Senior Manager Biodiversity offsets

Senior Manager, Biodiversity Offsets

• Be part of a group that is safety driven and values inclusion

• Join a global network and a diverse team

• Lead the development of a biodiversity offsets programme with long-term environmental impact

• Access to diverse and challenging projects within a global mining leader

• Location: Flexible

About the role

Finding better ways to provide the materials the world needs.

We are looking for a Senior Manager, Biodiversity Offsets, a role focused on leading the establishment and management of the biodiversity offsets programme for the Simandou Mining Project in Guinea.

This is a great opportunity for a highly experienced environmental leader to manage a critical biodiversity initiative, ensuring sustainability and compliance across international and local stakeholders.

Reporting to the ESG Director and working in a collaborative, diverse team within the Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) department, you will be:

• Lead and manage the Project Management Office (PMO) for the biodiversity offsets programme in Guinea, ensuring effective governance, accountability, and performance monitoring.

• Oversee the planning, strategic direction, and financial setup, ensuring alignment with Rio Tinto’s Guinean Biodiversity Strategy and compliance with national and international standards.

• Develop and manage project timelines, budgets, and resources to ensure on-time and within-budget delivery of the programme.

• Lead the development and execution of a multiparty offsets approach in collaboration with joint venture partners, fostering a cohesive and integrated strategy.

• Identify and secure partnerships with NGOs, research institutions, and local organizations to execute the biodiversity offsets programme successfully.

• Engage with key stakeholders, including the Government of Guinea, World Bank, and international organizations, to align with national and international biodiversity strategies and secure necessary approvals.

• Develop strategies for sustainable financing of the programme, exploring blended funding opportunities, and ensuring compliance with local and international tax regulations.

• Ensure comprehensive and transparent programme documentation, providing regular reports on progress, challenges, and outcomes to senior management and external stakeholders.

What you’ll bring

• A commitment to the safety of yourself and your team.

• A Bachelor's degree in Environmental Science, Ecology, Natural Resource Management, Sustainable Development, or a related field (Master’s degree preferred), with at least 10 years of experience in environmental management, sustainability, or related fields, focusing on Protected Area management, biodiversity conservation, or sustainable development.

• Proven experience in project management, including leading complex, multi-stakeholder projects in challenging environments, with a background working in or with multinational corporations, government bodies, or international organizations, particularly in Africa or similar contexts.

• Strong leadership and strategic thinking skills, with the ability to manage diverse teams and complex projects.

• Excellent stakeholder engagement and communication skills, with a proven ability to build relationships and influence at all levels.

• Solid understanding of sustainable financing, tax, and legal frameworks related to setup of environmental programmes.

• Proven expertise in project management tools and software, with strong analytical, problem-solving abilities, and the capacity to navigate complex challenges while driving continuous improvement.

• Strong leadership skills with a strategic vision for biodiversity conservation, including the ability to inspire teams and build relationships with diverse stakeholders, such as government agencies, NGOs, and local communities.

• Exceptional communication skills, both written and verbal, with the ability to clearly articulate complex issues and advocate for program objectives; French language skills are a plus.

What we offer

Be recognised for your contribution, your thinking and your hard work, and go home knowing you’ve helped the world progress.

• A work environment where safety is always the number one priority

• A competitive salary package with annual cash incentive awards for eligible employees

• Career development & education assistance to further your ambitions

• Access top tier family-friendly health and medical programs and pension plan

• 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

• Leave for all of life’s reasons (vacation/annual, paid parental, sick leave)

Where you’ll be working

The Senior Manager, Biodiversity Offsets position within the Environmental, Social, and Governance department for the Simandou project, based in London, UK. The project also has an office in Conakry, Guinea and a project office at the mine site near Beyla located approx. 650km East of Conakry in the Simandou Ranges.

The project is owned by Simfer S.A. which is a joint venture owned by Rio Tinto (45.05%), Chinalco (39.95%) and the Government of Guinea (15%). Rio Tinto is the nominated operator of the Simandou ore block 3 and 4. Blocks 3 an 4 in the Simandou ranges represent one of the most significant untapped, high grade iron ore deposits today, with an indicated resource in excess of 1.7Bt.

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.

Every Voice Matters

At Rio Tinto, we particularly welcome and encourage applications from Indigenous Peoples, women, the LGBTQIA+ 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.