The Challenge Ahead:

As a Principal Innovation Product (Leaching), you will be part of BHP’s Innovation team, helping shape the future of copper through technology, collaboration, and innovation. Reporting to the Manager Leaching, you will work at the intersection of technology, operations, and business strategy to accelerate the development of the next generation of leaching technologies and concepts that support BHP’s growth, productivity, and sustainability ambitions.
In this role, you will focus on innovation across the copper leaching value chain, identifying, evaluating, and developing technologies, operating concepts, and business opportunities capable of delivering step-change improvements in resource access, recovery performance, operational excellence, and sustainability outcomes. You will play a key role in transforming promising ideas into scalable solutions that can be demonstrated, validated, and ultimately implemented across BHP’s operations.

You will work closely with Assets, Studies, Technology, Commercial, Delivery, and Innovation teams, as well as external technology providers, research organizations, and strategic partners. Your expertise will help guide investment decisions, advance technology maturation pathways, and build innovation portfolios that create sustainable value for the business. As a Principal role, this position does not have direct reports and is centered on technical leadership, influence, and innovation excellence.

Key Responsibilities:

• Develop and maintain a Copper Leaching Technology Product Roadmap aligned with asset priorities and future growth opportunities.
• Build and manage a balanced portfolio of innovation initiatives addressing the most material business value drivers and technology gaps across the leaching value chain.
• Progress technologies efficiently through the innovation pipeline by defining and executing risk-based learning plans that reduce uncertainty and support investment decisions.
• Deliver robust technical, operational, and economic assessments to enable effective prioritization of innovation investments and resource allocation.
• Advance selected technologies through laboratory, pilot, and onsite demonstration programs toward implementation readiness and measurable business value delivery.
• Foster collaboration across Assets, Innovation, Studies, Commercial teams, and external partners to accelerate technology development and adoption.
• Strengthen organizational capability through the capture of lessons learned, technical documentation, standards, and best practices.
• Identify opportunities that improve recovery, unlock future resources, reduce costs, and enhance sustainability performance across BHP’s copper business.

What We Expect from You:

You are a highly experienced technical professional with deep expertise in copper leaching, hydrometallurgy, and process development, combined with a passion for innovation and value creation. You thrive in complex environments, can navigate uncertainty, and are capable of translating emerging opportunities into practical solutions that deliver sustainable business outcomes.

To be successful in this role, you will bring:

• A degree in Metallurgical Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Mineral Processing Engineering, Mining Engineering, Electronic Engineering, or a related discipline.
• More than 15 years of professional experience, including extensive experience in copper leaching, hydrometallurgy, and process development.
• Demonstrated experience progressing technologies from concept through pilot, demonstration, and implementation readiness.
• Strong business case development and techno-economic evaluation capabilities.
• Experience with innovation portfolio management, technology roadmaps, and risk-based learning plans.
• Strong stakeholder engagement, communication, and influencing skills.
• The ability to apply systems thinking and make value-based decisions in complex environments.
• Fluent Spanish communication skills and proficient English communication skills, enabling effective collaboration and delivery of work outcomes in both languages.
• A strong commitment to safety, sustainability, and customer value.

Location and Roster:

• Santiago, Chile.
• 5:2 roster.
• Site visits and travel as required.