- Shape high-quality, defensible hydrogeology outcomes that support secure and sustainable water management across West Pilbara operations, studies and closure planning.
- Lead technical direction, governance and capability development across a regional portfolio, with scope to influence long-term water strategy and emerging practices.
- Perth-based opportunity focused on the West Pilbara, combining collaboration in the Perth office with meaningful connection to our Pilbara sites and stakeholders.

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About The Role

We are looking for a Principal Hydrogeologist to provide technical leadership, direction and process governance for water resource planning and management across the West Pilbara. In this role, you’ll connect water resource planning and management across operations, studies, projects and closure to deliver consistent, fit-for-purpose and defensible hydrogeology outcomes across the mining lifecycle, while building capability and supporting sound, risk-based decisions. This is a great opportunity for someone who enjoys solving complex groundwater challenges, building capable empowered teams to deliver at the right level and wants to influence regional strategy, technical standards and continuous improvement.

What You’ll Be Doing

Reporting to the Manager Hydrogeology, you will be a member of the Hydrogeology leadership team and a trusted partner to operational, technical and business leaders across Rio Tinto Iron Ore, you will

- Lead a technical delivery team for regional hydrogeological and water management planning across the assigned portfolio,



setting clear priorities, accountabilities and performance expectations.
- Lead through influence to align competing priorities and ensure regional insights shape portfolio and business decisions.
- Build team capability, capacity and succession through coaching, development pathways and effective allocation of work.
- Apply scientific and technical excellence to hydrogeological investigations, assessments, decision-making and risk management.
- Act as the accountable technical leader for material groundwater risks set assurance expectations, test whether work is fit for purpose, surface emerging issues early and elevate decision-ready recommendations at the right level.
- Govern hydrogeological compliance and assurance against regulatory obligations, environmental commitments and technical standards.
- Translate hydrogeological constraints, opportunities and insights into mine planning, studies, operations and closure activities.
- Drive annual water resource & management planning routines, maintaining an integrated view of risk, value, capacity and dependencies to make portfolio trade-offs and translate long-term strategy into funded, sequenced action.
- Build relationships and external partnerships needed to resolve shared water risks,



challenge siloed decisions and accelerate the adoption of practices and technologies that improve whole-of-business outcomes.

About You

We're looking for an enterprise‑minded technical leader who sees hydrogeology as a business‑critical capability and takes ownership beyond organisational boundaries. 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.
- Demonstrated technical expertise in hydrogeology and groundwater management within mining, resources or another large-scale, safety‑critical industrial environment.
- Experience leading technical delivery, assurance or governance across a complex portfolio, including management of groundwater‑related risk and compliance obligations.
- Capability to interpret and translate hydrogeological data, modelling outputs and uncertainty into decision-ready options, trade‑offs and recommendations for studies, mine planning, operations and closure.
- Experience coaching technical professionals and building team capability, capacity and succession.
- Ability to built trust, influence and collaborate with operational, technical, regulatory joint venture and Traditional Owner stakeholders, including communicating complex communicating complex issues simply and influencing decisions without relying on formal authority

Helpful for Success

- A tertiary qualification in hydrogeology, geology, geoscience, environmental science or a related discipline.
- Experience in strategic water planning, integrated portfolio leadership, mine closure, hydrogeological modelling practices or emer

📌 Principal Hydrogeologist (Western Australia)
🏢 Rio Tinto
📍 Western Australia