Principal Advisor – Communities & Social Performance
Rio Tinto
About the role
We are seeking a collaborative and purpose-driven leader to guide a dedicated team of Community and Social Performance (CSP) and social investment professionals. In this role, you’ll play a pivotal part in enhancing social performance outcomes across our Pilbara Operations and regional communities by embedding the Rio Tinto CSP Standard, strengthening partnerships with host communities, and supporting the delivery of sustainable, long-term improvements. You will bring both strategic insight and hands-on expertise to drive meaningful change and create shared value.
Reporting to Manager Communities & Social Performance (CSP), Indigenous Support, Key Responsibilities include;
Lead and support a team of five to deliver impactful, community-focused outcomes
Embed the Rio Tinto CSP Standard through tailored planning, practical implementation, and capacity building across operational sites
Oversee programs designed to close performance gaps and enhance risk controls in alignment with CSP standards
Guide the management and effectiveness of social investment agreements, community feedback (Local Voices), and perception reporting
Develop and track CSP metrics, tools, and KPIs to measure progress and influence medium- to long-term asset and community strategies
Collaborate with HSEC teams and Asset GMs to integrate CSP insights into operational planning and continuous improvement initiatives
Champion assurance, performance, and governance practices rooted in ESG principles and aligned with organizational risk profiles
Act as a subject matter expert and advocate for CSP knowledge sharing, contributing to broader HSEC and ESG strategies and frameworks
About You
You are an inclusive, strategic leader who thrives on building strong relationships and delivering meaningful outcomes through collaboration. With a people-centric mindset, you bring a systems-thinking approach to complex challenges and are passionate about creating positive, lasting impacts for communities and operations alike. Your ability to engage, influence, and communicate effectively allows you to lead with purpose and foster alignment across diverse stakeholder groups.
You will bring:
A leadership style that is inclusive, empowering, and grounded in empathy and respect
Proven experience in stakeholder engagement, community partnerships, and cross-functional collaboration
Strong analytical and systems-thinking skills to navigate complexity and drive strategic improvements
The ability to influence, challenge constructively, and shift mindsets to embed social performance priorities
Excellent communication skills—both written and verbal—with a talent for turning data and insights into clear, compelling narratives
A background in mining operations, social performance, sustainability, and working with Indigenous Peoples
A solid understanding of CSP standards, policies, and their application in operational settings
Willingness to be Perth-based, with flexibility to travel to operational sites as required
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.
