Innovation Program Delivery Manager

Innovation Program Delivery Manager

• Be part of a group that is safety-driven and values inclusion

• Join our global leading business offering outstanding personal development & global career opportunities

• Permanent role based in Montreal, Brisbane, or Melbourne

About the roleFinding better ways™ to provide the materials the world needs.We are looking for an Innovation Program Delivery Manager to structure and support the execution of large-scale innovation programs across the Group. This individual will establish and integrate cross-functional teams, driving the implementation of cutting-edge technologies, optimising processes, and ensuring projects align with strategic objectives. The role combines a strong understanding of the delivery of transformation programs, innovation, and the metals and mining industry.

This is a great opportunity for a strategic, innovative, and leadership-driven professional to play a key role in transforming innovation programs globally.

Reporting to the Head of Innovation Program Delivery, and working in a dynamic, collaborative team, you will be:

• Shaping the vision, strategy, and value proposition for each program. Partnering with Program Directors and leveraging Rio Tinto Innovation capabilities to ensure programs are aligned with Rio Tinto’s long-term objectives, driving impactful and sustainable outcomes from conception to execution.

• Collaborating closely with program teams to identify key pillars and pathways to achieve strategic goals. Building comprehensive portfolios, identifying gaps and opportunities for innovation, including scope and business case development. Creating execution roadmaps considering interdependencies and sequencing to ensure effective delivery.

• Implementing a stage-gate management system, portfolio optimisation, and prioritisation processes to ensure resources are allocated efficiently within and across various innovation programs – maximising value delivery (financial and non-financial) for the Group.

• Establishing and tracking key performance metrics to measure success. Ensuring clear accountability at every stage of program delivery, enabling Program Directors to meet their commitments. Identifying risks and roadblocks related to program execution; implementing mitigation strategies to ensure all programs stay on track.

• Working closely with R&D, engineering, operations, legal, and IT teams to ensure seamless integration of new technologies and methodologies. Driving organisational change initiatives, fostering a culture of adaptability, bias towards execution, and continuous improvement.

What you’ll bring

• A commitment to the safety of yourself and your team.

• A tertiary qualification in Science, Engineering, Business, or a related field; MBA or related experience preferred.

• Proven experience in managing large-scale transformation programs or projects, ideally with budgets of $100M or more.

• Strong cross-functional background with deep understanding of technology delivery, strategy development, business evaluation, capital project processes, and experience with transformational technology development (IoT, AI, robotics, data analytics).

• Strong leadership, communication, and interpersonal skills with experience in team management, ensuring alignment with Rio Tinto’s company values and driving collaboration across departments.

• A visionary approach with a passion for innovation, technology delivery, and the ability to navigate complex organizational structures to drive cross-functional collaboration and success.

• Expertise in risk management, business analysis, reporting, financial & operational/business knowledge, ensuring sound decision-making and optimizing project execution.

• Understanding and empathy towards community and social performance imperatives, promoting a responsible approach to technology and innovation in the business. Extensive experience working with project protocols and procedures to optimize decision-making, record keeping, cost control, and team communications.

• If you are applying for the role based in Montreal, Quebec, fluency in French and English, both written and spoken. Rio Tinto is a global company and the duties of this position may require collaboration with colleagues, teams or partners based outside Quebec.

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 salary package with annual cash incentive awards for eligible employees

• Career development & education assistance to further your ambitions

• Access to top-tier family-friendly health and medical programs and pension plans

• Wellbeing benefits

• Generous Rio Tinto employee share program

• Employee Assistance Program

• Ongoing individual wellbeing support for you and your family for personal and professional matters

• Leave for all of life’s reasons (vacation/annual, paid parental, sick leave)

About Rio TintoRio 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 MattersAt 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.