ability to travel to and work safely at remote field sites, including in rough terrain and variable or extreme weather conditions.
• Working knowledge of Microsoft Office and the ability to learn and use occupational health and safety software and platforms.
• Fluency in English is essential. Proficiency in French and/or Spanish would be considered an advantage.

Helpful for Success

• A degree or diploma in Occupational Health and Safety, Environmental Science, Engineering, Natural Resources, Industrial Hygiene, Mining, Geology or a related discipline, or an equivalent combination of education, training and relevant experience.
• Training or coursework related to integrated HSEQ or HSES management systems, including ISO 14001, ISO 45001 or ISO 9001.
• Knowledge of applicable occupational health and safety legislation and regulatory requirements in Canada.
• A valid Class 5 driver’s licence.

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 

• Career development & education assistance to further your technical or leadership ambitions  

• A competitive base salary reflective of your skills and experience with annual incentive program  

• Ongoing access to family-friendly health and medical programs, pension and savings plans 

• Attractive share ownership plan 

• Leave for all of life’s reasons (vacation/annual, paid parental, sick leave) 

• Exclusive employee discounts  

Where you’ll be working

The position of HSE Specialist will be based at either our Thunder Bay, ON office or Vancouver, BC office. The role requires frequent travel to exploration projects located throughout the country. 

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

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.

À propos de Rio Tinto

Rio Tinto est un chef de file mondial du secteur des sociétés minières et des matériaux. Nous sommes établis dans 35 pays où nous produisons du minerai de fer, du cuivre, de l’aluminium, des minéraux critiques et d’autres matériaux nécessaires à la transition énergétique mondiale et à la prospérité des personnes, des communautés et des nations. 

Nous exerçons nos activités depuis 150 ans, en nous appuyant sur les connaissances accumulées au fil des générations et sur les différents continents. Notre mission – trouver de meilleures façons de fournir les matériaux dont le monde a besoin – nous guide dans notre quête d’innovation et d’amélioration continue, dans le but de fabriquer des produits à faibles émissions et répondant aux bonnes normes environnementales, sociales et de gouvernance. Mais comme nous ne pouvons pas y arriver seuls, nous nous attachons à créer des partenariats nous permettant de résoudre des problèmes, de créer des situations mutuellement avantageuses et de saisir des occasions.

Respect and Inclusion
Chez Rio Tinto, nous accueillons favorablement et encourageons les candidatures d’Autochtones, de femmes, de membres de la communauté LGBTQ+, de travailleurs âgés, de personnes handicapées et de représentants d’origines diverses.

Nous sommes déterminés à créer un milieu inclusif où les employés se sentent à l’aise d’être eux-mêmes. Nous souhaitons de plus que chacun ait l’impression que sa voix compte, que toutes les cultures sont respectées et que les points de vue, aussi variés soient-ils, sont non seulement bienvenus, mais également essentiels à notre succès. Nous nous traitons mutuellement avec équité et dignité, sans égard à la race, au genre, à la nationalité, à l’origine ethnique, à la religion, à l’âge, à l’orientation sexuelle ou à tout autre aspect distinctif.