Who We Are
We are a global mining company dedicated to safely delivering nickel, copper, cobalt, and platinum group metals essential for the world’s energy transition.
Our mission is to improve lives and shape a better future together.
From utensils to cellphones to satellites, our operations simplify daily life and enhance connectivity. Our metals are integral to life-saving medical equipment and the electric vehicles driving the fight against climate change – our work truly matters.
Join our diverse team of 15,000 talented individuals committed to transforming critical minerals into prosperity and sustainable development in countries like Canada, Brazil, Indonesia, the United Kingdom, and Japan. We invite you to use your skills with us and contribute to something meaningful and enduring.
The Opportunity
We are seeking a Sr. Specialist – Project Risk Management to join our VBM / CTO / Studies / Project Controls team in Toronto, Ontario.
This permanent position reports to the Sr. Manager, Project Controls – Canada and provides senior functional leadership for Project Risk Management across Vale Base Metals’ Canadian studies and project portfolio. The role establishes and continuously improves the framework, governance, standards and tools applied throughout the project lifecycle, leads major risk assessments, and serves as the primary interface with Enterprise Risk Management (ERM). As a trusted advisor to project teams and senior leadership, it provides independent challenge and insight on threats, opportunities and uncertainties, ensuring these inform planning, execution and investment decisions across all disciplines and functions.
About You
You are a strategic and collaborative risk management professional with extensive experience supporting large, complex capital projects within mining industry. You are highly skilled at facilitating discussions, challenging assumptions, and helping project teams proactively manage uncertainty. You possess strong leadership and influencing abilities, enabling you to build credibility with project teams, senior management, and key stakeholders.
You thrive in complex environments where balancing technical, commercial, schedule, cost, organizational, and external risks is critical to project success. Your ability to translate risk insights into practical business decisions allows you to drive value and improve project outcomes.
In this role, you will:
- Lead the development, implementation, and continuous improvement of the Project Risk Management framework for the Canadian project portfolio.
- Establish and maintain project risk management standards, procedures, governance requirements, methodologies, reporting structures, tools, templates, and risk taxonomies.
- Lead all major risk assessments for projects in Canada. This includes supporting quantitative risk analysis activities, including contingency assessment, probabilistic forecasting, schedule risk analysis, and confidence-based estimating.
- Act as the primary Projects interface with Enterprise Risk Management (ERM), ensuring alignment between project-level and enterprise-level risk practices.
- Provide risk leadership and advisory support to Project Directors, Study Managers, Project Managers, and functional leaders.
- Lead the integration of risk management activities across engineering, mining, processing, infrastructure, permitting, environmental, Indigenous relations, procurement, contracting, construction, commissioning, and operational readiness functions.
- Oversee the quality and effectiveness of project risk registers, mitigation plans, opportunity management processes, reporting requirements, and escalation mechanisms.
- Challenge project assumptions and provide independent assessments regarding key risks, opportunities, mitigation strategies, and residual risk exposure.
- Develop portfolio-level visibility of project risks, opportunities, emerging threats, and key trends requiring management attention.
- Challenge project assumptions and provide independent assessments regarding key risks, opportunities, mitigation strategies, and residual risk exposure.
- Support project governance reviews, assurance activities, investment decisions, and stage-gate processes through risk-based analysis and recommendations.
- Coach, mentor, and develop project teams and risk practitioners to strengthen organizational risk management capabilities.
- Identify and implement industry-leading practices and continuous improvement opportunities related to project risk management
Experience
- Minimum 15 years of progressive experience in project risk management, project controls, project management, or related disciplines.
- Extensive experience supporting large-scale capital projects within the mining industry.
- Demonstrated experience developing and implementing project risk management frameworks, standards, and governance processes.
- Experience leading multidisciplinary risk workshops and facilitating discussions with senior technical and business stakeholders.
- Strong experience integrating risk management with cost estimating, project scheduling, and investment decision-making processes.
