{"id":4005,"date":"2026-04-02T17:01:04","date_gmt":"2026-04-02T17:01:04","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/fmminermag.com\/htdocs\/?post_type=issue-article&p=4005"},"modified":"2026-04-24T23:02:50","modified_gmt":"2026-04-24T23:02:50","slug":"skills-based-training-takes-off-with-new-pilot-programs","status":"publish","type":"issue-article","link":"https:\/\/fmminermag.com\/htdocs\/issue-article\/skills-based-training-takes-off-with-new-pilot-programs\/","title":{"rendered":"Skills-Based Training Takes Off with New Pilot Programs"},"content":{"rendered":"

[et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ _builder_version=”4.24.2″ _module_preset=”default” custom_margin=”0px||||false|false” custom_padding=”0px||||false|false” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.24.2″ _module_preset=”default” background_color=”#f9f9f9″ max_height=”55px” custom_margin=”-20px||||false|false” custom_padding=”||40px||false|false” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.24.2″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text admin_label=”Date Line Spring 2026″ _builder_version=”4.27.6″ _module_preset=”default” text_font=”Fira Sans Condensed||||||||” text_text_color=”#2e3545″ custom_margin=”|||15px|false|false” global_module=”3997″ global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n

VOL. 09 |\u00a0 ISSUE 1\u00a0 |\u00a0 Spring 2026<\/p>\n

[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row admin_label=”Row” _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” background_color=”RGBA(255,255,255,0)” custom_margin=”50px||||false|false” custom_padding=”0px||0px||false|false” background_color_phone=”#FFFFFF” background_last_edited=”on|phone” background_enable_color_phone=”on” custom_css_main_element=”display: flex;||flex-wrap: wrap;” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” background_color=”RGBA(255,255,255,0)” background_color_phone=”RGBA(255,255,255,0)” background_last_edited=”on|phone” background_enable_color_phone=”on” global_colors_info=”{}” custom_css_main_element_last_edited=”on|phone” custom_css_main_element_phone=”order: 2;||”][et_pb_text admin_label=”Taviraj MAIN HEADLINE” _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” header_font=”Taviraj|300|||||||” header_text_color=”#b2a36f” header_font_size=”90px” header_letter_spacing=”-1px” header_line_height=”1.1em” custom_margin=”0px||5px||false|false” custom_margin_tablet=”0px||5px||false|false” custom_margin_phone=”|||35px|false|false” custom_margin_last_edited=”on|phone” header_font_size_tablet=”90px” header_font_size_phone=”50px” header_font_size_last_edited=”on|phone” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n

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<\/div>\n
\n

Skills-Based
Training Takes
Off with New
Pilot Programs<\/h1>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text admin_label=”Body Text” _builder_version=”4.27.6″ _module_preset=”default” text_font=”Fira Sans Condensed|300|||||||” text_text_color=”#4d4d4f” text_font_size=”18px” text_line_height=”1.5em” header_3_font=”Fira Sans Condensed|600|||||||” header_3_text_color=”#4d4d4f” header_3_font_size=”18px” header_3_line_height=”1.5em” custom_padding=”||||false|false” custom_padding_tablet=”|125px|||false|false” custom_padding_phone=”|0px|||false|false” custom_padding_last_edited=”on|phone” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n

This is the third story in a series exploring Freeport\u2019s shift toward becoming a skills-based organization \u2013 part of its commitment to employee growth through closing skills gaps, enhancing performance and delivering consistent, accountable training.<\/em><\/p>\n

Freeport\u2019s new skills-based approach to training is taking a big step forward, as pilot projects roll out in Hydromet and Health and Safety. The goal is simple: Make sure every employee has the right skills to work safely, grow their careers and achieve business goals.<\/p>\n

This phase follows months of foundational work to identify exactly what each job requires. From there, subject matter experts and employees closest to the work developed clear standards and created baseline and in-field assessments to verify those skills in everyday operations.<\/p>\n

About 200 Hydromet employees across Morenci, Safford, Chino and Tyrone, along with some 100 Health and Safety specialists across North America, are part of the pilot.<\/p>\n

<\/span>Getting started<\/span><\/h2>\n

Supervisors began baseline assessments in January designed to better understand employee strengths and opportunities for development and support, such as additional training or on-the-job mentoring. Next, they meet one-on-one with employees to talk through the results and outline next steps for development.<\/p>\n

