Development Manager

Development Manager

• Opportunity to join the Energy and Climate team at Rio Tinto
• Be part of the development of multi-gigawatt renewable portfolio across the NEM and NZ
• Brisbane based location preferred

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

As one of the world’s largest industrial users of energy, Rio Tinto has a unique challenge in the energy transition. Rio Tinto Energy & Climate (RTEC) is a new global team focused on prioritising and accelerating our decarbonisation efforts to deliver on our climate commitments while ensuring our business is well positioned for the future low-carbon economy. Led by the Chief Decarbonisation Officer, the Energy & Climate team works collaboratively across the business to drive delivery of the Group climate strategy and address our key sources of carbon emissions.

The Development Manager role will sit within RTEC Pacific Renewable Energy. The team covers Rio Tinto assets in Tasmania, Queensland, New South Wales and New Zealand which represents nearly 50% of Rio Tinto Group scope 1 and 2 carbon emissions. The team is focused on developing new energy solutions for the Pacific portfolio to reduce scope 1 and 2 emissions footprint. The energy solutions will be delivered in partnership and require an understanding of both the renewable industry and commercial agreements.

Given our continued momentum from the initial 2.2GW of renewable energy projects, we are now looking for a Development Manager. The Development Manager will be responsible for managing our development partners in accordance with the contractual arrangements, coordination with our key stakeholders including government and transmission network service providers, project development, supply chain initiatives and system studies.

Reporting to the Senior Development Manager, you will:

• Work with RTEC’s commercial team to identify renewable project opportunities, provide due diligence and execution support
• Work with RTEC’s development partners to optimise major equipment procurement or grid connection process across RTEC portfolio, as appropriate
• Develop and maintain robust project management disciplines to effectively deliver to the plan with strong focus on risk assessment & risk mitigation, supply chain initiatives, grid process, timely execution and tight quality control.
• Monitor, control and report on project development milestones and construction delivery schedule in line with contractual arrangements, identifying mitigating strategies to reduce the impact of delay for the portfolio.
• Contribute to the development and maintenance of relationships with external stakeholders including consultants, OEMs, local, state and federal authorities, landowners and neighbours.
• Co-ordinate with internal stakeholders across RTEC including procurement, finance, legal, projects and media/communications teams
• Monitoring of market developments, best practice, regulatory changes and communicate the implications of these to senior management
• Ensure full health, safety and environmental compliance with Rio Tinto and statutory requirements.

This position can offer a number of flexible work arrangement options including flexible hours, part time, or job share arrangements.

What you’ll bring

• Project development experience in grid connected renewables and storage projects connected to the National Electricity Market (NEM) (wind, solar, batteries, etc)
• Experience with renewable energy project management and execution
• Good understanding of NEM dynamics and rules
• Experience with grid connections and interactions with transmission network service providers (in particular, Powerlink) and AEMO
• Experience engaging with developers, regulatory authorities, landowners, community and other key stakeholders
• Strong commercial acumen with well-established networks within major industry peers (OEMs, EPC contractors, Engineering firms, grid consultants)
• Qualifications in a relevant technical discipline, drawn from civil, electrical, or mechanical engineering and/or other relevant disciplines
• Demonstrated communication skills, including ability to build relationships and excellent writing skills
• Ability to work effectively and efficiently as part of a small and dynamic team

This is an exciting time at Rio Tinto and we are looking for an open minded and collaborative team member to come and join us. You will get to partner with this forward-thinking business, demonstrating your resourceful ideas at all levels and with various stakeholders.

If you have a clear appreciation of the business impact this role has and can couple this with demonstrated care, courage and curiosity then we would love to see your application.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 5th April 2024 (Rio Tinto reserves the right to remove advertised roles prior to this date)