- Develop and execute commercial strategies, tenders and contracts for New Zealand Aluminium Smelter (NZAS) as part of a small site-based team.
- Perform sourcing of goods and services, construction and consultancy engagements across site and operational stakeholders
- Support NZAS in delivery of its annual operating and capital plans in a complex operating environment
- Invercargill / Tiwai Point based, with option to work from Brisbane QLD in exceptional circumstances
About The Role
We are seeking a
Sourcing Specialist to join our small team to deliver end-to-end sourcing and commercial activities in support of
New Zealand Aluminium Smelter (NZAS), part of Rio Tinto Aluminium’s Pacific Operations.
This role partners closely with site-based stakeholders including operations, maintenance and project teams. You will be responsible for developing, implementing and maintaining a robust sourcing strategy for each sourcing project assigned, as well as identifying sourcing opportunities across the NZAS portfolio.
Reporting to the NZAS Procurement Business Parter, the role works in close collaboration with regional Procurement Business Partners and category teams to ensure sourcing activities leverage scale, capability, and best practice, while remaining fit-for-purpose for site needs.
This is an excellent opportunity for a motivated procurement professional who thrives in dynamic environments, demonstrates strong commercial judgement, and builds trusted stakeholder and supplier relationships.
Key accountability areas
As part of the Pacific Operations Procurement team, you will be accountable for end-to-end sourcing activities, including but not limited to
- Development, presentation and implementation of sourcing strategies, including identification of alternatives and contingency plans to mitigate commercial and supply risk
- End-to-end tender management including preparation, issue, evaluation, and recommendation to business units
- Development, negotiation and execution of appropriate supply and service contracts
- Ongoing contract management, including supplier relationship management and performance oversight
- Management of commercial documentation, governance requirements, and compliance with Rio Tinto procurement frameworks
- Driving continuous improvement initiatives focused on value, process efficiency, and sustainable outcomes
- Partnering with site stakeholders to support delivery of annual operating and capital plans
- Ensuring all sourcing activities are delivered through approved systems (e.g. Ariba) and in accordance with Rio Tinto policies and standards
- Building and maintaining strong working relationships with team members, internal stakeholders, suppliers, and regional category teams
- Supporting negotiations, claims, and commercial issue resolution where required
- Operating with transparency, integrity, and a strong safety and risk mindse
What You Will Bring
To be successfully considered for this role;
- Tertiary qualification in Business, Commerce, Law, Engineering or a related discipline (preferred, not essential)
- 3–5 years’ experience in procurement, sourcing, or commercial roles, with demonstrated experience across tendering and contract formation
- Strong stakeholder engagement, influencing and communication skills
- Experience developing commercial strategies, business recommendations and leading supplier negotiations
- Sound commercial acumen with the ability to assess risk and value trade-offs
- Experience with Ariba S2C and structured sourcing processes (preferred but not essential)
- Ability to work autonomously while contributing effectively within a broader regional and global procurement team
What We Offer
At Rio Tinto, we offer competitive remuneration, flexible work arrangements, and opportunities to grow your career within a global organisation committed to safety, sustainability, and inclusion. Supporting NZAS provides exposure to a unique and critical operation with strong links to the Southland community and economy.
Where you’ll be working
Rio Tinto Global Procurement ensures resilient supply chains that deliver value to the Rio Tinto Group through the strategic sourcing and buying of goods and services for our operations. Playing a fundamental role, value is achieved through effective supplier partnerships, innovation, easy and standardised processes, e-technology, corporate social responsibility and increased commercial advantage.
Application Deadline 20th May 2026
(Rio Tinto reserves the right to remove advertised roles prior to this date)
Please note, in order to be successfully considered for this role you must complete all pre-screening questions.
Rio Tinto does not accept unsolicited CVs or candidate profiles from recruiters or employment agencies. Rio Tinto will not consider or agree to payment of any referral compensation or recruiter fee relating to unsolicited CVs or candidate profiles. Rio Tinto reserves the right to hire those candidate(s) without any financial obligation to the recruiter or agency. Any unsolicited CVs or candidate profiles, including those submitted to hiring managers, are deemed to be the property of Rio Tinto.
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
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.
