Senior Employee Relations Advisor
- Be part of a group that is safety driven and values inclusion.
- Join an encouraging leadership group, committed to your growth and development.
- This role is based in Johannesburg or Richards Bay.
About the role
Finding better ways to provide the materials the world needs.
We are looking for a Senior Employee Relations Advisor to collaborate with key stakeholders across the People community, including Areas of Expertise (AoEs), HR Business Partners, and People Experience teams, to drive impactful employee relations (ER) projects and ensure alignment with the Global Employee Relations Framework, regional considerations, and business unit needs.
As a Senior Employee Relations Advisor, you will be an advisor in managing the intricate dynamics between employers and employees. Your role will involve providing guidance, support, and resolution to various workplace issues, thereby contributing to a conducive work environment. You will collaborate closely with HR teams, managers, trade unions and employees to address concerns, mitigate conflicts, and uphold organizational values.
Reporting to the Manager Employee Relations- Africa and working in a collaborative community within the business, you will:
- Collaborate with key stakeholders across the People community, including Areas of Expertise (AoEs), HR Business Partners, and People Experience teams, to drive impactful employee relations (ER) projects and ensure alignment with the Global Employee Relations Framework, regional considerations, and business unit needs.
- Provide specialist ER support; influencing and advocating for solutions that align with business goals.
- Proactively identify and manage ER issues in line with Rio Tinto’s strategic direction and work closely with HR leaders to manage integration points and optimize ER outcomes.
- Guide operations stakeholders in implementing ER strategies and objectives.
- Offer expert advice on complex case management, serving as a key escalation point and Subject-matter Expert.
- Monitor, audit, and report on performance at the business level, addressing deficiencies and ensuring seamless execution.
- Foster effective relationships with legal providers to ensure cost-effective, appropriate advice on ER matters.
What you’ll bring
- Bachelor’s degree in human resources, Business Administration, or a related field.
- A proactive outlook identifying risks, solutions and actions before they arise.
- Work closely with stakeholders across the HR Function to help the development and disciplined execution of projects including project management.
- Leading collaborative solution development across ER Global Team or local HR, HRBPs and PEx Teams to ER problems.
- Being able to present and influence and advocate solutions to ER problems with senior HR and Operational leaders.
- Ability to work independently under pressure and willing to travel.
- Ability to build relationships and networks with internal and external stakeholders.
- Building capability of Operations leadership and the HR function in IR and ER issues and developments.
- A solid working understanding of the highly unionized operations.
- Proven CCMA knowledge, experience and skills
- Certification in Employee Relations (desired but not mandatory).
- Computer literate.
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
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 and/ or anything else that makes us different.
At Rio Tinto, we particularly welcome and encourage applications from Women, the LGBTQIA+ communities, people with disabilities (PWD) and people from different cultural backgrounds.
We acknowledge that all people are different and believe that our differences are our strength. The diversity of skills, life experiences and perspectives within our teams enhance our way of working and our ability to achieve success together
JOB_POSTING-3-3138
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 Theresia’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 – PresentChief advisor Nature SolutionsJohannesburg, Gauteng, South Africa
- 2018 – 2022Head of Environment, Global HSESMontreal, Quebec, Canada
- 2016 – 2018Principal advisor: EnvironmentJohannesburg, Gauteng, South Africa
- 2013 – 2016Superintendent: Ecology and RehabilitationRichards Bay Minerals, KZN, South Africa
- 2012 – 2013EcologistRichards Bay Minerals, KZN, South Africa
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.