Technical Marketing Specialist
A great opportunity to work for a global company at the forefront of mining
Advance your career and develop your leadership potential in a pioneering organisation
We offer competitive paid parental leave entitlements and flexible work arrangements
For Illinois-based roles the expected global compensation is $121,000 – 135,500
For California-based roles the expected global compensation is $134,000 – 145,000
Are you ready to be a part of our pioneering Sales & Marketing team?
Rio Tinto is a leading global mining and materials company with operations in 35 countries, producing essential resources such as iron ore, aluminium, copper, lithium, borates, and other critical minerals. With over 150 years of mining expertise, Rio Tinto is committed to finding better ways to provide the materials the world needs—supporting the global energy transition and enabling modern life. The company operates with a strong focus on safety, sustainability, and innovation, delivering materials to 1,730 customers across diverse industries and geographies.
About the Role
Finding better ways™ to provide the materials the world needs.
This role is a great opportunity to be a key contributor to the growth strategy of Rio Tinto’s borates (U.S. Borax) business. You will:
Lead projects to develop and commercialise new borate products and new applications for borates
Produce technical market analysis studies to increase the company’s knowledge and understanding of borate end-uses - drivers, next best alternatives, substitutability, customers and suppliers, trends, legislation, regulatory, and customer requirements
Provide technical support to our borate customers, providing high quality answers to technical questions in a clear, complete and timely fashion
Generate innovation ideas for borates, design and lead innovation and idea generation workshops
Identify the need for, and design and provide customer training / workshops
Monitor changes in the market / external research activities that could impact demand for borates and other Rio Tinto products
Collaborate closely with Sales, Marketing, Product Stewardship, Quality, and Production to understand customers’ needs and provide timely support
Represent and advocate for our brand by participating in and presenting at conferences and industry events across various borates end-use sectors
Fully support Rio Tinto’s health, safety and environmental programs by participating in compliance and corporate programs
About You
To be successful in this role you should have:
Minimum of a master’s degree in a physical science field such as materials science, chemistry, applied physics, or a related discipline.
At least 7 years of professional experience in one or more industrial sectors relevant to borates end uses, including glass, ceramics, refractories, chemicals, metal processing, building materials, or agriculture.
Project management & organisation skills – you will have led projects (typically with a significant commercial aspect) through to completion. You will have successfully directed others within and outside the organisation although line management experience is not required
Commercial acumen – you will be able to demonstrate ability to assess and monitor the commercial viability / attractiveness of projects
You will have worked successfully in a wide variety of teams (functional, regional, cultural, internal and external) and may have worked variously as team leader, team member, subject matter expert and stakeholder
You must be a seasoned, adept communicator with excellent written, verbal and presentation skills. You’ll regularly be communicating with external customers and internally to both technical and commercial colleagues
Learning agility – you’ll need to develop your own knowledge about Rio Tinto borate products, customers and borate applications by learning from colleagues and through independent study
Proficiency in data analysis; inferential statistics / DoE would be beneficial
Proficiency in typical software tools such as MS Office
This role requires domestic and international travel approximately 20–30% of the time, depending on business needs and customer engagement opportunities.
What we offer
Be recognized for your contributions, innovative thinking and dedication, and leave each day knowing you’ve helped the world progress.
A work environment where safety is always the number one priority
Competitive base salary reflective of your skills and experience with an annual incentive bonus
Access to top-tier family-friendly health programs including medical, prescription drug, dental, vision, life insurance coverage, and various voluntary benefits
Excellent retirement plan including up to 6% defined company contribution; Generous 401k matching program
Attractive share ownership plan
Comprehensive leave policies which cover all the moments that matter in life: PTO (paid time off), paid holidays, and paid bereavement leave
A generous parental leave policy, which ensures you’re able to spend quality time with your new family
Discount programs for leisure purposes and access to Personify Health with incentives supporting your wellbeing
Access to our Employee Assistance Program (EAP), which provides confidential counselling or expert guidance for you and your family to help get through life’s challenges
Where you will be working
U.S. Borax, part of Rio Tinto, is a global leader in the production and innovation of refined borates. With operations cantered in California and a global footprint spanning North America, Asia, and Europe, we serve more than 1,800 delivery locations globally, supplying around 30% of the world’s refined borates. Our products are essential in a wide range of industries including glass, ceramics, agriculture, fire retardancy, and metal processing. We are known for our commitment to product quality, technical support, and supply reliability—core pillars of our commercial promise.
Application Deadline: February 10th, 2026
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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
Rio Tinto is committed to equal employment opportunity. All qualified applicants will be considered without regard to race, color, sex, age, religion, national origin, disability, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local law.
We are committed to an inclusive environment where people feel safe, respected and valued. We want our people to feel that all voices are heard and that a variety of perspectives are not only welcome but are essential to our success. We treat all our people fairly and with dignity.
Rio Tinto participates in E- Verify to confirm work authorization. Please visit http://www.ucis.gov/ for more information.
