• Help turn agreement commitments into meaningful employment, skills and business development outcomes for Traditional Owner groups.
• Influence agreement delivery across a broad network of Traditional Owner organisations, operational teams and functional specialists.
• Perth-based opportunity in our Central Park office, with access to a modern gym, wellness programs and convenient CBD amenities.
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 Principal Traditional Owner Participation to help the Agreement Making team progress commitments and obligations made to Traditional Owner groups through agreement-making processes and established agreements. Reporting to the Manager Agreement Making, you will act as a key interface between the Traditional Owner Partnerships team, Traditional Owner groups and the Rio Tinto functions responsible for delivering commitments.
In this role, you will connect people across the business, monitor progress and help resolve barriers to employment, skills and business development outcomes. This is an opportunity to shape practical participation initiatives, strengthen trusted relationships and support commitments that create meaningful and measurable value.
What you’ll be doing
Reporting to the Manager Agreement Making and working across the Agreement Making and Traditional Owner Partnerships teams, you will be:
• Monitoring employment and business development commitments, associated metrics and delivery risks, and taking action where progress is off track.
• Developing and supporting the drafting of employment, skills and business development agreement commitments with Traditional Owners.
• Partnering with Traditional Owner groups and Prescribed Bodies Corporate to identify economic development opportunities and connect relevant subject matter expertise.
• Coordinating cross-functional delivery across People, Procurement, Commercial, Capability Development, Renewables, Environment, Land Access and operational teams.
• Acting as a central point of contact for Rio Tinto teams that interface with Traditional Owner groups, helping provide a consistent and integrated approach.
• Supporting contractual arrangements for specialist services that assist Traditional Owner organisations to develop and execute business opportunities.
• Responding to escalations, grievances and concerns relating to employment, procurement and business development commitments.
• Engaging Traditional Owners on aspirations for jobs, skills and enterprise development, while helping internal teams understand commitments and relevant cultural context.
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.
• Demonstrated experience in Indigenous employment, training, business development, government relations, Indigenous affairs or a closely related field.
• Working knowledge of Native Title, agreement-making frameworks and the delivery of commitments with Traditional Owner groups.
• Experience negotiating, drafting or implementing agreements and influencing stakeholders across complex organisational settings.
• Commercial, procurement or business development capability, including experience supporting opportunities from concept through to delivery.
• Strong written and verbal communication, cultural competency and the ability to coordinate across multiple internal and external stakeholder groups.
Helpful for Success
• Experience working directly with Prescribed Bodies Corporate, Traditional Owner businesses or community organisations.
• Knowledge of employment and supplier development programs within mining, resources, government or another large operational environment.
• Experience using performance measures, reporting and risk controls to monitor delivery of agreement commitments.
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 permanent position working directly for Rio Tinto.
• A competitive base salary reflective of your skills and experience with an annual incentive program.
• Comprehensive medical benefits including subsidised private health insurance for employees and immediate family.
• An attractive share ownership plan.
• Company-provided insurance cover.
• Extensive salary sacrifice and salary packaging options.
• Career development and 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, including annual, paid parental, personal and cultural leave.
• Exclusive employee discounts across banking, accommodation, cars, retail and more.
• Possible domestic relocation assistance.
Where you’ll be working
Our modern office located in Central Park tower in Perth provides an inspiring environment for collaboration and professional growth. You’ll have access to a modern gym, wellness programs and convenient amenities that support a healthy work-life balance. Situated in the heart of Perth, the office is close to public transport and several parking options.
#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 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.
R63614
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.