IP Counsel Innovation & Technology

IP Corporate Counsel

• Join an encouraging leadership group, committed to your growth and development

• Play an integral role in our Innovation & Technology legal team, globally

• Permanent position based in Brisbane or Perth

Please note response times will be slower due to Christmas shutdown; we aim to be booking interviews early January. Thank you for your understanding.

About the role

Finding better ways to provide the materials the world needs.

We are looking for an IP Corporate Counsel to support the Rio Tinto Group by providing high quality, independent and timely Intellectual Property legal advice and ensuring appropriate governance and controls to ensure Rio Tinto meets its legal and regulatory obligations effectively and manage risk and protecting Rio Tinto’s people, assets and reputation.

We are an open, connected global team that includes some of the industry’s best and brightest minds. We offer competitive, performance-focused remuneration and a wide range of benefits to reward your contribution. With a global reach, the opportunities to develop and grow your career are broad and exciting.

Reporting to the Principal IP Counsel and working in a collaborative community within the Innovation & Technology legal team, you will have the following responsibilities:

IP portfolio building:

• Review and evaluate invention disclosures; recommend appropriate action to management

• Prepare and prosecute patent applications for new inventions

• Manage engaged law and attorney firms

• Pre-transaction due diligence

IP protection:

• Help to maintain trade secret protection

• Raise IP awareness within the Australian business

• Train employees and managers regarding protection of IP and related company policies

• Monitor IP activity of competitors and advise management

• Perform fact gathering for right-to-use, infringement, and validity opinions

• Analyse and review agreements to provide advice in relation to ownership and licensing of IP, and confidentiality and data management and protection

• Negotiating non-disclosure, research and development, technology joint development, IP and technology licenses, technology services and other IP related agreements with varying degrees of complexity

What you’ll bring

• A commitment to the safety of yourself and your team

• Academic background preferably in chemical or metallurgical engineering. Prior knowledge or experience in mining also useful

• Australian patent attorney registration

• Admitted to practice in an Australian jurisdiction, with an unrestricted practising certificate

• 5 years minimum PQ experience in IP, gained in industry or private practice

• Bilingual preferable (English, French)

• Self-starter, excellent inter-personal and organizational skills

• Ability to work in a team

What we offer

• Be recognised for your contribution, your thinking and your hard work, and go home knowing you have 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 subsidized 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 goals.

• Ongoing access to family-friendly health and medical wellbeing support

• Exclusive employee discounts (banking, accommodation, cars, retail and more)

• Flexible working arrangements

Where you will be working

The Rio Tinto Corporate Legal function provides legal services and expertise to the Rio Tinto Group, including corporate headquarters, operating business units and service divisions. Working to the highest standards collaboratively across the globe, Rio Tinto Corporate Legal also devises policy development and advice on legal matters.

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.