- Experience managing complex project portfolios and supporting executive decision-making.
- Experience working within matrix organizations and influencing stakeholders without direct authority.
Education
- Undergraduate Degree.
- Postgraduate degree in Project Management, Risk Management, Business Administration, or a related field is considered an asset.
Skills & Competencies
- Deep understanding of project risk management principles, methodologies, and industry-leading practices.
- Strong knowledge of capital project development from studies through execution, commissioning, and handover.
- Solid understanding of project controls, estimating, scheduling, procurement, contracting, engineering, and construction management.
- Expertise in quantitative risk analysis, contingency development, probabilistic analysis, Monte Carlo simulation, and confidence-based forecasting.
- Knowledge of recognized risk management frameworks including ISO 31000, COSO ERM, PMI, and AACE recommended practices.
- Exceptional facilitation, communication, stakeholder engagement, and influencing skills.
- Strong analytical and critical thinking capabilities.
- Ability to evaluate technical, commercial, financial, organizational, and external risks within complex project environments.
- Strong leadership, coaching, and mentoring capabilities.
- Demonstrated ability to work effectively across multiple disciplines, functions, and geographic locations.
- Commitment to continuous improvement, governance excellence, and risk-informed decision-making.
- Fluency in English is mandatory. In Portuguese, is considered an asset.
What Makes This Role Unique
- Provides functional leadership for Project Risk Management across Vale Base Metals' Canadian studies portfolio.
- Supports a portfolio of more than 10 active studies and projects with a combined capital value of approximately USD $2 billion.
- Serves as the critical link between Project Controls, Project Delivery teams, and Enterprise Risk Management.
- Influences key investment decisions through independent risk assessments and strategic recommendations.
- Drives risk-informed planning, forecasting, and governance across major capital projects supporting Vale Base Metals' future growth.
- Plays a central role in strengthening organizational risk management capability and promoting a culture of proactive risk management and disciplined decision-making
What We Offer You
- Competitive compensation including a variable annual incentive plan
- Participation in a competitive Defined Contribution Pension package
- Comprehensive benefits package (company paid core coverage, health and dental coverage, flex accounts, disability plans, and optional insurances)
- Leave for all of life’s reasons (vacation, personal, sick, parental)
- Work culture dedicated to safety, diversity & inclusion, and career growth
- Employee Family Assistance Program
- Virtual Healthcare online
- Online training and career development opportunities
Why Toronto
Toronto, Canada’s largest city and financial hub, is a center of innovation, commerce, and culture. Known for its diverse economy and vibrant urban environment, Toronto offers unparalleled access to talent, technology, and global connectivity.
Our Toronto office serves as a strategic hub for corporate functions, technology development, and business operations. Here, we drive initiatives that support Vale Base Metals’ global operations, leveraging advanced analytics, digital transformation, and strategic planning to ensure operational excellence across all regions.
Toronto’s dynamic ecosystem enables collaboration with leading technology partners, universities, and research institutions, fostering innovation in mining and metals processing. This location is integral to shaping the future of sustainable mining and advancing our commitment to responsible resource development
Include to Transform
At Vale Base Metals, we are committed to ensuring an inclusive work environment where people feel comfortable to be themselves. Vale encourages everyone to express their ideas and opinions and values the plurality of individual profiles. We want our people to feel that all.
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 critical to our success. We treat each other
fairly and with dignity regardless of race, gender, nationality, ethnic origin, religion, age, sexual orientation, or any other personal consideration that makes us different.
Vale is an equal opportunity employer seeking to increase diversity across our operations and improve equal opportunity at Vale and in the mining industry.
Accommodation is available throughout our recruitment process for applicants with disabilities.
Vale uses artificial intelligence to screen, assess, and/or select applicants for this position.
Pay Grade: F1T
Minimum Starting Salary: CAD 132,000
Apply by: 30th Oct 2026
#ValeBaseMetals
