Senior Corporate Counsel

Senior Corporate Counsel

• 12-month fixed term contract
• Implement Rio Tinto’s decarbonisation strategy and program on a global scale
• Provide legal support and strategic advice to the Rio Tinto Energy & Climate team

About the role 

Finding better ways to provide the materials the world needs. 

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 looking for a Senior Corporate Counsel to provide legal support and strategic advice to the Rio Tinto Energy & Climate team and other teams implementing Rio Tinto’s decarbonisation strategy and program globally.

This is a great opportunity for a senior legal professional to play a key role in executing core business strategy and provide legal services and expertise.

Reporting to the General Counsel and working in a diverse team of legal professionals supporting the Energy & Climate Team, you will be: 

• Providing legal support to the Energy & Climate team and other Rio Tinto teams across a range of strategic issues in connection with energy development and emissions reduction projects globally
• Negotiating, drafting and/or advising on a range of contracts in connection with the development of renewable energy projects globally across the full project life cycle, including construction related agreements, operations and maintenance agreements, development services agreements, financing arrangements, power purchase and other offtake agreements, share sale agreements, potential shareholder and joint venture arrangements, and procurement and other services agreements
• In conjunction with other RT Legal members providing strategic advice and implementation support more broadly on emissions reductions projects as they are planned, developed and implemented globally
• Advising on the commercial and legal structure and terms for specific projects, including risk mitigation
• In conjunction with other RT Legal members, conducting legal due diligence on potential projects and project proponents relating to renewables supply, emissions reduction and nature based solutions initiatives
• Providing legal and policy advice on investing in and developing nature based solutions projects
• Advising the business on relevant legislation and regulatory requirements including changes that may impact the business strategy and its implementation
• Advising on emission liability/carbon credit/offset strategy and procurement (Australia and internationally)
• Advising the business on and management of formal and informal disputes
• Management of external legal support and the provision of external advice in a cost efficient manner across different jurisdictions
• Working collaboratively and maintaining close working relationships with RT Product Group lawyers, Climate Change legal subject matter experts and other members of the LG&CA Team to provide seamless legal support for managing risks and implementing Rio Tinto’s decarbonisation program
• Ability to manage and prioritise multiple matters effectively

What you’ll bring

To be successfully considered for this role, you will have:

• A commitment to the safety of yourself and your team
• A minimum of 10 years of post-qualification experience as a legal practitioner in the relevant area of law
• The ability to work independently and to use your internal and external network to supplement your own skills and expertise where needed
• Strong problem solving, strategic and analytical capability, as well as commercial acumen
• Effective time management and personal organisational skills
• Demonstrated ability to develop strong working relationships
• Excellent communication and collaboration skills
• Strategic decision making with a demonstrated ability to influence and negotiate

What we offer  

• A work environment where safety is always the number one priority 

• Flexible working from home arrangements as per operational requirements 
• 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 
• Company provided insurance cover  
• Career development & 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); and 

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. 

Where You’ll Be Working

Rio Tinto Legal provide 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 Legal also devises policy development and advice on legal matters.

This role can be based in Brisbane or Perth with occasional travel.

Every Voice Matters 

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. 

Applications close on Friday 18^th August 2023 (Rio Tinto reserves the right to remove advertised roles prior to this date)