Field assessments, led by experienced practitioners, come later and give employees the chance to show their skills on the job. The idea is to verify every employee is well prepared to perform their current job safely and with confidence, which in turn creates clear pathways for career growth.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019re looking at how we can help employees become the best they can be at their current level,\u201d said Mike Brewer, Manager\u2013Career Development. \u201cThese skills and competencies reflect what\u2019s expected for each role. To advance, employees must show proficiency at their current level and demonstrate readiness for skills at the next level.\u201d[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row column_structure=”1_2,1_2″ custom_padding_last_edited=”on|phone” admin_label=”Row” _builder_version=”4.27.6″ _module_preset=”default” background_color=”#f6f5f2″ custom_margin=”50px||||false|false” custom_margin_tablet=”50px||||false|false” custom_margin_phone=”15px||||false|false” custom_margin_last_edited=”on|phone” custom_padding=”35px|35px|35px|35px|false|false” custom_padding_tablet=”35px|35px|35px|35px|false|false” custom_padding_phone=”25px|25px|25px|25px|false|false” hover_enabled=”0″ background_color_phone=”#f6f5f2″ background_last_edited=”on|tablet” background_enable_color_phone=”on” custom_css_main_element=”display: flex;||flex-wrap: wrap;” global_colors_info=”{}” sticky_enabled=”0″][et_pb_column type=”1_2″ _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” background_color=”RGBA(255,255,255,0)” background_color_phone=”RGBA(255,255,255,0)” background_last_edited=”on|phone” background_enable_color_phone=”on” global_colors_info=”{}” custom_css_main_element_last_edited=”on|phone” custom_css_main_element_phone=”order: 2;||”][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/fmminermag.com\/htdocs\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/skills-brinkley.jpg” title_text=”skills-brinkley” _builder_version=”4.27.6″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_image][et_pb_text admin_label=”Body Text” _builder_version=”4.27.6″ _module_preset=”default” text_font=”Fira Sans Condensed|300|||||||” text_text_color=”#4d4d4f” text_font_size=”18px” text_line_height=”1.5em” header_2_font_size=”27px” header_2_line_height=”0.7em” header_3_font=”Fira Sans Condensed|600|||||||” header_3_text_color=”#4d4d4f” header_3_font_size=”18px” header_3_line_height=”1.5em” custom_padding=”||||false|false” custom_padding_tablet=”|125px|||false|false” custom_padding_phone=”|0px|||false|false” custom_padding_last_edited=”on|phone” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n

<\/span>Why this matters<\/span><\/h2>\n

In the past, requirements for the same job could vary by site, which sometimes made promotions, transfers or temporary assignments more challenging. The skills based approach sets one clear standard across locations and evolves Freeport\u2019s Lines of Progression into skills-based LOPs, shifting focus to developing and demonstrating the skills needed for progression.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe main thing is knowing the job and doing it hands on,\u201d said Brian Brinkley, Senior Supervisor, Hydromet Leaching-Morenci, who started as a leach operator trainee in 2007 and helped draft standards for his department. \u201cThis is stuff that we really need to know to do this job safely.\u201d<\/p>\n

Hydromet and Health and Safety were selected for the pilot because both groups already were far along in defining standards. This progress was supported by earlier skills development work led by Jackie Steeples, Processing Manager-Operational Improvement, and Anna Laija, Director-Safety and Health and Learning and Development. The pilot includes operator I and II roles in Hydromet, and specialists, supervisors, senior supervisors, leads and senior leads in Health and Safety.<\/p>\n

By the end of the year, this skills-based training is expected to expand to most operational and maintenance departments in North America.<\/p>\n

