What are the responsibilities and job description for the Manager, Strategic Programs & Partnerships – Copper Innovation position at Rio Tinto?
- Lead strategic R&D programs and external partnerships critical to Copper’s long-term value and growth.
- Act as a trusted advisor across government, academia, and industry.
- Permanent role based in Salt Lake City, UT
About The Role
This is a high-profile and strategically important leadership role within Copper Innovation.
You will operate at the intersection of technology, strategy, and execution turning opportunity into funded, governed, and delivered outcomes.
Reporting to the General Manager, Innovation & Technology Systems, you will
- Lead strategic R&D programs from concept through demonstration and execution.
- Own and manage external partnerships with government agencies, universities, national laboratories, startups, and technology providers.
- Shape proposals, letters of support, and collaborative submissions.
- Sponsor and oversee multiple R&D programs and projects ensuring governance, risk, and assurance compliance.
- Build strong internal stakeholder relationships across R&D, operations, legal, and commercial teams.
- Lead, mentor, and develop technical and project professionals.
- Proven experience leading complex R&D, technology, or innovation programs, ranging from early phase technology assessment through to piloting and demonstration.
- Demonstrated ability to evaluate and prioritize technologies, considering integration constraints, operability/maintainability, safety and environmental risk, and overall value/ROI.
- Strong capability managing senior internal and external stakeholders, including alignment across legal, commercial, technical, and operations teams.
- Experience shaping and negotiating commercial and partnership agreements (e.g., NDAs, MOUs, joint development/collaboration agreements, sponsored research, and technology evaluation agreements) in collaboration with Legal and Commercial.
- Experience with intellectual property (IP) strategy and management (e.g., invention disclosure, freedom-to-operate awareness, licensing, background/foreground IP, and confidentiality).
- Experience working with government agencies, research institutions, consortia and other complex partnerships.
- Sound judgment navigating ambiguity and technical complexity.
- A collaborative leadership style with the ability to influence without authority.
- Degree in Engineering, Science, or related technical discipline.
- Ph.D. degree strongly preferred.
- Be recognized for your contributions, innovative thinking and dedication, and leave each day knowing you’ve helped the world progress.
- A work environment where safety is always the number one priority
- Competitive base salary reflective of your skills and experience with an annual incentive bonus
- Access to top-tier family-friendly health programs including medical, prescription drug, dental, vision, life insurance coverage, and various voluntary benefits
- Excellent retirement plan including up to 6% defined company contribution; Generous 401k matching program
- Attractive share ownership plan
- Comprehensive leave policies which cover all the moments that matter in life PTO (paid time off), paid holidays, and paid bereavement leave
- A generous parental leave policy, which ensures you’re able to spend quality time with your new family
- Discount programs for leisure purposes and access to Personify Health with incentives supporting your wellbeing
- Access to our Employee Assistance Program (EAP), which provides confidential counselling or expert guidance for you and your family to help get through life’s challenges
The Innovation & Technology Systems team is part of the Copper Technical & HSEC (Health, Safety, Environment & Communities) team and is shaping the future of Rio Tinto Copper. The team advances technology, unlocks value from complex ore bodies, enables critical minerals recovery, and builds partnerships that accelerate innovation and long-term value creation.
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
Rio Tinto is committed to equal employment opportunity. All qualified applicants will be considered without regard to race, color, sex, age, religion, national origin, disability, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local law.
We are committed to an inclusive environment where people feel safe, respected and valued. We want our people to feel that all voices are heard and that a variety of perspectives are not only welcome but are essential to our success. We treat all our people fairly and with dignity.
Rio Tinto participates in E- Verify to confirm work authorization. Please visit http //www.ucis.gov/ for more information.