Corporate Counsel – Environment And Approvals

Corporate Counsel – Environment and Approvals

• Work in a collaborative, high-performing environment where success is achieved by working together
• Great exposure in supporting one of Australia’s leading businesses
• Opportunity to shape our strategy and outcomes based on knowledge and experience
• Although we offer part-time working arrangements, this role is required to be at least 4 days per week
• Permanent role based in Perth, WA

Where we’re all welcome
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 who we are.
At Rio Tinto, we particularly welcome and encourage applications from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, women, the LGBTI+ community, mature workers, people with disabilities and people from different cultural backgrounds.
We acknowledge that all people are different and believe that our differences are our strength. The diversity of skills, life experiences and perspectives within our team enhances our way of working and our ability to achieve success together.
About the role
We are looking for a Corporate Counsel to join Rio Tinto’s Iron Ore Legal team. The role will be primarily responsible for delivering high quality and timely legal advice and support on environmental and project regulatory approval and social licence to operate matters in connection with Rio Tinto’s Iron Ore business. This is across emerging risks, legislative and policy developments, regulatory compliance, governance, and investigations.
You will be required to coordinate and engage with a broad range of internal and external stakeholders, provide cost effective engagement and management of external counsel where required, present and otherwise communicate with senior management on environmental and Approvals related matters, and support internal reporting as well as governance and compliance functions and frameworks. The role reports to one of the Chief Counsels and is part of the broader Rio Tinto Iron Ore legal team.
What you’ll bring
To be successful in this role you will bring:

• Between 5 to 12 years’ post qualification experience as a lawyer
• A commitment to the safety of yourself and your colleagues
• A strong understanding of Commonwealth and State environmental legislative and policy landscapes, approvals processes and the principles of sustainable development
• Intellectual, analytical and creative abilities to quickly identify issues, make judgements and propose solutions
• Enthusiasm, resilience and confidence to drive an effective outcome
• Strong stakeholder management skills including regulator engagement, with Traditional Owner engagement experience desirable
• Effective time management and organisational skills
• Exemplary communication and collaboration skills
• High level strategic decision-making skills with a demonstrated ability to influence

You must hold a current practising certificate.
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
• Full relocation provided to Western Australia from elsewhere in Australia
• A competitive base salary reflective of your skills and experience with annual incentive bonus
• Comprehensive medical benefits including subsidised private health insurance for employees and immediate family
• Attractive share ownership plan
• 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 leave, cultural leave)
• To better suit different family needs, our paid parental leave approach gives all parents the option to take 18 weeks of paid leave after a new child arrives – at a time that suits them
• Exclusive employee discounts including hotel stays, banking, accommodation, cars, retail and more.

We are committed to elevating Indigenous voices and increasing cultural knowledge in our business. Diversity of skills, life experiences and perspectives within our team enhances our way of working and our ability to achieve success together. To help you on your journey with us, you’ll also have access to:

• Specialist Indigenous Support Advisors are always there for our Indigenous employees and available to support through any aspect of your employment
• Indigenous leadership programmes across some professional and operational roles to ensure that we are developing Indigenous Leaders

Who we are
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 and meet opportunities.
Applications close on Thursday, 7th March 2024 (Rio Tinto reserves the right to remove advertised roles prior to this date).