Building careers while building Jansen

For students and graduates starting their careers, there are few opportunities quite like helping build a new mine from the ground up.

At BHP, the Summer Internship Program and Graduate Program are giving early-career professionals the chance to do exactly that. While gaining technical skills and practical experience, participants are also discovering what it means to be part of a project that will help shape Saskatchewan's future for generations to come.

Whether working underground, engaging with communities, developing engineering solutions or supporting operational readiness, students and graduates are contributing to Jansen's progress while building the foundations of their own careers.

The Summer Internship Program offers students a four-month placement from May to August, with opportunities across the business in Saskatoon and at Jansen. The two-year Graduate Program provides engineers with a series of rotations, exposing them to different teams, disciplines and locations. Graduates also participate in development conferences and collaborate on a business case challenge that is presented to senior leaders and ultimately competes at the global level.

For many participants, the opportunity to be part of a megaproject like Jansen is what first attracted them to BHP. For University of Saskatchewan Graduate Mining Engineer, Jade Saunders, it was the chance to work on a new potash operation while staying close to her Saskatchewan roots.

"Being able to work on a new potash site in Saskatchewan is not an opportunity that comes around often," said Jade. “That experience paired with being able to see my family and friends regularly is unmatched.”

Since joining the Graduate Program, Jade has moved through rotations in Mine Technical Services and Mine Planning, spending time underground and learning firsthand what it takes to support a future mining operation. Some days involved geological identification and surveying, while others focused on mine planning and design.

What stands out most, however, is not the technical work. One of her biggest lessons came from working alongside experienced underground crews.

"It was key for me to approach these relationships with respect and learn that it's okay to say you don't know something but will do what you can to find out," she said. “It was both a humbling and rewarding experience.”

For fellow graduate Trinity Desjarlais, the experience has looked very different but led to many of the same lessons.

 Trinity has supported organizational readiness initiatives, Indigenous engagement and community events including Horizon School Division's Mining Day, Back to Batoche, Rock Your Roots and the First Nations Major Projects Coalition Conference in Toronto. She has also played a role in developing Indigenous archives and creative projects.

Through those experiences, Trinity has gained a deeper appreciation for the people, partnerships and planning that support a major project like Jansen.

"Moving through different areas has helped me understand how interconnected the business really is," she said. “My experiences have shown me that there are many functions working together behind the scenes to support safe and successful outcomes.”

For Trinity, one of the biggest takeaways has been learning the value of relationships. Whether working with community partners, engaging with employees or collaborating across teams, success often comes down to people working toward a common goal.

For Gradute Ife Ajala, the experience changed how she viewed mining. Like many students entering the industry, she initially thought of mining primarily through an operational lens. Instead, she discovered a vast network of teams and disciplines working together to move a project forward.

“I've learned there are so many different functions involved, and everyone is willing to share their knowledge and help you learn.”

Through fieldwork and day-to-day collaboration, participants gain exposure to equipment reliability, maintenance strategies and problem solving, while observing a culture where safety remains everyone's responsibility.

While each of their journeys has been unique, a common thread runs through all their experiences: the opportunity to learn by doing, to build relationships, and to contribute to something bigger than themselves.

As Jansen continues its journey toward first production, students and graduates are not only helping build a new operation. They are developing the skills, confidence and connections that will help shape the future of their careers.

Applications for BHP's 2027 Summer Internship Program and Graduate Program will open this September, creating opportunities for the next generation of talent to be part of Jansen's story.