Specialist Vendor Management

• Make a practical commercial impact by supporting contracting, vendor governance and contract management across the Modern ERP program. 

• Build specialist capability across strategic vendor management, software and professional services contracts, and commercial performance management in a large transformation environment. 

• Join a collaborative, fast-paced program team working with key stakeholders across the global process areas, technology and PMO teams. 
• Join on a 12+ month engagement

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 Specialist Vendor Management to provide hands-on vendor and commercial support across the Modern ERP program. In this role, you’ll help deliver contracting, vendor governance and contract management activities across software, professional services and contingent workforce arrangements.

You will work closely with technology streams, Cost Control and program stakeholders to keep vendor information accurate, commercial processes moving and vendor management records audit-ready. This is a great opportunity for someone who enjoys practical problem-solving, detailed commercial work and building trusted relationships in a complex transformation environment. 

What you’ll be doing 

Reporting to the Manager Vendor Management and working in a collaborative Modern ERP program team, you will be: 

• Manage day-to-day contracting and vendor queries in partnership with Cost Control and key program stakeholders. 

• Support governance of strategic vendors, by coordinating governance information, actions and records. 

• Support vendor governance preparation activities  

• Produce accurate vendor and contracting reports using Excel, PowerPoint and existing Modern ERP Power BI reports. 

• Extract, consolidate and validate commercial data so contract, vendor and invoicing information remains current and audit-ready. 

• Maintain accurate contract records, supporting documentation and SharePoint content. 

• Coordinate contract renewals, variations and additional requirements as program needs evolve. 

• Partner with technology streams to clarify requirements, engage the appropriate vendor and support the relevant commercial process. 

• Work with the Cost Control team on reconciliation between contracts and invoiced amounts and lead queries with vendors where applicable. 

About you 

We’re looking for someone whose experience aligns with the key requirements below. You do not need to meet every “helpful for success” item to apply – if you bring relevant experience and are excited by the opportunity, we encourage you to submit an application. 

Required for Success 

• A commitment to the safety of yourself and your team. 

• Experience in vendor management, contract management, commercial, procurement or sourcing roles. 

• Demonstrated capability managing contract queries, renewals, variations and vendor governance activities. 

• Experience producing accurate commercial reporting and working with detailed data in Excel and PowerPoint. 

• Ability to work with Cost Control or finance stakeholders on invoice, contract and financial control matters. 

• Comfort managing multiple stakeholder requirements in a high-volume, fast-paced program environment. 

Helpful for Success 

• Experience supporting technology programs, software contracts or large transformation environments. 

• SAP contracting experience, including exposure to SAP invoice reconciliation or complex vendor invoicing. 

• Confidence using existing Power BI reports and maintaining records in SharePoint. 

• Exposure to Microsoft Copilot. 

What we offer 

• Attractive compensation aligned to the specialist nature and impact of the role. 

• Flexible working arrangements. 

• A safety-focused and inclusive working environment. 

• Career development to further your ambitions. 

• Ongoing wellbeing support. 

• Opportunity to shape a newly established workstream within one of Rio Tinto's most significant transformation programs. 

• Direct involvement in ensuring successful financial reporting outcomes for a global SAP S/4HANA deployment. 

Where You'll Be Working 

You’ll join the Modern ERP Program within our Group Finance function — a multi‑disciplinary team bringing together technology, process, data and change specialists to reshape how work happens across Rio Tinto. We’re modernising a 20‑year‑old ERP system and redesigning core business processes to improve safety, efficiency and innovation. 

 This work will make it easier for people across our global operations to spend less time on transactional tasks and more time on the work that really matters. By simplifying and digitising how the organisation runs, the Modern ERP Program is creating the foundation for future productivity gains, smarter decision‑making and AI‑enabled transformation across the business 

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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