Senior Advisor Research & Development

• An exciting opportunity to bring our technological vision to life and help shape the future of Iron Ore   

• Join a courageous team that is safety focused and values inclusion

• Partner with Rio Tinto's dynamic R&D community across the globe on cutting edge technologies

About the role

We are looking for an experienced Senior Advisor R&D to join our R&D team in Perth.

One of your primary responsibilities will be to support the coordination and execution of R&D activities to advance the Iron Ore R&D portfolio. With a focus on early phases of technology development, your stakeholder skills will be key to understanding the needs of the customer and ensuring these are well-represented, you will engage with internal and external subject matter experts, researchers and inventors as required.

Reporting to the Principal R&D, you will also:

• Support the development and delivery of selected R&D projects, including facilitation of the early discovery and study phases, evaluation activities, and general project management activities

• Conduct effective options analysis, engagement, and planning for technology trials within RTIO operations

• Support the effective management of complex change in existing or new operations arising from technology implementation

• Gather information to create and manage project documentation and artefacts

• Contribute to the development of leading R&D practices and support governance activities

• Attend periodic site/supplier visits as required

What you’ll bring

To be successful in this role you will have:

• A commitment to the safety of yourself and your team

• A bachelor's degree or equivalent relevant qualification in a transferrable field (including although not limited to Science, Technology, Engineering or Math fields)

• Exceptional partnering and collaborative approach, including a willingness to engage, constructively challenge and trust partners to meet customer needs in their areas of expertise

• Effective communication skills with the ability to influence and gather information and negotiate with a diverse range of internal and external stakeholders

• High aptitude for critical thinking and systems integration

• Experience in technology programme management and/or technology development with multi-disciplinary teams in a complex environment (Desirable)

• Experience in technology and/or project management, change management, risk management and business acumen for delivery of technology option evaluations, project valuations, project justifications and budgets (Desirable)

What we offer 

• Be recognised for your contribution, your thinking and your hard work, and go home knowing you’ve helped provide the materials the world needs to progress

• A work environment where safety is always the number one priority

• A permanent position working directly for Rio Tinto

• Full relocation provided to Western Australia from elsewhere in Australia

• A competitive base salary reflective of your skills and experience with annual incentive bonus

• Comprehensive medical benefits including subsidised private health insurance for employees and immediate family

• Attractive share ownership plan

• Company provided insurance cover

• Extensive salary sacrifice & salary packaging options

• Career development & education assistance to further your technical or leadership ambitions

• Ongoing access to family-friendly health and medical wellbeing support

• Leave for all of life’s reasons (vacation/annual, paid parental, sick leave, cultural leave)

• To better suit different family needs, our paid parental leave approach gives all parents the option to take 18 weeks of paid leave after a new child arrives – at a time that suits them

• Exclusive employee discounts including hotel stays, banking, accommodation, cars, retail and more

Where you’ll be working

This role is based in Perth, at our head office in Central Park, working Monday – Friday.

In the Pilbara region of Western Australia, we own a world-class, integrated network of 17 mines, four independent port terminals, a rail network spanning nearly 2,000 kilometres and related infrastructure – all designed to respond rapidly to changes in demand. We are one of the world’s leading producers and exporters of iron ore.

Who we are 

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 and meet opportunities.

#gts

Advertising closes for this role on 30 June 2025 (Rio Tinto reserves the right to remove advertised roles prior to this date)

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.

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