What it does: Mines gold
Staff stats: 28,000 globally
The good bits: Pay, safety culture
The not so good bits: Working in remote locations
Hiring grads with degrees in: Engineering, Maths, IT & Computer Sciences; Sciences
Newmont Mining Corporation, aka Newmont, was founded in New York in 1916. Its founder was a plutocratic mining engineer called William Thompson keen to make his fortune in mining. Thompson started off by investing in North American gold mines but he soon got into Texas oil fields. Thompson died in 1930 but the company he created continued to prosper, listing on the New York Stock Exchange in 1940.
By the middle of the 20th century, the company had begun its global expansion, acquiring interests in several African mineral mines. Newmont was subsequently to buy or develop mines in Australia, Indonesia, Mexico and South America.
The company hit a rough patch in the 1980s. It successfully saw off five takeover bids but had to undergo a major restructuring that included divesting its copper, oil, gas and coal interests. The company also moved its headquarters from New York to Denver. It merged with Santa Fe Pacific Gold Corporation and Battle Mountain Gold Company. It also acquired Normandy Mining Limited, Franco-Nevada Mining Corporation, Miramar Mining Corporation and Fronteer Gold Inc. All these mergers and acquisitions resulted in Newmont becoming the world’s second-largest gold producer. It remains the only gold producer listed in the S&P 500 index.
Newmont has had a presence in Australia since 2002. That’s when it bought Normandy Mining (then Australia’s largest gold producer) for just under US$2 billion (A$2.5 billion). Newmont also took full ownership of Boddington, another big Australian gold producer, in 2009.
The company sees its purpose as being “to create value and improve lives through sustainable and responsible mining”. All Newmont’s decisions and activities are informed by its ‘five core values’: safety, integrity, sustainability, inclusion and responsibility.
In 2017, Newmont had revenue of US$2.7 billion (A$3.5 billion).
The company aims to be “an industry leader in global inclusion and diversity”. It aspires to “build a workplace culture that fosters leaders and allows every person to thrive, contribute and grow”. One where “employees engage collaboratively and respectfully with one another”.
In keeping with this philosophy, the company does not adversely discriminate on the basis of “national origin, race, religion, gender, sexual orientation, disability, age, or any other attribute that is protected by local laws”. Furthermore, the company does not tolerate any form of harassment or bullying.
Newmont takes a three-pronged approach to be a good corporate citizen.
In Australia, Newmont offers grads the opportunity to take part in its ‘Emerging Talent Program’. This is a “two-year structured professional development program that will provide you with the opportunity to gain the skills and experience needed to excel within this dynamic industry”. The program offers a rotation during the program which gives experience at either Boddington or Tanami
The company particularly encourages applications from grads who are female, Indigenous or from a “diverse background”.
Applicants seem to need some a mining-related (i.e. engineering or science) degree. They need to have solid academic results and, ideally, have done some work experience in the mining industry. Newmont offers Vacation work for a 12 week period during the summer holidays. Applicants also need to be willing to work in remote locations and possess strong teamwork, initiative and communication skills.
If you want a job at Newmont, you’ll need to find an appropriate grad role on the jobs page of the company website and make an online application.
The company shortlists candidates to have a phone screen followed by face to face interview and psychometric testing at the regional office in Subiaco. They don’t fly applicants to site for face to face meetings. Newmont’s grad program seeks “to optimise early development and to ensure you receive the best practical experience and formal training while developing your own personal, interpersonal and organisational skills to maximise your full potential”.
Grads have a permanent job from their commencement date (i.e. they remain employed after the grad program ends). They are paired with a workplace mentor and also undergo structured learning. They receive regular feedback about their performance.
To attract and retain “the best people”, Newmont aims to offer “meaningful and robust careers with both financial and growth opportunities”. It has a ‘Total Rewards’ program. This is based on “a compensation philosophy that ensures a competitive and consistent compensation position in all locations”.
The company’s benefits packages are tailored to local conditions. They typically include private health insurance, an annual bonus scheme and holidays.
Newmont encourages all staff to discuss their career goals with their manager and develop an action plan to achieve those goals. The company is committed to maintaining a “strong pipeline of talent”. It does everything possible to assist staff “realise their potential and maximise their contribution”.
The professional development opportunities on offer at Newmont include:
Most current and former Newmont employees speak highly of the company. Staff receive high wages and generous benefits. They are given plenty of opportunities to progress their careers both in their country of origin and around the world. The company also has a genuine commitment to creating inclusive work environments in what has long been a blokey industry.
"Through responsible mining, we believe we can create a stronger business and value for all our stakeholders. Founded in 1921 and publicly traded since 1925, Newmont is headquartered in Greenwood Village, Colorado. We have approximately 30,000 employees and contractors, with the majority working at managed operations in the United States, Australia, Ghana, Peru, and Suriname. Newmont is an industry leader in value creation and the only gold producer listed in the S&P 500 index. Our purpose – to create value and improve lives through sustainable and responsible mining – is guided by five core values: safety, integrity, sustainability, inclusion and responsibility. We are proud to have been named the mining industry leader in overall sustainability by the Dow Jones Sustainability World Index for three consecutive years since 2015.
The Emerging Talent Program (ETP) is for all of our Graduates in the Australia region. All graduates at Newmont participate in a two-year program which includes a rotation between sites.
Exposure to different operations or sites allows our graduates to gain a broader range of technical experience, organisational and team cultures, and opportunity to foster lasting working relationships with diverse colleagues.
Graduates’ skill sets are developed by:
Graduate Electrical Engineer – Mine Maintenance and Projects, Tanami Operations at Newmont Australia at Newmont Australia