AddressSenior Corporate Counsel, Sustainability
- Exciting opportunity to join a leading global company.
- Become part of a highly collaborative global team, committed to your growth and development.
- Permanent role based in Australia
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 different.
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 Senior Corporate Counsel, Sustainability, working as a key leader within the Corporate legal team and the broader Legal, Governance and Corporate Affairs function. The role will play an important role in enabling the company to achieve its Impeccable ESG and Social licence business objectives. It will join the Chief Executive Australia's senior leadership team, which is accountable for sustainability across Rio Tinto and will also be a member of the Communities and Social Performance (CSP) Senior Leadership Team, being an active and key contributor to both teams.
The role will lead the global legal support and advice across the areas of sustainability, including the critical portfolios of CSP, including Indigenous Relations and Human Rights; and Health, Safety, Environment and Security (HSES) The role will also be highly collaborative in providing expert advice to Product Groups (PGs) and lead the Global Indigenous Relations community of practice for Legal focused on sharing best practices across the Group.
Being one of Rio Tinto's emerging leaders means helping to run a company drive the company forward find better ways to provide the materials the world needs. You are writing the next chapter of our story and leading the legal support for a critically important area for Rio Tinto and society more broadly. You will work alongside some of the industry's best and brightest minds, working to solve the challenges of the 21st century where the scope of this role provides the platform to make a meaningful difference within Rio Tinto and far beyond. We offer competitive, performance-focused remuneration and a wide range of benefits to reward your contribution. With a global reach, the opportunities to develop are broad and exciting.
Reporting to the General Counsel, Corporate, the Senior Corporate Counsel, Sustainability is responsible for:
- Working in collaboration with the CSP Area of Expertise to provide PG legal with the visibility and full understanding of CSP and human rights risks
- Supporting human rights assessments, including advice on asset tools; application and maintenance of privilege; coordination with PG Legal on issues raised in assessments and any associated complaint processes
- Reviewing CSP and HSES papers to the Executive Committee, the Sustainability Committee of the Board and relevant new or updated Rio Tinto policies, standards, procedures and guidance documents
- Reviewing letters of intent, agreements and contracts with third parties, specifically for social investment partnerships, Indigenous relations and capability programs
- Working with Third Party Due Diligence, Commercial and Human Rights teams to design practical processes for high-risk categories and issues and on contractual advice for high-risk contracts
- Advising and reviewing relevant public reporting and disclosure, including the annual Modern Slavery Statement and non-financial sustainability reporting.
- Monitoring legal and regulatory trends that could impact Rio Tinto business across the scope of the role including actual or anticipated changes in law, Rio Tinto's readiness for compliance and emerging trends and related litigation and societal expectations.
- Driving forward the next evolution of the Global Indigenous Affairs community of practice for Legal connecting across all parts of Rio Tinto focused on sharing learnings and best practices across the Group
- Supporting the Australian Advisory Group (AAG) which provides independent expert advice to Rio Tinto executives on matters impacting our operations in Australia
What you'll bring
- A commitment to the safety and mental wellbeing of yourself and your colleagues.
- A qualified lawyer in good standing with at least 8 years of experience in in-house at a major multinational business or international law firm providing legal advice and counsel on human rights law across a range of topics including non-discrimination, labour and workplace rights, modern slavery, security and human rights, land-use and access, community health and well-being, Indigenous rights, effective grievance and remedy processes, among other topics.
- Accustomed to operating in dynamic, complex and innovative global organization with a proven ability to provide business centric legal advice where legal frameworks are still emerging
- Demonstrated ability and experience providing such advice and counsel to both legal and non-legal practitioners
- Knowledge of current and emerging business and human rights requirements, trends, dilemmas, issues and external expectations.
- Knowledge of the UNGPs and other international human rights frameworks and standards (e.g., VPSHR, UNDRIP, ILO Conventions); general knowledge of communities and social performance requirements, trends, issues and external expectations of companies like Rio Tinto
- Experience working in or advising multinational organizations including in geographies of Rio Tinto's key operations
- Strong collaborator who can bring together complex and disparate viewpoints to support the advancement of our sustainability ambition
- Strong technical and analytical skills alongside a proven track record of formulating and offering creative, out-of-the box solutions to commercial problems.
- A pragmatic leadership approach which balances mitigating real risk with supporting the achievement of business opportunities
- Ability to influence credibly at senior management level, build relationships at executive level and contribute to debates outside of the legal remit.
- A proven ability to work and deliver autonomously and drive forward continuous improvement while balancing the day to day demands of the role
- Ability to flex style to suit the audience & context, while demonstrating high level of integrity and a strong commitment to organisational and ethical values.
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 Annual incentive program
- Comprehensive medical benefits including subsidised private health insurance for employees and immediate family
- 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 (vacation/annual, paid parental, sick leave)
- Exclusive employee discounts (banking, accommodation, cars, retail and more)
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 and meet opportunities.
Applications close on 25th March 2024 (Rio Tinto reserves the right to remove advertised roles prior to this date)
