Track Protection Officer

Track Protection Officer | Rio Tinto Rail Network | FIFO 12/9 roster with a mix of days and nights. 
We are seeking safety-focused and motivated Track Protection Officers (TPOs) to support ballast cleaning operations across a heavy haul rail maintenance environment. This is an excellent opportunity to work within a high-performing team, contribute to critical maintenance activities, and ensure the highest standards of rail safety and compliance are maintained.

What You'll Do:

• Prepare, verify and implement Track Protection Plans and work-on-track authority requirements.
• Confirm worksite limits, access points, safe places, adjacent line risks and protection requirements prior to commencing work.
• Establish, maintain and remove field protection controls in accordance with approved safeworking requirements.
• Conduct comprehensive pre-start and safeworking briefings, including sign-on processes, worksite limits, hazards and emergency arrangements.
• Coordinate closely with supervisors, PPOs, Train Control, maintainers, contractors, operators and ballast cleaning crews to ensure safe work execution.
• Monitor changing worksite conditions, rail traffic exposure, machine movements, fatigue risks, weather impacts and scope changes.
• Exercise the authority to stop work and escalate concerns immediately where protection, communication, authority or behaviours are unsafe or non-compliant.
• Complete all required documentation, handovers, authority cancellations and close-out records accurately and within required timeframes.
• Ensure all personnel remain protected through effective planning, communication and compliance with rail safeworking standards.

Required Skills:

• Strong understanding of rail safeworking principles, track protection requirements and operational risk controls.
• Excellent safety-critical communication skills with the ability to liaise effectively with Train Control, supervisors, contractors and operational personnel.
• Ability to work independently, remain focused under pressure and make sound safety-based decisions.
• Strong attention to detail and commitment to procedural compliance and critical risk management.
• Ability to monitor dynamic work environments and proactively respond to changing operational conditions.

Desirable Skills:

• Current Track Protection Officer competency for the relevant rail network.
• Experience working within heavy haul rail, maintenance shutdowns, possessions or major maintenance campaigns.
• Strong understanding of work authorities, protection methods, field protection arrangements and multi-workgroup environments.
• Experience supporting rail maintenance activities such as ballast cleaning, tamping, rail grinding, renewals or track machine operations.
• Ability to interpret track schematics, obstruction plans, work packs and maintenance scopes.
• Exposure to Pilbara rail operations, work management systems, incident reporting and safety management processes.

Preferred Experience:

• Previous experience as a Track Protection Officer, Protection Officer or safeworking professional within rail maintenance, possession or heavy haul rail environments.
• Current rail safety worker medical clearance (preferably Category 1 where required) and relevant rail corridor access or rail safety awareness qualifications.
• Proven ability to coordinate and manage rail protection requirements in high-risk operational environments.
• Demonstrated experience supporting maintenance crews, contractors, rail vehicles and mobile plant within live rail corridors.
• Strong knowledge of safeworking systems, permits, protection authorities and rail operating rules.

Other Requirements:

• Ability to meet Rio Tinto onboarding, site access, verification of competency (VOC) and fitness-for-work requirements.
• Valid Australian C-Class Driver's Licence.
• Willingness and ability to travel to and mobilise within remote rail worksites as required.
• Able to work a 12/9 roster with a mix of days and nights aswell as various swing durations.
• Strong safety mindset with the confidence to challenge unsafe conditions, stop work when required and escalate risks appropriately.
• Commitment to fostering a positive safety culture through leadership, coaching and professional conduct.

If you are a safety-driven rail professional with experience in track protection, possessions or rail maintenance operations, we want to hear from you. This is your opportunity to contribute to critical ballast cleaning and rail maintenance activities while working within a leading heavy haul rail environment.
Apply now and become a key contributor to safe, compliant and successful rail operations across the Pilbara rail network.


At Chandler Macleod, we are committed to fostering a diverse workforce where everyone is welcome. We encourage applications from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, women, neurodiverse, people living with a disability and the LGBTIQA+ community.

You can read more about our commitment to diversity and inclusion at https://www.chandlermacleod.com/diversity-and-inclusion.