Rio Tinto Salt Lake City - Corporate Counsel - Environment
About The Role
Finding better ways to provide the materials the world needs.
The Corporate Counsel—Environment, Copper is part of Rio Tinto Legal in the US, reporting to the Senior Corporate Counsel RTK, Copper. The role has a primary focus supporting the environment teams at Rio Tinto Kennecott (RTK) and U.S. Borax (USB), but will also provide support on an as-required basis for other US business units and legal department initiatives.
We are looking for a Corporate Counsel – Environment. This role is primarily focused on environmental compliance and permitting (water, air, wastes, and hazardous materials), contaminated properties and legacy environmental liabilities, communities, and land use and regulatory issues at RTK and USB and within the U.S. generally. The role will also support and implement the Rio Tinto Group’s policies and practices with respect to environment, safety, cultural awareness, business integrity and other matters of corporate significance.
The incumbent will work in a team environment with the other members of Rio Tinto Legal who are based in Salt Lake City and Phoenix, Arizona. Travel will be required in the United States and potentially internationally.
Reporting to the Chief Counsel, US and working in a challenging and exciting environment, within the legal department, you will be
Providing advice and assistance in managing legal matters/risks facing Rio Tinto and its businesses
Providing timely, accurate, independent and commercially-focused legal advice with a view to avoiding potential problem areas and resolving issues as advantageously as possible to RTK, USB and Rio Tinto
Managing external legal resources and project-related consultants, as needed.
Maintaining awareness of, and advising on, internal legal developments relating to environmental and permitting matters
Managing litigation and dispute resolutions relating to compliance and enforcement issues
Drafting and negotiating legal documents
Contributing to the continuous improvement of internal Rio Tinto legal knowledge and sharing of best practices across the Legal function in relation to Rio Tinto Group matters,
Working closely to support the RTK and USB environment teams
Liaising, developing and maintaining close working relationships with RTK and USB operations personnel, members of Rio Tinto Legal, and Rio Tinto’s business units and functions, and promoting collaboration and information sharing;
What You’ll Bring
Minimum requirement is an undergraduate degree and juris doctorate degree from an ABA-accredited law school.
Licenses/Certifications Licensed, or ability to obtain license to practice law in Utah and/or California via examination or admission on motion within one year of commencement of employment.
A minimum of 5-7 years of experience post qualification with a law firm or corporate legal department
Significant experience in the area of environmental law (preferably in the natural resources context); and Industry/sector experience (highly desirable)
A willingness to travel as needed to support on-going matters
Technical Competencies & Skills
Ability to handle matters autonomously but to recognize instances where advice should be sought from more senior lawyers
Ability to add value from a strategic as well as commercial point of view
Excellent oral and written communication skills
Well-developed technical skills, including negotiating, advising and drafting
Ability to work in a challenging, demanding commercial environment
Well-developed interpersonal skills
Solutions oriented; creativity/initiative/adaptability/flexibility; analytical/conceptual thinking
What We Offer
We are committed to providing our employees with a generous benefits package. Be recognized for your contribution, your 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 (EAP) 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’ll be working
Rio Tinto Legal is responsible for providing legal services and advice to the highest standard practicable to the Rio Tinto Group, including headquarters, operating business units and service divisions. Rio Tinto Legal operates in a collaborative manner globally and within regions in order to share knowledge and best practice and achieve a consistent approach amongst the Group’s lawyers (including the lawyers in central locations such as Brisbane, London, Montreal, Salt Lake City, and Singapore).
About Rio Tinto
Rio Tinto is a leading global mining and materials company. We operate in 35 countries where we produce iron ore, copper, aluminum, critical minerals and other materials needed for the global energy transition and for people, communities, and nations to thrive. We have been mining for almost 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.
Every Voice Matters
At Rio Tinto, we particularly welcome and encourage applications from Indigenous Peoples, women, the LGBTQ+ community, mature workers, people with disabilities and people from different cultural backgrounds.
Equal Opportunity Employer M/F/D/V
Rio Tinto participates in E-Verify to confirm work authorization. Please visit http //www.uscis.gov/ for more information.
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 the 28th of April 2023. (Rio Tinto reserves the right to remove advertised roles prior to this date).