People Partner - Commercial Function

About the role

Rio Tinto is looking for a People Partner to translate business priorities into practical workforce, talent, engagement and organisational outcomes across a defined portfolio. Reporting to the Manager People Partnering and working with the Commercial team, the role partners with leadership teams and the wider People function to deliver consistent, high-quality solutions. It covers workforce planning, talent, change and employee relations within established frameworks and governance.

Key responsibilities

• Support senior leaders on day-to-day people matters, turn business requirements into delivery priorities and coordinate execution through People Experience teams.
• Translate people strategies into near-term workforce and people plans, delivering operational workforce planning within agreed plans and guardrails.
• Collaborate with specialist People teams such as Organisation and Talent Partners, People Experience, Areas of Expertise, Talent and Reward.
• Advise leaders on employee and labour relations, apply established frameworks, escalate union or higher-risk matters and support compliance with labour and regulatory requirements.
• Lead performance, talent and pay health processes, including calibration and leader review activities.
• Deliver organisational change, restructures and transformation initiatives.
• Analyse engagement, workforce, case and query data to identify trends and shape action plans.
• Coach leaders on performance, team effectiveness and employee experience.

Required profile

• Demonstrated experience delivering workforce planning, people processes and advisory support within a defined business or functional portfolio.
• Capability applying employee and labour relations frameworks, exercising sound judgement and escalating risk appropriately.
• Experience leading organisational change implementation and supporting leaders to embed new ways of working.
• Ability to interpret workforce data, turn insights into action and work across specialist teams.
• Commitment to safety and ability to build trusted relationships with leaders.

Helpful for success

• Talent or performance calibration experience and exposure to workforce benchmarking, pay reviews, engagement action planning or employer brand activation.
• Supporting leaders through union matters, restructures or transformation in a complex environment.

What we offer

• A competitive salary package with annual cash incentive awards for eligible employees.
• Career development and education assistance.
• Family-friendly health and medical programs, pension plan and wellbeing benefits.
• Employee share program, Employee Assistance Program and ongoing wellbeing support.
• Vacation, paid parental and sick leave.