Specialist Tenure

Tenure Specialist and Advisor Opportunities – Rio Tinto Iron Ore, Tenure & State Agreements

• Join our global leading business offering outstanding personal development & global career opportunities
• Permanent, Fixed-Term and Part-Time opportunities available with a huge range of additional benefits
• Perth based roles with flexible working arrangements on offer

We are inviting applications from suitably qualified candidates to join the Tenure & State Agreements team within our Environment & Land Access function.

We are currently recruiting for multiple opportunities supporting the acquisition, maintenance, protection and optimisation of Rio Tinto Iron Ore's tenure portfolio and land access requirements across Western Australia.

Working across a diverse and complex portfolio, successful candidates will collaborate with internal stakeholders, government agencies, joint venture partners and third parties to deliver tenure, land access, regulatory and strategic outcomes that support Rio Tinto's operations, projects and future growth opportunities.

We are seeking candidates across three distinct workstreams: Tenure Maintenance, Tenure Defence & Access, and Tenure Acquisition. Based on skills and experience, applicants may be considered for more than one opportunity.

About the Opportunities

Our team operates across three key workstreams, with opportunities available at both Specialist and Advisor levels. This recruitment process is intended to establish a broad pool of candidates who may be considered for current vacancies, as well as additional opportunities that may arise across the team, including through internal appointments.

Tenure Maintenance

Supporting the management, maintenance and protection of Rio Tinto Iron Ore's existing and future tenure portfolio.

Responsibilities may include:

• Develop and implement tenure and land access strategies that support operational, project and long-term business objectives.
• Lead complex tenure matters across multiple legislations, including applications, renewals, extensions, exemptions, surrenders and other dealings required to secure, maintain and acquire tenure.
• Identify and manage tenure risks, constraints and opportunities, developing practical solutions to protect tenure security.
• Collaborate with stakeholders to identify, plan and deliver tenure and land access requirements for operations, major projects and business initiatives.
• Coordinate tenure investigations, due diligence and survey requirements, and prepare associated briefings, recommendations, submissions and supporting documentation.
• Monitor legislative and regulatory developments, assess business impacts and support compliance with relevant requirements.
• Drive continuous improvement in tenure systems, governance frameworks, processes and ways of working.

Tenure Defence & Access

Supporting the protection of Rio Tinto's tenure, infrastructure and operational interests through the management of Warden's Court, tenure defence and third-party land access matters.

Responsibilities may include:

• Provide specialist advice and strategic direction on complex Warden’s Court, tenure defence and third-party land access matters, including the development of objection and resolution strategies.
• Lead the identification, assessment, preparation and lodgement of objections required to protect Rio Tinto’s tenure, infrastructure, operations and future development interests.
• Manage complex Warden’s Court matters from objection through to resolution, including coordination of procedural requirements, evidence, negotiations and legal support.
• Provide specialist advice on Warden’s Court procedure, practice directions, decisions and relevant legislative and regulatory developments, including their implications for Rio Tinto.
• Lead or support negotiations with third-party proponents and provide strategic direction to internal negotiation teams on Warden’s Court and land access matters.
• Draft and review programming directions, minutes, submissions and other legal and procedural documentation required for the management and resolution of objections.
• Prepare briefs and instructions for internal and external legal counsel and work closely with counsel on the strategy and conduct of significant Warden’s Court matters.

Tenure Acquisition

Supporting the acquisition of tenure and land access rights required for Rio Tinto Iron Ore's operations, projects and future growth.

Responsibilities may include:

• Identify, develop and progress tenure acquisition strategies and pathways to support studies, projects and development opportunities.
• Lead and coordinate complex tenure applications, acquisitions and associated regulatory processes, ensuring tenure requirements are progressed in alignment with project schedules and business priorities.
• Work collaboratively with project teams, mine planning, legal and other stakeholders to identify tenure requirements, assess constraints and develop practical solutions to support project delivery.
• Identify and manage tenure acquisition risks, including competing land interests, legislative requirements and potential impacts on project timelines.
• Engage and negotiate with relevant stakeholders to facilitate tenure acquisition and secure appropriate land access arrangements.
• Prepare strategic advice, recommendations, submissions and supporting documentation to inform tenure acquisition decisions and obtain necessary approvals.
• Contribute to long-term tenure planning and continuous improvement initiatives to strengthen tenure security, streamline acquisition processes and support future resource development.

About You

We welcome applications from candidates with varying levels of experience and backgrounds in tenure management, land access, mining approvals, property, legal, resources or related disciplines.

Depending on the role, successful candidates will demonstrate a combination of:

• Knowledge of Western Australia's tenure and land access frameworks, including the Mining Act 1978 (WA), Land Administration Act 1997 (WA) and/or relevant State Agreement legislation.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with the ability to develop practical solutions to complex issues.
• Effective written and verbal communication skills, including the preparation of advice, recommendations and supporting documentation.
• The ability to build productive relationships with internal stakeholders, government agencies and third parties.
• Strong organisational skills and the ability to manage competing priorities.
• Sound judgement, attention to detail and a commitment to safety, governance and continuous improvement.

We recognise that candidates may bring different strengths and experiences. You do not need to have experience across all three workstreams to be considered.

If you are excited about the roles and think you have what it takes but your experience doesn't align 100%, we still want to hear from you.

What we offer 

These opportunities provide exposure to a diverse range of tenure, land access, regulatory and strategic matters supporting Rio Tinto Iron Ore's operations and future development activities across Western Australia.

You will work alongside experienced tenure professionals and contribute to the management, protection, and optimisation of one of the largest and most complex tenure portfolios in the State while helping to deliver outcomes that support Rio Tinto's future growth and development.

• Be recognised for your contribution, you’re 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 base salary reflective of your skills and experience with annual incentive bonus
• Comprehensive medical benefits including subsidised 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 ambitions
• Ongoing access to family-friendly health and medical wellbeing support
• Leave for all of life’s reasons (vacation/annual, paid parental, sick leave, cultural leave)
• To better suit different family needs, our paid parental leave approach gives all parents the option to take 18 weeks of paid leave after a new child arrives – at a time that suits them
• Exclusive employee discounts including hotel stays, banking, accommodation, cars, retail and more.

Candidates may be considered for more than one position where their skills and experience align with multiple role requirements.

Applications close on Tuesday 3rd November 2026 (Rio Tinto reserves the right to remove advertised roles prior to this date).

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.

Respect and InclusionAt Rio Tinto, we particularly welcome and encourage applications from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, women, the LGBTQ+ 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.