Senior Corporate Counsel

• Join Rio Tinto Legal in a senior in-house role supporting Nuton, a Rio Tinto venture, and other copper technology and research and development initiatives

• Provide strategic, commercially focused legal support across commercial transactions, technology deployment, intellectual property, regulatory, environmental, health and safety, land use and compliance matters

• Permanent role based in Salt Lake City, Utah, with travel required across the United States and may include international travel to support internal engagements and business needs.

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 Corporate Counsel to provide high-quality, independent, timely and commercially focused legal advice and support to Nuton and other Copper Technical research and development initiatives.

This is a great opportunity for a seasoned legal professional to work closely with a business focused on technology development, deployment and commercialization, while partnering with Rio Tinto Legal colleagues and cross-functional stakeholders across the Rio Tinto Group.

Reporting to the Chief Counsel – Copper, Americas and working as part of Rio Tinto Legal in a collaborative, complex and commercially focused in-house environment, you will:

• Provide strategic, commercially pragmatic legal advice to Nuton and Copper Technical R&D initiatives, managing legal risks and supporting business objectives.

• Support negotiation and execution of commercial transactions and acquisitions, including private placements, joint ventures, and other investment vehicles.

• Advise on and support management of Nuton’s partnership portfolio, including drafting and negotiating NDAs, collaboration agreements, term sheets, and other commercial contracts.

• Deliver legal guidance on environmental, permitting, health & safety, communities, land use, and broader regulatory compliance matters.

• Stay informed on internal business developments and external legal changes, proactively identifying when legal advice is required.

• Assess the most appropriate approach to legal support based on risk, opportunity, and available resources, including managing internal legal resources and external counsel.

• Build and maintain strong relationships with external stakeholders and internal partners (leaders, operations, Legal, and broader Rio Tinto teams), promoting collaboration and knowledge sharing.

• Support corporate policies and initiatives (safety, environment, cultural awareness, business integrity), provide legal training, and contribute to effective stakeholder engagement.

About you

• A commitment to the safety of yourself and your team.

• Undergraduate degree and Juris Doctor from an ABA-accredited law school, with 10+ years of post-qualification experience in a law firm and/or corporate legal department, including 2+ years in-house (preferred).

• Licensed, or able to become licensed, to practice law in Utah within one year of employment.

• Strong experience in mergers & acquisitions, commercial transactions, and/or investment-related matters.

• Experience in environmental and land use law, as well as in natural resources, mining, industrial, technology, or R&D sectors (all highly desirable).

• Proven ability to deliver practical, commercially focused legal advice in fast-paced and complex environments.

• Strong drafting, negotiation, advisory, and written and verbal communication skills, with demonstrated leadership of legal or business teams.

• Strong interpersonal skills, sound judgment, initiative, adaptability, and a solutions-oriented mindset, with the ability to build relationships with external counsel, regulators, government stakeholders, and internal partners, and willingness to travel as required.

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. 

• Competitive base salary reflective of your skills and experience with an annual incentive bonus. 

• Access to top-tier family-friendly health programs including medical, prescription drug, dental, vision, life insurance coverage, and various voluntary benefits.   

• Excellent retirement plan including up to 6% defined company contribution; Generous 401k matching program. 

• Attractive share ownership plan. 

• Comprehensive leave policies which cover all the moments that matter in life: PTO (paid time off), paid holidays, and paid bereavement leave. 

• A generous parental leave policy, which ensures you’re able to spend quality time with your new family.  

• Discount programs for leisure purposes and access to Virgin Pulse with incentives supporting your wellbeing.  

• Access to our Employee Assistance Program (EAP), which provides confidential counselling or expert guidance for you and your family to help get through life’s challenges. 

Where you will be working

You will work as part of Rio Tinto Legal, supporting Nuton and other Copper Technical research and development initiatives. Nuton is a Rio Tinto venture focused on technology development and deployment, with legal needs spanning commercial transactions, environmental and regulatory matters, land use, communities, compliance and stakeholder engagement.

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

Rio Tinto is committed to equal employment opportunity. All qualified applicants will be considered without regard to race, color, sex, age, religion, national origin, disability, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local law.

We are committed to an inclusive environment where people feel safe, respected and valued. We want our people to feel that all voices are heard and that a variety of perspectives are not only welcome but are essential to our success. We treat all our people fairly and with dignity.

Rio Tinto participates in E- Verify to confirm work authorization. Please visit http://www.ucis.gov/ for more information.

R58960