Environmental, Biodiversity and Permitting Manager

at  RIO Tinto

ENVIRONMENTAL, BIODIVERSITY AND PERMITTING MANAGER

• Join an international leader in mining & metals offering outstanding personal development & career opportunities
• Influence the work we do alongside our local communities; whose lives and livelihoods depend on the environments where we operate
• Open to suitably qualified national and international candidates. Role located in Salta, Argentina.

ALL PROGRESS BEGINS WITH PIONEERS. AT RIO TINTO, IT BEGINS WITH YOU.

We are looking for a Environmental, Biodiversity and Permitting Manager, who will provide the leadership, direction and strategy in biodiversity matters, permit and regulatory compliance during project construction and mining operation. The role is responsible for development and implementation of the Rincon Environmental and Biodiversity Management Strategy and associated plans. The role will lead a team to conform with regulatory requirements and reporting, and biodiversity activities in alignment with IFC Performance Standards, and successfully implement these on the site.
The position will lead a team of professional, consultants field staff and report to the Health, Safety, Security and Environment Business Partner for Rincon.

The Environmental, Biodiversity and Permitting Manager will:

• Leadership in HSEC: Demonstrate leadership and commitment to Rio Tinto’s HSEC standards and values.
• Regulatory Interactions: Lead and support engagements with regulatory entities, ensuring necessary communication to obtain permits and comply with requirements.
• Project Change Collaboration: Work with the project team to report changes in scope to regulators.
• Biodiversity Management: Provide direction on biodiversity matters, complying with project priorities and legal requirements.
• Critical Habitat Studies: Lead studies on critical habitats and no net loss/net gain calculations, developing mitigation strategies.
• Environmental Management Plans: Develop and implement environmental management plans for operations and construction activities.
• Permits and Consultant Management: Direct the permitting and environment team, coordinating biodiversity technical studies and logistical support.
• Conservation Programs: Design conservation programs in collaboration with communities and NGOs to address biodiversity threats.
• Productive Relationships: Maintain effective working relationships with key biodiversity stakeholders.
• Field Study Coordination: Coordinate necessary field activities for data collection and regulatory compliance.
• Mitigation Planning: Design and plan mitigation for biodiversity and ecosystem service impacts to achieve no net loss of biodiversity.
• Natural Resource Collaboration: Collaborate with teams on ecosystem services management and compensation activities.

To be successfully considered for this role, you will have:

• Degree related to conservation, ecology, or other related environmental science
• >10 years on roles managing or coordinating permitting processes and its execution, preferably in mining or oil and gas industries in Argentina
• Proven experience with ICF Performance Standard 6: Biodiversity Management
• Deep understanding of environmental regulatory requirements in Salta and Argentina
• Strong experience with regulatory compliance requirements and yearly reporting
• Strong organizational and reporting skills
• Extensive experience in managing consultants to deliver scope on time and budget.
• Business fluency in English and Spanish.
• Experience in designing, managing and implementing biodiversity and/or offset initiatives in developing contexts;
• Significant experience with threatened species and critical habitats, experience with effective mitigation measures particularly in the Puna / Andes is favored;
• Experience collaborating with external stakeholders (government, community, IFC, NGOs, etc,) to deliver positive environmental outcomes;
• Experience successfully leading and managing a technical team of biodiversity specialists / consultants
• Experience planning and delivering projects in alignment with mining industry risk management frameworks
• Robust experience working with social and cultural professionals to implement projects with both environmental and social outcomes (ideally in the Puna / Andes), including government and community capacity-building initiatives