About the role
As Principal Advisor Agreements & Governance, you will lead a specialist team responsible for ensuring Rio Tinto’s agreements with Traditional Owners are compliant, well-governed, and aligned with the organisation’s values and strategic objectives. This is a key leadership role requiring a balance of technical expertise, relationship management, and a commitment to upholding the integrity of our agreements.
You’ll work closely with internal teams—including Legal, Agreement Making, and Communities—and external stakeholders to manage risks, monitor performance, and support continuous improvement in our agreement governance practices.
Reporting to the Manager Heritage & Agreement Implementation you will;
Lead a team overseeing agreement governance, compliance, and implementation, ensuring commitments to Traditional Owners are effectively delivered
Collaborate with Legal and Agreement Making teams to draft and review new agreements, ensuring alignment with corporate goals and standards
Conduct compliance reviews on existing agreements and establish compliance frameworks for new ones
Identify, assess, and manage risks related to agreement implementation, escalating issues and recommending mitigation strategies
Provide technical support and expert advice on agreement and commitment management, including the development of implementation strategies
Oversee preparation for and participation in technical compliance meetings, ensuring stakeholders are well-informed and equipped
Maintain a clear and integrated view of engagement and support risks, coordinating with internal functions and business units
Embed relevant policies and standards including the CSP Standard, Cultural Heritage Management procedure, and Indigenous programs, while driving continuous improvement across the function
You’ll Bring
You bring a strong foundation in legal experience, supported by relevant legal qualifications and proven experience in drafting, reviewing, and negotiating agreements.
Strong experience in building and maintaining respectful relationships with Traditional Owners and stakeholders, with a focus on inclusive planning and engagement
Proven ability to support and oversee the implementation of complex agreements, ensuring alignment with both community expectations and organisational goals
Demonstrated capability in leading or contributing to change management initiatives, particularly within culturally diverse and multi-stakeholder environments
Experience managing formal reviews and governance processes related to agreements or commitments
Solid project management skills, with the ability to prioritise, coordinate and deliver multiple initiatives effectively
Understanding of agreement benchmarking and modernisation approaches to ensure best practice and ongoing relevance
Experience in monitoring and governing social and economic commitments, including impact and opportunity assessments
A collaborative and supportive leadership style, with a passion for building team capability and fostering continuous improvement
Ability to design and carry out assurance activities, ensuring integrity, compliance, and transparency in agreement execution. #gts
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.
Every Voice Matters
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 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.
