Rio Tinto

Employee Relations Manager

• Influence senior leaders and shape workforce outcomes at scale
• Flexible working arrangements available – Brisbane or Perth based
• Permanent, Full-Time opportunity

About the role

Finding better ways to provide the materials the world needs.

We are seeking an Employee Relations Manager to lead the delivery of a strategic, commercially aligned employee and industrial relations agenda across a diverse and complex operating environment. This role plays a critical leadership position in shaping constructive employment relationships, managing industrial risk, and building sustainable ER capability across the business.

You will operate as a trusted advisor to senior leaders, lead a team of Employee Relations professionals, and represent the organisation in negotiations and external forums. This is an opportunity to bring deep technical expertise, people leadership capability and values‑based decision making to work every day.

Reporting to the Senior Manager, Operational Delivery, some accountabilities will include

• Develop, lead and continuously enhance an Employee Relations strategy that supports business priorities, workforce stability and positive employee outcomes.
• Partner with senior operational and functional leaders to embed effective ER practices and build sustainable employee relations capability across HR and operational leaders through coaching, training and targeted interventions.
• Ensure pay and legislative compliance, including monitoring changes to employment law, advising the business on impact and ensuring consistent, compliant implementation across the organisation.
• Provide pragmatic, commercially sound advice across investigations, grievances, disputes, workforce change, policy application and regulatory matters.
• Represent the organisation in external disputes, including the Fair Work Commission, courts and tribunals, overseeing preparation of submissions and representation strategies.
• Monitor legislative and industrial relations developments and advise the business on risks, impacts and strategic responses.
• Lead, coach and develop a team of Employee Relations professionals, setting clear expectations, managing performance and building future capability.
• Foster a high‑performance, values‑led team culture aligned with Rio Tinto’s Care, Courage and Curiosity.
• Champion Rio Tinto’s people strategy, including Everyday Respect, across the business.

What you’ll bring

• A strong commitment to safety and wellbeing.
• Significant experience in Employee Relations at a senior or managerial level within a large complex organisation.
• Proven experience leading and developing ER or HR teams.
• Deep knowledge of Australian industrial relations legislation, including the Fair Work Act and related frameworks.
• Strong commercial acumen with the ability to balance business outcomes and employee considerations.
• Exceptional stakeholder management, influencing and negotiation skills, including at executive level.
• Tertiary qualification in Law, Industrial Relations, Employee Relations or a related discipline (legal practising certificate desirable but not essential).

What we offer

Be recognised for your leadership, thinking and impact while helping 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 program
• 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)
• Exclusive employee discounts (banking, accommodation, cars, retail and more)

Where you’ll be working

This role offers flexibility to work from home and regular in‑office collaboration in Brisbane or Perth.

Applications will close on Monday the 16th of March

#gts

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

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 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.