Corporate Counsel at Rio Tinto

About The Role

• This role is part of the Rio Tinto Legal team, reporting to a Senior Corporate Counsel based in Johannesburg. The role will support the General Counsel, Energy & Minerals and the Senior Corporate Counsel in the provision of legal services and strategic advice to the business.

Key accountabilities for the role include

• Provision of advice and assistance in managing legal matters and risks facing Rio Tinto and its businesses, including the provision of legal advice and assistance to senior management in relation to joint ventures, acquisitions/divestments, community matters, financings, changing legislation and critical incidents, with a focus on South Africa;
• Provision of timely, accurate, independent and commercially focussed legal advice;
• Cost effective management of external legal resources, to the extent engaged;
• Maintaining awareness of all material internal business developments, which are likely to lead to a need for legal advice;
• Maintaining awareness of, and advising on, external legal developments;
• Drafting and negotiation of legal documents;
• Reviewing and developing template documentation as may be required for repetitive transactions and circumstances;
• Analysis of legal risks;
• Liaising, developing and maintaining close working relationships with the Rio Tinto Legal team globally and the Rio Tinto business units and corporate functions (including Ethics & Compliance, Corporate Relations and Commercial) and promoting collaboration and information sharing;
• Assisting Rio Tinto and its businesses with the maintenance of legal compliance frameworks to ensure that legal, regulatory and corporate requirements are met; and
• Management of projects as designated.

About You

With a requirement to provide prompt, commercial, practical and sometimes complex and/or specialist legal advice, the successful candidate should have

• Admission to practice as an attorney (or an advocate) in South Africa;
• At least 5 years post-qualification experience including strong corporate experience at a leading South African law firm. In-house experience would be an advantage but is not a pre-requisite;
• Commercial awareness and a practical common-sense approach;
• Strong communication and inter-personal skills;
• Proven ability to work independently when required as well as an ability to work collaboratively within a matrix organisation; and
• A good knowledge of the mining industry and applicable mining and BBBEE legislation would be a significant advantage.

What We Offer

Here is just a glimpse of our industry leading rewards package

• A safety-focused and inclusive working environment
• A competitive base salary reflective of your skills and experience
• Annual cash incentive awards (STIP) for eligible employees
• Career development & education assistance to further your ambitions
• Access top tier family-friendly health and medical programs, pension and savings plans
• Wellbeing benefits
• Generous Rio Tinto employee share program
• Employee Assistance Program
• Ongoing individual wellbeing support for you and your family for personal and professional matter
• A comprehensive leave policy that covers all moments that matter in life (vacation/annual, paid parental, etc)