[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_2″ _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” background_color=”RGBA(255,255,255,0)” background_color_phone=”RGBA(255,255,255,0)” background_last_edited=”on|phone” background_enable_color_phone=”on” global_colors_info=”{}” custom_css_main_element_last_edited=”on|phone” custom_css_main_element_phone=”order: 2;||”][et_pb_text admin_label=”PULL QUOTE – JUSTIN CROSS” _builder_version=”4.27.6″ _module_preset=”default” text_font=”Fira Sans Condensed|300|||||||” text_text_color=”#4d4d4f” text_font_size=”18px” text_line_height=”1.5em” header_2_font=”Fira Sans Condensed|500|||||||” header_2_text_color=”#3d485e” header_2_font_size=”30px” header_3_font=”Fira Sans Condensed|300|||||||” header_3_text_color=”#a36f58″ header_3_font_size=”30px” header_3_line_height=”1.2em” header_4_font=”Fira Sans Condensed||||||||” header_4_text_color=”#a36f58″ header_4_font_size=”14px” background_color=”RGBA(255,255,255,0)” custom_margin=”250px||0px||false|false” custom_margin_tablet=”250px||0px||false|false” custom_margin_phone=”0px||0px||false|false” custom_margin_last_edited=”on|phone” custom_padding=”0px|0px|0px|0px|false|false” custom_padding_tablet=”|125px|||false|false” custom_padding_phone=”10px|10px|10px|10px|false|false” custom_padding_last_edited=”off|desktop” hover_enabled=”0″ locked=”off” global_colors_info=”{}” sticky_enabled=”0″]<\/p>\n

\u201cTo advance, employees must show proficiency at their current level and demonstrate readiness for skills at the next level.\u201d<\/h3>\n

 <\/p>\n

MIKE BREWER<\/strong> | MANAGER\u2013CAREER DEVELOPMENT<\/h4>\n

[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text admin_label=”Body Text” _builder_version=”4.27.6″ _module_preset=”default” text_font=”Fira Sans Condensed|300|||||||” text_text_color=”#4d4d4f” text_font_size=”18px” text_line_height=”1.5em” header_2_font_size=”27px” header_2_line_height=”0.7em” header_3_font=”Fira Sans Condensed|600|||||||” header_3_text_color=”#4d4d4f” header_3_font_size=”18px” header_3_line_height=”1.5em” custom_margin=”80px||||false|false” custom_padding=”||||false|false” custom_padding_tablet=”|125px|||false|false” custom_padding_phone=”|0px|||false|false” custom_padding_last_edited=”on|phone” hover_enabled=”0″ global_colors_info=”{}” custom_margin_last_edited=”on|phone” custom_margin_phone=”40px||||false|false” sticky_enabled=”0″ custom_margin_tablet=”80px||||false|false”]<\/p>\n

<\/span>Tools that support the work<\/span><\/h2>\n

To support all this work, new technology tools are coming online. Employee results will be incorporated into future\u00a0
career planning made easier through the employee\u2019s Growth Portfolio, which tracks skills, proficiency level and learning opportunities for development. A new Talent and Training website provides access to skills-based information, FAQs and tools to help employees develop skills and more.<\/p>\n

[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/fmminermag.com\/htdocs\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/skills-trio.jpg” title_text=”skills-trio” _builder_version=”4.27.6″ _module_preset=”default” custom_margin=”130px||||false|false” custom_margin_tablet=”130px||||false|false” custom_margin_phone=”0px||||false|false” custom_margin_last_edited=”on|desktop” hover_enabled=”0″ global_colors_info=”{}” sticky_enabled=”0″][\/et_pb_image][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ _builder_version=”4.27.6″ _module_preset=”default” background_color=”#3d485e” width=”100%” max_width=”100%” custom_margin=”0px||0px||false|false” custom_padding=”0px|50px|0px|50px|false|false” global_module=”1861″ saved_tabs=”all” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.27.6″ _module_preset=”default” width=”100%” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.24.2″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_post_nav in_same_term=”on” prev_text=”Prev Page” next_text=”Next Page” _builder_version=”4.27.6″ _module_preset=”default” title_font=”Fira Sans Condensed|700||on|||||” title_text_color=”#FFFFFF” custom_margin=”|0px||0px|false|false” custom_padding=”|0px||0px|false|false” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_post_nav][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"featured_media":0,"template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_et_pb_use_builder":"on","_et_pb_old_content":"","_et_gb_content_width":""},"categories":[23],"class_list":["post-4005","issue-article","type-issue-article","status-publish","hentry","category-spring-2026"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/fmminermag.com\/htdocs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/issue-article\/4005","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/fmminermag.com\/htdocs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/issue-article"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/fmminermag.com\/htdocs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/issue-article"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/fmminermag.com\/htdocs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=4005"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/fmminermag.com\/htdocs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=4005"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}