Principal Adviser Industrial Relations (Major Projects)

• Shape workforce outcomes on projects critical to Rio Tinto's future growth.
• Partner with senior leaders on complex workforce and industrial challenges.
• Combine strategic influence with hands-on operational problem-solving

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 Adviser Industrial Relations Major Projects to support the delivery of Rio Tinto’s major capital growth projects across APAC. This newly created 12-month fixed-term contract will help strengthen industrial relations capability across a complex, contractor-heavy portfolio of major projects in execution, spanning major construction activity and critical growth investment across the APAC region.

These projects are significant to Rio Tinto’s future growth, operational performance and long-term asset development. As the major projects environment continues to evolve, this role will be critical in helping leaders proactively manage workforce and industrial relations matters that can influence safety, workforce stability, project momentum and delivery outcomes.

Based in Perth, this is a great opportunity for someone who enjoys complex project environments, partnering with leaders on operational workforce challenges and influencing industrial outcomes in work that has genuine enterprise impact.

What you’ll be doing

Reporting to the General Manager Human Resources and working in a dynamic, project-focused environment that blends strategic and operational priorities within the Rio Tinto Capital Projects team, you will:

• Provide industrial relations advice and assurance across major projects, with a focus on contractor workforce arrangements, project mobilisation, workforce risk and industrial stability
• Lead industrial relations input into procurement and tender processes, assessing contractor capability, employment practices, workforce governance and industrial risk controls before engagement.
• Partner with project leaders, People teams, Legal, HSE, Contracts and Procurement, and Commercial stakeholders to deliver coordinated responses to workforce and industrial relations matters.
• Identify and mitigate emerging industrial relations risks to minimise impacts to project delivery.
• Support the delivery of industrial relations strategies, including, dispute resolution, and workforce risk mitigation activities.
• Coach project and operational leaders to build confidence and capability in managing industrial relations matters within established governance and escalation frameworks.
• Monitor and analyse industrial relations trends, workforce risks and compliance indicators, providing insights and recommendations that support informed decision-making.
• Collaborate with contractors, labour hire providers, and external stakeholders to support effective workforce outcomes and minimise industrial disruption across major projects.

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 industrial relations or employee relations, within a complex industrial, construction, resources, infrastructure, energy, oil and gas or major projects environment.
• Strong understanding of industrial relations principles, employment legislation, workplace dispute resolution and industrial risk management.
• Experience supporting leaders with practical, day-to-day industrial relations matters in site-based, contractor-led or operational workforce environments.
• Ability to assess workforce and industrial risk, identify emerging issues and develop pragmatic, commercially aware recommendations.
• Demonstrated ability to analyse industrial relations trends, workforce risks and compliance indicators, translating insights into practical recommendations and business outcomes.
• Strong stakeholder partnering skills, with the ability to build trust, influence leaders and work effectively across People, Legal, HSE, Contracts & Procurement, Commercial, project and contractor stakeholder groups. 

Helpful for Success

• Experience supporting industrial relations across major construction projects, contractor workforces, labour hire arrangements, project mobilisation or demobilisation activities.
• Exposure to tender evaluation, contractor assurance, procurement processes or assessing workforce capability as part of contractor selection.
• Experience in enterprise bargaining, industrial action contingency planning or workforce risk mitigation initiatives.
• A dynamic, adaptable and responsive style, with the confidence to work hands-on in a fast-moving project environment while balancing strategic and operational priorities.

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 base salary reflective of your skills and experience with annual incentive program  
• Comprehensive medical benefits including subsidised private health insurance for employees and immediate family                
• Company provided insurance cover 
• Extensive salary sacrifice & salary packaging options 
• Career development & 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 (vacation/annual, paid parental, sick & cultural leave) 
• Exclusive employee discounts (banking, accommodation, cars, retail and more) 

Where you’ll be working

Our modern office located in Central Park tower in Perth provide an inspiring environment for collaboration and professional growth. You'll be able to enjoy a range of benefits, including access to a modern gym, wellness programs, and convenient amenities that support a healthy work-life balance. Situated in the heart of Perth, we are close to public transport and several parking options.

Applications for the 12 month fixed-term contract close on Monday 7th September 2026 (Rio Tinto reserves the right to remove advertised roles prior to this date).

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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