Principal Advisor Science

Principal Advisor Science

• Be part of a group that is safety driven and values inclusion
• Access to industry-leading technical development programs
• Join a leading global company
• Permanent role can be based in Montreal, Brisbane, Perth or Singapore

About the role

Finding better ways™ to provide the materials the world needs.

We are looking for a Principal Adviser Science to explore new technologies to enable our business to meet its growth and Environmental, Social and Governance ambitions.

This is an excellent opportunity for a curious and autonomous candidate to identify, assess and support emerging science and technology opportunities across Rio Tinto for implementation and new venture investments.

We are a global team of technical experts using cutting-edge data and tools to lead innovation, which underpins our leadership in the resource sector. We have technical development programs that are industry-leading and recognize the unique nature of your role. These provide opportunities to grow your career through a dedicated technical path while being rewarded for your unique skills.

Reporting to the Manager Science, and working in a challenging and exciting environment within the Innovation, Science and Technology Group, you will:

• Monitor emerging trends in technology, business, and society to identify new commodity and business growth opportunities.
• Evaluate the potential of scientific and technological advancements to address business threats and challenges.
• Conduct due diligence on identified opportunities, liaising with operating sites to deliver pilot scale and commercial technology solutions.
• Work with the wider Rio Tinto group on new venture opportunities in which Rio Tinto might invest and/or with whom we might partner to achieve our aspirations.
• Lead collaborations with start-ups, accelerators and universities to introduce innovative solutions into Rio Tinto, bringing the outside world in.
• Guide R&D communities, project delivery teams, and the broader business by defining and shaping the strategic direction of technology deployment and investment to ensure valuable opportunities are not overlooked.

What you’ll bring

• A commitment to the safety of yourself and your team
• Tertiary qualification in a technical discipline (e.g., engineering, mining, processing, chemistry, physics, or biology).
• 10+ years of experience in the resource or processing industry
• Proven expertise in conducting technical assessments and identifying opportunities that drive innovation
• Strong communication skills, with the ability to convey complex technical concepts effectively to diverse stakeholders.
• Curious mindset with a passion for exploring and understanding the implications of new scientific discoveries and technical solutions
• Experience collaborating with globally distributed teams across multiple time zones
• Ability to establish and maintain a broad, effective network within the internal and external technical community
• Proficiency in financial analysis and modeling
• If applying for Montreal, fluency in French and English, both written and spoken. Rio Tinto is a global company, and the duties of this position may require collaboration with colleagues, teams or partners based outside Quebec

What we offer 

Be recognized for your contribution, your thinking and your hard work, and go home knowing you’ve helped the world progress.  

• A work environment where safety is always the number one priority  
• A competitive salary package with annual cash incentive awards for eligible employees  
• Career development & education assistance to further your ambitions 
• Access top tier family-friendly health and medical programs and pension plan 
• Wellbeing benefits 
• Generous Rio Tinto employee share program 
• Employee Assistance Program 
• Ongoing individual wellbeing support for you and your family for personal and professional matter 
• Leave for all of life’s reasons (vacation/annual, paid parental, sick leave)  

#LI-Hybrid

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.

Every Voice Matters

At Rio Tinto, we particularly welcome and encourage applications from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, women, the LGBTI+ 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.