Principal Advisor China Sourcing at Rio Tinto · Shanghai

• Based in Shanghai – China

About the role

Rio Tinto Procurement (RTP) provides supply chain services that deliver value to the Rio Tinto Group through the strategic sourcing and buying of goods and services for all operations and businesses. Playing a fundamental role, value is achieved through uniformed processes, e-technology, increased ESG responsibility and measurable savings for the Group.

China Sourcing is one of the critical capabilities embedded in Rio Tinto Group Procurement to explore, support, and deliver raw materials, mining materials and equipment, sustain capitals which are engaged with China suppliers, accountable for quality control and deliverance meet with various SPEC/BU/Geo standard.

We are looking for the Principal Advisor China Sourcing to build and lead China and China+1 sourcing and supplier intelligence or Rio Tinto, translating supplier capability, technology roadmaps, overseas footprint, and investment trends into practical sourcing insights and optionalities for global operations.

This role will strengthen Procurement Shanghai Hub’s regional suppliers intelligence for Global South markets by identifying qualified, compliant, and competitive suppliers that can support medium- and long-term business needs while meeting Rio Tinto’s HSE, ESG, and regulatory standards.

The role also drives commercial value and supply resilience through supplier development, cross-border risk management, innovative financing solutions, and close collaboration with Global Category teams, Business Partners, and senior leadership.

Reporting to the Senior Manager – Group Procurement China Hub, you will:

• Lead China and China+1 sourcing and supplier intelligence by consolidating insights on contracted Chinese suppliers’ overseas footprint, operating scale, technology roadmaps, five-year investment direction, and ability to support Rio Tinto’s global projects and operations.
• Assess potential strategic partners across technical capability, product maturity, R&D strength, manufacturing base, international delivery experience, and overseas presence to identify suppliers aligned with Rio Tinto’s future sourcing and growth needs, in collaboration and alignment with 3rd party due diligence team when necessary.
• Build regional suppliers optionalitieswithin the Shanghai Hub, focused on Rio Tinto’s current and future asset footprint across Global South markets, to enable rapid supplier matching, timely market response, and effective support for medium- and long-term business plans.
• Identify cross-border compliance and regulatory risks across Belt and Road Initiative markets, mining jurisdictions, trade controls, ESG requirements, and local regulatory frameworks, working with key stakeholders to enable sustainable and compliant supply chain execution.
• Deliver lowest total cost of ownership, value, quality, and supply competitiveness through market research, supplier evaluation, and fact-based negotiation in support of business objectives and agreed category and procurement strategies.
• Apply end-to-end supply chain understanding to identify inbound supply disruption and compliance risks, improve efficiency, drive optimisation, and maximise value across regional and global supply chains.
• Develop and apply innovative commercial and financial solutions, including supplier financing, export credit, insurance instruments, and risk-sharing mechanisms, by working with suppliers, financial institutions, and internal stakeholders to improve competitiveness, resilience, and supply chain accessibility
• Collaborate closely with Global Category teams and Business Partners to support senior leadership engagement with key suppliers, shape commercial positioning, and develop strategic supplier relationships.

About you

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

• Strong commercial and international acumen, with experience influencing across fast-paced, global, and culturally diverse environments.
• Sound understanding of China and China+1 supply markets, ideally in large international mining or industrial organizations.
• Experience structuring complex commercial solutions across international supply chains.
• Able to turn complex market and commercial insights into clear strategies and executive-level materials.
• Skilled at engaging stakeholders to shape and deliver value opportunities.
• Able to structure ambiguous problems, develop practical frameworks, and communicate insights clearly.
• Mining or energy supply chain and capital project procurement experience preferred.
• Strong senior stakeholder engagement and influencing skills.
• Advanced market analysis and modelling capability.
• Fluent in Mandarin and English;
• Bachelor’s degree or above in Engineering, Supply Chain, Business, Finance, or related field; MBA preferred.

About us

We’re on a mission to become the world’s most valued metals and mining business – for the people who invest in us, the people we work and partner with, and the communities around us .

We operate across 35 countries and 6 continents, where our 61,000+ employees are working to find better ways to provide the materials the world needs. Our core products – iron ore, copper, aluminium and lithium – are the building blocks of a cleaner, smarter future. To meet growing demand, we’re focused on keeping our people safe, while running and delivering world‑class operations and projects. And we’re committed to doing it responsibly – delivering lasting positive impact through deep expertise, strong social licence and long‑standing partnerships. Together, we’re solving global challenges and creating shared success.

China is Rio Tinto’s largest market, and home to our biggest shareholder, customers and important strategic partners. Rio Tinto shares a long, fruitful history of partnership with China. Our collaboration today ranges from trade, exploration, project development, and digital innovation, to R&D and talent development. China also serves as an important source of goods and services that support our global operations. We are also working together to address significant challenges such as climate change and sustainable development to shape a collective future.

Our values

Our people, culture and values create an environment where everyone feels safe, respected and empowered, so we can continue to find better ways together.

• Care: Care about the safety of ourselves and others, creating an environment of trust, and the impact we have on our colleagues and others, communities and the environment.
• Courage: Courage to show vulnerability, speak up and challenge when we can do better, and take ownership of our actions and outcomes to drive performance.
• Curiosity: Curiosity to learn and grow in our fields of expertise, look for opportunities to solve problems with everyday innovation, and be open to different perspectives.

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.