Trainee Operators

• Great opportunity to gain skills for a new career and qualifications, no previous experience required, full training and support provided
• Balanced Work-Life Rhythm: Our lifestyle-friendly roster provides a harmonious balance between career and home life ensuring you spend more time with your loved ones and doing the things outside of work that matter most to you
• Join our friendly teams, who look after each other because your safety and wellbeing are always our priority

About the role

Finding better ways to provide the materials the world needs.

We are looking for people who reside in the Gladstone region to join us as Trainee Operators, commencing February 2026. Our Operator Traineeships are a great opportunity for motivated candidates who are inquisitive and interested in understanding how things work.

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.

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.

Supported in the role by your Leaders, Crew and Training Team, you will undertake a variety of tasks, including;

• Assisting in day-to-day operation of the refinery
• Conducting routine inspections and tasks in your areas to maintain equipment in operational condition
• Conducting operational activities including start-up, monitoring and shut down of equipment
• Participating actively in safety interactions and improvements

About you

Your strong communication skills, team orientation and ability to undertake physical work in a hot industrial environment are essential. You will also need to be self-motivated with the desire to learn and demonstrate an unwavering commitment to the safety of yourself and your team

Prior experience in the industry is not essential, and training will be provided to ensure you are able to work safely and efficiently. Highly regarded will be work experience in an environment involving teamwork, physical work or shift work. A Certificate III Process Plant Operations will be awarded for trainees on the successful completion of the training program.

What we offer

• 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
• Permanent career opportunity
• Comprehensive medical benefits including subsidised private health insurance for employees and immediate family
• Attractive share ownership plan
• Extensive salary sacrifice & salary packaging options
• Career development & education assistance to further your technical or leadership ambitions
• Ongoing access to family-friendly health and medical wellbeing support
• Leave for all of life's reasons (vacation/annual, paid parental, sick leave)
• Exclusive employee discounts (banking, accommodation, cars, retail and more)

Where you'll be working

With production beginning in 2004 at our Yarwun Refinery, located approximately 10 kilometres north-west of Gladstone in Central Queensland, today the operation produces more than three million tonnes of alumina per year.

Around 700 people support the operation, with an additional 350 contractors on site each year as part of scheduled maintenance shutdown activities. Thanks to its 'Industry 4.0' focus, Yarwun is also a leader in trialling new technologies to improve operations on site, including 3D printing, robotics and drones in confined spaces, and is home to Rio Tinto's innovative Queensland Research and Development Centre (QRDC).

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.

Every Voice Matters

At Rio Tinto, we particularly welcome and encourage applications from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, women, the LGBTI+ 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.