Principal Advisor, Communications and Government Relations

Principal Advisor, Communications and Government Relations, Rio Tinto (RT) IOC

• Reporting to Director, Comms and External Affairs, RT IOC with dotted line reporting to the Head of Government Relations Canada
• Be part of a group that is safety driven and values inclusion
• Join a leading global company
• This role is based in St. John’s, NL

About the role

Finding better ways™ to provide the materials the world needs.

We are looking for a Principal Advisor, Communications and Government Relations for IOC, who will develop and lead external affairs strategies, ensuring effective stakeholder engagement, communications, and government relations.

Reporting to Director, Comms and External Affairs, RT IOC with dotted line reporting to the Head of Government Relations Canada, you will be responsible for:

Government relations

• Provide subject matter expertise, insight, analysis and intelligence to inform and guide our business strategy and decision-making and to build and maintain relationships with government at municipal, provincial (NL), and federal levels
• Partner with the Canadian Government Relations team to design and execute engagement strategies, while working closely with the RT IOC Communities and Social Performance (CSP) team on key socio-economic and regulatory matters
• Monitor political and policy risks, offering intelligence and recommendations to safeguard business interests
• Providing subject matter expertise, global insight, and intelligence to inform and guide our business strategy and decision-making. Represent Rio Tinto IOC’s interests and participate in policy, regulatory, and industry meetings and events as needed
• Develop and maintain favourable relationships with key communities (government agencies and key individuals, lobby groups, competitor organizations)

External communications

• Participate in the development of IOC’s narrative
• Shape thought leadership opportunities and craft narratives to elevate IOC’s profile
• Liaise media relations and external communications (with a focus in NL), connecting with Rio Tinto teams globally and in Canada for support and collaboration
• Lead the development and implementation of provincial stakeholder and media strategies in Newfoundland and Labrador, in alignment with Rio Tinto’s broader federal and Quebec strategies
• Oversee IOC’s presence in the Atlantic Provinces, including: Speech writing for members of the senior leadership team. Providing strategic oversight on IOC’s participation in external events, with implementation supported by other team members and contribute to the creation of external communications strategies that support organizational objectives and stakeholder engagement
• Contribute to external facing publications published by IOC, ensuring alignment with Rio Tinto IOC’s strategic messaging
• Lead project management activities by guiding team members, overseeing the execution of project tasks, and fostering skill-building and collaboration to ensure successful delivery of outcomes

What you’ll bring

• A commitment to the safety of yourself and your team
• We actively encourage applications from women and Indigenous Peoples for this opportunity
• Bachelor’s degree in communication, media, business or political science field (mandatory) and 10-15 years of experience in government and/or private sector
• Recognized as an expert in Government Relations and Communications
• Guides business leaders in resolving complex issues in specialized area based on existing solutions and procedures
• Strong leadership skills and ability to function effectively in collaborative multi-disciplined teams
• A commitment to the safety of yourself and your team
• Initiative to pursue goals and objectives with minimal supervision
• Understanding of technical, commercial, and financial principles
• Capability to manage budgets and skill in balancing multiple priorities under tight deadlines
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills

What we offer

Be recognized 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
• Career development & education assistance to further your technical or leadership ambitions
• A competitive base salary reflective of your skills and experience with annual incentive program
• Ongoing access to family-friendly health and medical programs, pension and savings plans
• Attractive share ownership plan
• Leave for all of life’s reasons (vacation/annual, paid parental, sick leave)
• Exclusive employee discounts
• Possible domestic relocation assistance if required
• Workplace practices that foster cultural respect, inclusion, and diversity across all levels of the organization

Where you’ll be working

We are a leading North American producer and exporter of premium iron ore pellets and high-grade concentrate with average iron grades greater than 66%. With a team of over 2,700 employees, IOC is committed to providing value and continuity for our customers, employees, communities and shareholders through our unique mine to port approach, taking advantage of our full integration and wholly owned infrastructure to deliver our high-quality concentrate and pellets to our customers across the globe.

IOC’s operations include a mine with five operational pits, a concentrator and a pelletizing plant located near Labrador City in the province of Newfoundland and Labrador. We also operate a wholly-owned 418 km railway, the Quebec North Shore and Labrador Railway.

Working at Rio Tinto also means choosing to be part of a company recognized one of Canada’s Top 100 Employers in 2025 for the sixth consecutive year and one of Canada’s Top 100 Employers for Young People.

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 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 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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