Senior Advisor Government Relations

• Influence how Rio Tinto builds and maintains trusted relationships with government, communities and other key external stakeholders to support our licence to operate.
• Grow your profile by leading high-impact stakeholder engagement initiatives, strategic forums and special projects across the External Affairs function.
• Join a collaborative environment where you can work independently, build senior-level relationships and contribute to meaningful long-term outcomes- Salt Lake City, Utah

We’re Finding Better Ways™ to provide materials the world needs, now and in the future. Our values – care, courage and curiosity – guide how we work and how we treat each other.

About the role

We are looking for a Senior Advisor Government Relations to help the Government Relations team strengthen and maintain trusted relationships with key stakeholders. In this role, you will contribute to Rio Tinto’s licence to operate by providing stakeholder engagement advice, supporting significant business initiatives and fostering positive relationships with government representatives, communities, industry groups and other external bodies. This is a great opportunity for someone who enjoys working in a dynamic stakeholder environment and wants to influence outcomes that support long-term business success.

What you’ll be doing

Reporting to the GM, Land, Water, and Government Relations and working within the  U.S. Government Relations team, you will be:

• Provide stakeholder engagement advice and guidance to internal clients on significant business initiatives and strategic matters.
• Lead forums, meetings and engagement activities with government representatives to exchange information and discuss issues relevant to Rio Tinto operations and land developments.
• Develop and maintain productive relationships with government agencies, community representatives, industry associations and other key stakeholders.
• Advise regional teams on engagement frameworks, standards and leading practices that support positive external relationships.
• Build trusted relationships with senior business leaders and collaborate across functions to support business objectives.
• Assess emerging stakeholder issues, policies and legislative developments and provide insights to support decision-making.
• Represent the Government Relations function in cross-functional initiatives and stakeholder engagement activities.
• Lead special projects and continuous improvement initiatives that enhance stakeholder outcomes and organisational effectiveness.
• Leading the business’ policy effort on land use policy and land development tax strategies.

About you

We’re looking for someone whose experience aligns with the key requirements below. You do not need to meet every “helpful for success” item to apply — if you bring relevant experience and are excited by the opportunity, we encourage you to submit an application.

Required for Success

• A commitment to the safety of yourself and your team.
• Qualifications: A qualification in communications, public policy, political science, business, social sciences or a related field, or equivalent practical experience.
• Experience: Experience in stakeholder engagement, external affairs, government relations, community relations, public affairs, local land use process, land development tax policies, or a related discipline within a complex organisational environment.
• Skills and Capabilities: Demonstrated ability to develop stakeholder engagement strategies, influence outcomes and build trusted relationships with senior internal and external stakeholders.
• Systems and Processes: Experience applying stakeholder engagement frameworks, governance processes and reporting practices to support informed decision-making.
• Communication: Strong written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to prepare briefing materials, facilitate discussions and present recommendations.

Helpful for Success

• Experience working with government agencies, industry associations, local governments, or community stakeholders.
• Knowledge of policy, regulatory or legislative environments that impact local land use, annexation policy, development tax policies, or the Utah legislative process.
• Experience leading cross-functional projects and stakeholder-focused change initiatives.

What we offer

We are committed to providing our employees with a generous benefits package. Be recognized for your contribution, your way of thinking, your hard work, and go home knowing you’ve helped the world progress, we provide:

• A safety-focused and inclusive working environment 
• Advantageous salary package with annual cash incentive awards (STIP) for eligible employees
• Access to top-tier family-friendly health programs including medical, prescription drug, dental, vision, life insurance coverage, and various voluntary benefits.
• Excellent retirement plan including up to 6% defined company contribution; Generous 401k matching program
• Generous Rio Tinto employee share program, which allows you to purchase Rio Tinto Company shares. 
• Comprehensive leave policies which cover all moments that matter in life: PTO (paid time off), paid holidays, and paid bereavement leave.
• A favorable child-caregiver leave program (Up to 100% salary top-up)
• Discount programs for leisure purposes and access to Virgin Pulse with incentives supporting your wellbeing
• Ongoing Employee Assistance Program for you and your family; to help in addressing educational opportunities, addiction treatment, depression, stress, domestic issues, financial management, and legal concerns.
• Our team and industry experts are here to support and work with you to explore your learning potential and career goals

Where you will be working

Our Kennecott mine is a world-class, fully integrated copper mining operation, including a concentrator, smelter, and refinery, located just outside Salt Lake City, Utah, in the United States. We produce copper, precious metals including gold and silver, molybdenum, and sulfuric acid. Kennecott has been mining and processing minerals from the rich ore body of the Bingham Canyon Mine since 1903 and is one of the top producing mines in the world, comprising approximately 11 percent of U.S. annual copper production.

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 situations and meet opportunities.
 

Respect and Inclusion

Rio Tinto is committed to equal employment opportunity. All qualified applicants will be considered without regard to race, color, sex, age, religion, national origin, disability, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local law.

We are committed to an inclusive environment where people feel safe, respected and valued. We want our people to feel that all voices are heard and that a variety of perspectives are not only welcome but are essential to our success. We treat all our people fairly and with dignity.

Rio Tinto participates in E- Verify to confirm work authorization. Please visit http://www.ucis.gov/ for more information.