About the role
As Principal Advisor Agreements & Governance, you will lead a specialist team responsible for ensuring Rio Tinto’s agreements with Traditional Owners are compliant, well-governed, and aligned with the organisation’s values and strategic objectives. This is a key leadership role requiring a balance of technical expertise, relationship management, and a commitment to upholding the integrity of our agreements.
You’ll work closely with internal teams—including Legal, Agreement Making, and Communities—and external stakeholders to manage risks, monitor performance, and support continuous improvement in our agreement governance practices.
Reporting to the Manager Heritage & Agreement Implementation you will;
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Lead a team overseeing agreement governance, compliance, and implementation, ensuring commitments to Traditional Owners are effectively delivered
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Collaborate with Legal and Agreement Making teams to draft and review new agreements, ensuring alignment with corporate goals and standards
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Conduct compliance reviews on existing agreements and establish compliance frameworks for new ones
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Identify, assess, and manage risks related to agreement implementation, escalating issues and recommending mitigation strategies
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Provide technical support and expert advice on agreement and commitment management, including the development of implementation strategies
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Oversee preparation for and participation in technical compliance meetings, ensuring stakeholders are well-informed and equipped
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Maintain a clear and integrated view of engagement and support risks, coordinating with internal functions and business units
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Embed relevant policies and standards including the CSP Standard, Cultural Heritage Management procedure, and Indigenous programs, while driving continuous improvement across the function
You’ll Bring
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You bring a strong foundation in legal experience, supported by relevant legal qualifications and proven experience in drafting, reviewing, and negotiating agreements.
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Strong experience in building and maintaining respectful relationships with Traditional Owners and stakeholders, with a focus on inclusive planning and engagement
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Proven ability to support and oversee the implementation of complex agreements, ensuring alignment with both community expectations and organisational goals
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Demonstrated capability in leading or contributing to change management initiatives, particularly within culturally diverse and multi-stakeholder environments
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Experience managing formal reviews and governance processes related to agreements or commitments
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Solid project management skills, with the ability to prioritise, coordinate and deliver multiple initiatives effectively
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Understanding of agreement benchmarking and modernisation approaches to ensure best practice and ongoing relevance
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Experience in monitoring and governing social and economic commitments, including impact and opportunity assessments
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A collaborative and supportive leadership style, with a passion for building team capability and fostering continuous improvement
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Ability to design and carry out assurance activities, ensuring integrity, compliance, and transparency in agreement execution.
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.
JOB_POSTING-3-7499
Rio Tinto is a leading global mining and materials company. We operate in 35 countries where we produce iron ore, copper, aluminum, 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.
At Rio Tinto, we particularly welcome and encourage applications from Indigenous Peoples, women, the LGBTQIA+ community, mature workers, people with disabilities, and people from different cultural backgrounds.
We are committed to an inclusive environment where people feel comfortable being 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 who we are.
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.