Principal Adviser, Strategic Communications & Issues Management

About the job

• Shape and protect Rio Tinto’s reputation on the issues that matter most.
• Apply specialist communications expertise to complex reputation challenges and influence enterprise-wide strategies.
• Join a United States-based role working with senior stakeholders and communications teams across Rio Tinto.
• The role will be based in Washington DC

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 Principal Adviser, Strategic Communications & Issues Managementto join our Strategic Communications team and help support and protect Rio Tinto’s global reputation.

Reporting to the Senior Manager, Strategic Communications, you will develop communications approaches to complex and sensitive issues while identifying opportunities to proactively build trust and strengthen understanding of the company.

This is a hands-on, autonomous role in which you will manage complex reputation priorities, adapt established approaches to emerging challenges and recommend effective communications solutions. Working with senior stakeholders and communications teams across Rio Tinto, you will turn external intelligence and business complexity into practical strategies, positions and communications.

What you’ll be doing

Reporting to the Senior Manager, Strategic Communications, and working within the Strategic Communications team, you will:

• Develop and deliver proactive reputation strategies and communications programmes aligned with Rio Tinto’s business strategy and enterprise reputation priorities.
• Use AI-enabled horizon scanning, media and social intelligence, reputation research and large language model visibility monitoring to assess emerging reputation risks and opportunities and provide actionable insights.
• Independently manage communications for assigned complex reputation issues by adapting established approaches, assessing stakeholders and coordinating appropriate responses.
• Advise senior stakeholders on communications positions, messaging, risks and response options for sensitive issues.
• Translate external intelligence, research and business context into clear communications strategies, messages and position materials.
• Coordinate communications teams and relevant partners to deliver consistent, timely and audience-appropriate responses.

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.
• Demonstrated experience developing and delivering communications strategies for complex, sensitive or high-impact reputation issues within a large organisation.
• Experience advising senior stakeholders on strategic communications and turning complex information into clear, actionable recommendations.
• Demonstrated ability to independently manage multiple reputation priorities, adapt established approaches and coordinate responses across teams.
• Experience using media and social intelligence, research or horizon scanning to assess reputation risks and opportunities.
• Strong writing capability across strategies, positions, messages and communications for different audiences.

Helpful for Success

• Experience with AI-enabled horizon-scanning tools or large language model visibility monitoring.
• Experience in a global organisation or a complex business environment with significant public and reputation issues.
• A qualification in communications, public relations, journalism or a related discipline, or equivalent practical experience.

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

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.