- Shape high-value operational improvements that strengthen safety, efficiency, cost effectiveness and sustainability.
- Coach operational leaders and expand your influence across Lean, Six Sigma, Safe Production System deployment and MOS (Management Operating System) .
- Permanent role based in Labrador City, Newfoundland and Labrador, a vibrant northern community known for its strong sense of community and unparalleled access to nature and outdoor activities.
About the roleWe are looking for a Senior Advisor, Operational Excellence to help our operations strengthen continuous improvement, operational efficiency and sustainable cultural change. In this role, you will partner with Superintendents, Supervisors, leadership teams and the Operational Excellence Business Partner to prioritise improvement opportunities, build problem-solving capability and align initiatives with business priorities. This is a great opportunity for someone who enjoys turning complex operational challenges into practical improvements and wants to influence how Operational Excellence is embedded across the business.
What you'll be doingReporting to the Superintendant Operational Excellence and working with operational leaders and the Operational Excellence team, you will be:
- Facilitate high-value business improvement projects using Lean, DMAIC, Kaizen and practical problem-solving methods.
- Guide Superintendents and Supervisors through problem definition, initiative prioritisation, project delivery and benefits tracking.
- Oversee the health of the assigned improvement initiative pipeline, raise risks and support timely portfolio updates.
- Develop project mandates and implementation roadmaps that support Safe Production System deployment, MOS (Management Operating System) and business plans.
- Coach leaders and Green Belt practitioners in Lean, Six Sigma and Operational Excellence methods to build lasting capability.
- Conduct scheduled maturity health checks, translate findings into action plans and support effective follow-through.
- Influence stakeholders across multiple levels to embed best practices, strengthen mindsets and support sustainable behavioural change.
- Manage multiple improvement priorities while tracking outcomes related to safety, efficiency, cost effectiveness and sustainability.
About youWe'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.
- A qualification in Engineering, Business or a related discipline, or equivalent practical experience.
- Demonstrated experience applying Operational Excellence, continuous improvement or business improvement methods in mining, processing, manufacturing, metals or another safety-critical industrial environment.
- Practical capability in Lean, Kaizen, Six Sigma, PDCA and structured problem-solving, with evidence of delivering measurable improvement outcomes.
- Experience coaching operational leaders, influencing stakeholders without direct authority and supporting change across multiple organisational levels.
- Experience managing multiple improvement projects or an initiative portfolio, including prioritisation, governance, risk escalation and benefits tracking.
Helpful for Success
- Lean Six Sigma Black Belt certification.
- PMI certification, portfolio management exposure or financial and business acumen.
- Advanced Microsoft Excel capability, including pivot tables, and confidence using Microsoft Office tools.
- French language capability.
What we offerBe 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 workingWe are a leading North American producer and exporter of premium iron ore pellets and high-grade concentrate with average iron grades greater than 66%. With a team of over 2,700 employees, IOC is committed to providing value and continuity for our customers, employees, communities and shareholders through our unique mine to port approach, taking advantage of our full integration and wholly owned infrastructure to deliver our high-quality concentrate and pellets to our customers across the globe.
IOC's operations include a mine with five operational pits, a concentrator and a pelletizing plant located near Labrador City in the province of Newfoundland and Labrador. We also operate a wholly-owned 418 km railway, the Quebec North Shore and Labrador Railway (QNS&L), that links our Labrador operations to Company-owned port facilities in Sept-Iles.
Working at Rio Tinto also means choosing to be part of a company recognized one of Canada's Top 100 Employers in 2026 and one of Canada's Top Employers for Young People in 2025.