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Lead Rio Tinto’s Indigenous Land Use Agreement (ILUA) negotiations and agreement-making strategy across a diverse portfolio of Traditional Owner partnerships
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Act as a subject matter expert in Native Title and Traditional Owner agreements, influencing strategic outcomes and long-term partnership success
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Work closely with Traditional Owner groups, senior leaders and specialist stakeholders to deliver complex, high-impact agreements
We’re Finding Better Ways™ to provide materials the world needs, now and in the future. Our values – care, courage and curiosity – guide how we work and how we treat each other.
About the role
We are looking for a Principal Agreement Making – ILUA to lead and support the negotiation, development and implementation of Indigenous Land Use Agreements (ILUAs) and other Traditional Owner partnership agreements across Rio Tinto's portfolio.
This is a great opportunity for an experienced negotiator and relationship builder who enjoys working in complex stakeholder environments and delivering outcomes that balance commercial, legal and partnership objectives. You will act as a trusted adviser on Native Title and agreement-making matters, supporting both new agreements and the ongoing management, renewal and evolution of existing commitments.
Reporting to the Manager Agreement Making, you will:
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Lead and support negotiation strategies and agreement plans for Indigenous Land Use Agreements and other Traditional Owner partnership agreements
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Draft, review and negotiate agreement documentation in collaboration with Legal, Finance, Communities & Social Performance and operational stakeholders
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Provide technical expertise on ILUAs, Native Title frameworks, agreement implementation and compliance obligations
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Develop long-term agreement strategies, including renewals, amendments and modernisation initiatives
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Build and maintain trusted relationships with Traditional Owner groups, Prescribed Body Corporates, advisers and other key stakeholders
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Lead culturally appropriate engagement and negotiations that support positive partnership outcomes
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Prepare high-quality negotiation materials, governance papers, submissions and decision-making documents
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Identify and manage agreement, stakeholder and implementation risks, ensuring alignment with Rio Tinto governance and risk standards
About you
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A commitment to the safety of yourself and your team
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Significant experience negotiating, developing or implementing complex agreements, preferably within Native Title, Traditional Owner partnerships, land access or related fields
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Strong understanding of Indigenous Land Use Agreements, Native Title frameworks and Traditional Owner partnership models
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Proven ability to influence and build trusted relationships with Traditional Owner groups, internal stakeholders and external advisers
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Excellent commercial, negotiation and stakeholder management skills, with the ability to balance competing priorities and interests
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Strong written communication skills with experience preparing negotiation strategies, decision papers and executive-level materials
What we offer
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Be recognised for your contribution, your thinking and your hard work, and go home knowing you’ve helped the world progress
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A work environment where safety is always the number one priority
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A permanent position working directly for Rio Tinto
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A competitive base salary reflective of your skills and experience with an annual incentive program
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Comprehensive medical benefits including subsidised private health insurance for employees and immediate family
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Attractive share ownership plan and company-provided insurance cover
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Extensive salary sacrifice and salary packaging options
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Career development and education assistance to further your technical or leadership ambitions
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Ongoing access to family-friendly health and medical wellbeing support
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Leave for all of life’s reasons
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Exclusive employee discounts (banking, accommodation, cars, retail and more)
Where you'll be working
You will be part of Rio Tinto’s Traditional Owner Partnerships team, working across a portfolio of strategic agreement-making activities that support long-term partnerships with Traditional Owner groups. Collaborating closely with internal specialists, operational leaders and external stakeholders, you will help deliver agreements that create enduring value for Traditional Owners and Rio Tinto alike.
About Rio Tinto
Rio Tinto is a leading global mining and materials company. We operate in 35 countries where we produce iron ore, copper, aluminium, critical minerals, and other materials needed for the global energy transition and for people, communities, and nations to thrive.
We have been mining for 150 years and operate with knowledge built up across generations and continents. Our purpose is finding better ways to provide the materials the world needs – striving for innovation and continuous improvement to produce materials with low emissions and to the right environmental, social and governance standards. But we can’t do it on our own, so we’re focused on creating partnerships to solve problems, create win-win situations and meet opportunities.
Respect and Inclusion
At Rio Tinto, we particularly welcome and encourage applications from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, women, the LGBTQ+ community, mature workers, people with disabilities and people from different cultural backgrounds.
We are committed to an inclusive environment where people feel comfortable to be themselves. 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 essential to our success. We treat each other fairly and with dignity regardless of race, gender, nationality, ethnic origin, religion, age, sexual orientation or anything else that makes us different.
