Employee Relations Specialist

• Join a collaborative team of experienced Employee Relations professionals with strong relationships, collaboration and a shared commitment to achieving great outcomes

• Flexible working arrangements available – work from home as well as spend time in the office

• Brisbane or Perth based – Permanent, Full Time and Part Time opportunities available

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 seeking an Employee Relations Specialist to provide strategic and operational employee relations and industrial relations advice to a diverse group of business units globally that support the achievement of Rio Tinto's business objectives through an engaged workforce. 

Joining a well-connected and supportive team, this role is an opportunity to bring your technical expertise and values based leadership to work everyday.

We are an open, connected global team that includes some of the industry’s best and brightest minds. We offer competitive, performance-focused remuneration and a wide range of benefits to reward your contribution. With a global reach, the opportunities to develop and grow your career are broad and exciting.

Reporting to the Employee Relations Manager APAC, you will be involved in interesting and diverse work, including:

• Providing employee relations and industrial relations advice to site-based HR teams and operational leaders in relation to case management, investigation processes, grievances and dispute resolution, fair treatment claims and policy application

• Advising on interpretation and application of industrial instruments, employment legislation and policies

• Advising and supporting HR and operational team members on a range of industrial relations matters, including right of entry, award and EBA application and dispute resolution

• Facilitating or supporting complex workplace investigations

• Drafting a range of employment documents

• Building capability through coaching, development and training of the human resources team and frontline leaders

• Design, develop and execute projects individually or as a team member addressing ER issues or employee engagement opportunities 

• Managing external disputes on behalf of the company, including preparing relevant applications, responses and providing representation in various jurisdictions

You will also champion Rio Tinto’s people strategy through Everyday Respect and develop strong, collaborative relationships with leaders across the HR function and broader business. You will foster connected, high-performing workplaces by building strong relationships with stakeholders across our operations in Australia and New Zealand, travelling as required.

What you’ll bring

As a trusted advisor, you will bring a high degree of discretion, professionalism and integrity to the management of sensitive and confidential matters, applying sound judgement and critical thinking to deliver practical, balanced solutions to complex challenges.

Your adaptability to thrive in a dynamic environment, will see you succeed. You will also consistently promote Rio Tinto’s values of Care, Courage and Curiosity, and demonstrate to following:

• A commitment ot the safety of yourself and your team

• A tertiary qualification in Business (Human Resources), Law, and/or Industrial Relations and/or Employee Relations

• Experience as a specialist ER / IR role in a large and complex organisation will be highly regarded; or working either as a lawyer (2 – 4 years’ post admission experience) in a law firm or inhouse

• An expert understanding of the operation of the Fair Work Act and other employment legislation

• Experience in the Fair Work Commission, state and federal courts and state and federal tribunals, including conducting conciliation conferences in the Fair Work Commission

What we offer

Be recognised for your contribution, you’re 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 permanent position working directly for Rio Tinto

• 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) 

• Exclusive employee discounts (banking, accommodation, cars, retail and more

Where you’ll be working

The HR function supports 46 000 employees in around 36 countries and operates out of three business hubs in Brisbane, Perth and Montreal. Data science roles have diverse, multi-industry backgrounds and comprehensive skills in the fields of data modelling, engineering, and visualisation as well as advanced analytics techniques including machine learning and optimisation. These skills are used to turn data into information that can be used to make improved decisions that generate a competitive advantage for Rio Tinto. 

Applications close on Thursday the 16th of July 2026 (Rio Tinto reserves the right to remove advertised roles prior to this date).

#gts

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 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.

R59896