Senior Adviser Communities & Social Performance | Gladstone
Build trusted partnerships. Make a difference in the communities where we live and work.
- Build your career and your connections in Gladstone, a coastal community where your work can make a meaningful impact
- Work across our Gladstone operations, including Boyne Smelters Limited (BSL), Yarwun and Queensland Alumina Limited (QAL)
- Permanent, full-time opportunity which includes attractive salary, annual incentives and a range of additional benefits designed to make your life better
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 Senior Adviser Communities & Social Performance (CSP) to join our Gladstone CSP team, supporting our operations across Boyne Smelters Limited (BSL), Yarwun and Queensland Alumina Limited (QAL).
Reporting to the Manager Communities & Social Performance, you will play an important role in strengthening relationships between our operations and the communities in which we live and work.
This is a hands-on role where you will work closely with operational leaders, Traditional Owners, community organisations, government, industry and other stakeholders to support the delivery of our Communities and Social Performance strategy, programs and commitments.
You will bring professional CSP expertise, sound judgement and strong relationship skills to help us understand community priorities, manage social performance risks and opportunities, and deliver initiatives that create mutual and sustainable value.
What you’ll be doing
Working across our Gladstone assets, you will:
- Provide professional advice and support to leaders on Communities and Social Performance matters, stakeholder engagement, community issues, risks and opportunities
- Build and maintain trusted relationships with Traditional Owners, local community organisations, government, industry groups and other key stakeholders
- Support the implementation of the Gladstone CSP strategy, annual plans, initiatives and programs across BSL, Yarwun and QAL
- Plan and deliver stakeholder and community engagement activities, ensuring feedback and emerging community issues are understood and appropriately considered
- Support the development and management of community partnerships, social investment initiatives, sponsorships, agreements and commitments
- Identify emerging social performance risks and opportunities and provide practical advice to support business decision-making
- Coordinate community programs and activities that build goodwill, strengthen relationships and deliver mutual benefit
- Support the management and resolution of stakeholder concerns and grievances in line with legal requirements, company policies, standards and commitments
- Contribute to the development and continuous improvement of CSP processes, procedures, systems and ways of working
- Monitor CSP activities, commitments and outcomes and contribute to reporting on stakeholder engagement and social performance
- Work collaboratively across Operations, Projects, HSEC, Government Relations, People Experience and other functions to deliver strong CSP outcomes
- Represent Rio Tinto at community events, stakeholder meetings, industry forums and other relevant engagements across the Gladstone region
The broader Gladstone CSP function supports Rio Tinto's operations across BSL, Yarwun and QAL and works closely with operational leaders and community stakeholders to strengthen relationships, manage social performance risks and opportunities and support Rio Tinto's social licence to operate.
About you
To be successfully considered for this role, you will bring:
- Experience in Communities & Social Performance, stakeholder engagement, community relations, government relations, community development or related discipline
- Strong relationship-building skills and the ability to engage effectively with a diverse range of internal and external stakeholders
- Experience developing and delivering stakeholder engagement, community or social performance programs and initiatives
- Experience coordinating internal governance, assurance and reporting activities in accordance with the CSP Standard
- The ability to provide practical, considered advice on complex stakeholder and community matters
- Strong communication, influencing and interpersonal skills, with the confidence to represent the organisation in community and stakeholder forums
- Sound judgement and the ability to work independently, manage competing priorities and navigate sensitive or complex issues
- An understanding of social performance principles, community expectations and the importance of maintaining trusted and respectful stakeholder relationships
- A commitment to responsible engagement, cultural awareness, inclusion and creating shared value
- Tertiary qualifications in social sciences, community development, communications, public policy, environmental management or a related discipline would be highly regarded
- Experience within resources, heavy industry, energy, infrastructure or another complex operational environment would also be highly regarded
What we offer
Be recognised for your contribution, your 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 competitive salary package with annual cash incentive awards for eligible employees
- Career development and education assistance to further your ambitions
- Access to family-friendly health and medical programs
- Wellbeing benefits
- Rio Tinto employee share program
- Employee Assistance Program
- Ongoing individual wellbeing support for you and your family for personal and professional matters
- Leave for all of life’s reasons
- Relocation support
Where you will be working
This role is based in Gladstone, Central Queensland, supporting Rio Tinto’s Gladstone operations across Boyne Smelters Limited (BSL), Yarwun and Queensland Alumina Limited (QAL).
Together, our Gladstone operations have strong connections to the local community, and this role provides an opportunity to work across the region to help build trusted relationships and contribute to positive, sustainable outcomes.
Please note, to be successfully considered for this role you must complete all pre-screening questions.
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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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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 LGBTQ+ 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.
Start your application
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

- 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
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.
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.



