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Rio Tinto is a leading global mining and materials company. We operate in 35 countries where we produce iron ore, copper, aluminum, critical minerals, and other materials needed for the global energy transition and for people, communities, and nations to thrive.
We have been mining for 150 years and operate with knowledge built up across generations and continents. Our purpose is finding better ways to provide the materials the world needs—striving for innovation and continuous improvement to produce materials with low emissions and to the right environmental, social and governance standards. But we can’t do it on our own, so we’re focused on creating partnerships to solve problems, create win-win and meet opportunities.
At Rio Tinto, we particularly welcome and encourage applications from Indigenous Peoples, women, the LGBTQ+ community, mature workers, people with disabilities, and people from different cultural backgrounds.
We are committed to an inclusive environment where people feel comfortable being themselves. 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 essential to our success. We treat each other fairly and with dignity regardless of race, gender, nationality, ethnic origin, religion, age, sexual orientation, or anything else that makes us who we are.
Start your application
Take your leadership career to the next level.
Where can Rio Tinto take you?
You’re passionate and ambitious with tremendous career aspirations. The breadth and growth of our organisation empowers you to define your ideal career path.
Take a look at Katie’s career journey
Take a look at Katie’s career journey


- 2022 - PresentManager Projects - Energy DevelopmentBrisbane, Queensland, Australia
- 2021Superintendent Operations CentreBrisbane, Queensland, Australia
- 2020Development / Drill and Blast SuperintendentPilbara, Western Australia
- 2019Deputy Quarry ManagerPilbara, Western Australia
- 2018Development SupervisorPilbara, Western Australia
- 2017Senior Engineer of Drill, Blast and SurveyPilbara, Western Australia
- 2016Production EngineerPilbara, Western Australia
- 2015Mine scheduler - 2 week plannerPilbara, Western Australia
- 2014Drill and Blast EngineerPilbara, Western Australia
- 2012Graduate Mining EngineerPilbara, Western Australia
- 2022 – PresentManager Projects – Energy DevelopmentBrisbane, Queensland, Australia
- 2021Superintendent Operations CentreBrisbane, Queensland, Australia
- 2020Development / Drill and Blast SuperintendentPilbara, Western Australia
- 2019Deputy Quarry ManagerPilbara, Western Australia
- 2018Development SupervisorPilbara, Western Australia
- 2017Senior Engineer of Drill, Blast and SurveyPilbara, Western Australia
- 2016Production EngineerPilbara, Western Australia
- 2015Mine scheduler – 2 week plannerPilbara, Western Australia
- 2014Drill and Blast EngineerPilbara, Western Australia
- 2012Graduate Mining EngineerPilbara, Western Australia
Working at Rio Tinto
Help us deliver the materials that make human progress possible.
The plane you’re flying in just landed. You fire up your phone and get your laptop out of the overhead bin. Immediately, you’re in work mode – thousands of miles from your office. Do you ever stop to think about all the materials that make life in the 21st century possible? At Rio Tinto, we discover, develop and deliver the materials that drive human progress. When you work with us, you’ll experience advantages you won’t find anywhere else.
Working in one of our function’s teams
We supply the materials that drive human progress. You make it all possible.
With business operations that stretch from Vancouver, British Columbia, to Perth, Western Australia, we have exciting opportunities in virtually every discipline imaginable. From HR to marketing, finance to technology, infrastructure to supply chain, and much more, the opportunities are endless. Join us and enjoy:
Our application process
01
Apply
The first thing you’ll need to do is apply to the role. You can do this with your LinkedIn profile or you can upload your resume. We’ll also ask you to complete a few questions before you submit your application.
02
Undergo assessments
Our assessments are designed to help us work out whether you are suitable for the role. We will let you know which ones you’ll need to complete.
03
Interview(s)
Our interviews could be in person or online. It’s a great opportunity for us to get to know you a bit better, answer any of your questions and talk about the exciting career opportunity you have applied for.
04
Offers and checks
At this stage, we will let you know if you have been successful. If you have been, we’ll need to conduct a couple of checks, such as a background or security check. You may also need to do a medical assessment depending on the role you have applied for.
05
Join the Rio Tinto team
Once the checks have been completed, we’ll be in touch to talk with you about your start date and answer any questions you may have before you start with us.



















