Principal Advisor - Government Affairs

• REFERENCE:
  HR0050129
• CONTRACT:
  Full-time
• PRIMARY LOCATION:
  Superior, Arizona, United States
• DATE POSTED:
  28 Jun 2013

Resolution Copper Mine (RCM), part of the Rio Tinto group, is currently looking for a dynamicPrincipal Advisor – Government Affairs to join our team in Superior, Arizona.

 

The Rio Tinto Major Projects team is responsible for management of the planning, development and related technology aspects of the current and future Copper group project portfolio as it relates to Order of Magnitude and Pre-Feasibility Studies.  The team will unlock value from these and future project opportunities through the establishment of a culture of applying high standard project development processes with systematic collaboration and improvement.  The team will establish a position of clear competitive advantage through the development of skills and capability and the application of value adding technology and innovation. Managing Government relationships during the study phases of the projects within the projects portfolio is critical obtaining legislation critical for the project, supporting permitting efforts and building on the existing licence to operate.  This will ensure future investment decisions can be supported and pave the way for Feasibility Study, Construction and Operations.

 

The Resolution Copper Mine holds a large world class copper deposit located at a depth of 7,000ft adjacent and below a previous mining operation, the Magma Mine. The project is located in a traditional mining district known as the Copper Triangle, 60 miles east of Phoenix, Arizona. The project is currently in the pre-feasibility stage of project development. A critical aspect of the development is obtaining land tenure which requires a federal land exchange as the mine sits in the Tonto National Forest.  The land exchange requires passage of a bill through Congress. Second critical issue is designation of a viable tailings area that will allow the plan of operations to be filed and approved.

 

The mine when constructed will represent cutting edge technology and mining practices for deep level mining. Rio Tinto is the operator of the project with 55% ownership BHP Billiton owns the remaining 45% of the project

 

In order for the project to make further major investment decisions it will be critical to have confidence over the transfer of a federally zone parcel (Oak Flat) of land to RCM. ThePrincipal Advisor – Government Affairs will manage relationships primarily at a Federal and State level and where necessary with local Government and other key stakeholders. ThePrincipal Advisor – Government Affairs will lead the land exchange activities that require the approval of the President of the USA, a challenge that matches the potential reward of mining the 3^rd largest world-wide known copper reserve.  The Principal Advisor – Government Affairswill leverage the work done to date to pass approvals through the house to the Senate and Presidential level.  The incumbent will need to ensure Federal, and State support for the project as well as development of tailings sites and related development that will require the successful navigation of state legislative and congressional approvals at multiple levels.  ThePrincipal Advisor – Government Affairs will manage persistent political challenges associated with the project as the key Government Relations Manager based in Arizona. This is a multi-year, multi-phase Brownfield and Greenfield development whose creation is in largely uncharted territory where the incumbent must be well connected politically, maintain deep credibility and be subject matter expert at the political planning process.  The outcome by this project will significantly impact any future mine development in the USA by Rio Tinto. Additionally, the Principal Advisor – Government Affairs must be able to handle complex legal, political, community and reputation situations independently with little resources in a largely uncharted area of business for Rio Tinto. 

 

The Principal Advisor – Government Affairs will drive the critical path work for Resolution tied to government relations but in particular the Land Exchange until this legislation is finalized. The Principal Advisor – Government Affairs will be accountable for managing state and Federal government stakeholders as well as some local government and non-government key stakeholders. Internally there will be a requirement to manage consultants, lobbyists and media specialist that we use to support our efforts.   The Principal Advisor – Government Affairs needs to be highly politically leveraged at the local, state, federal levels to drive the land exchange and tailings work through PFS into operations.  The Principal Advisor – Government Affairs will also work closely with the Resolution communications team.

 

The Principal Advisor – Government Affairs develops and leads external relations and internal relations strategies, plans, programs and budgets for Resolution Copper Company as it relates to state and Federal governmental agencies.

 

The Principal Advisor – Government Affairs assists leadership in crafting and executing strategies to support development of the project policies that are consistent with the company’s commitment to sustainable relationships with key governmental stakeholders. It is accountable for managing governmental affairs and all consultants supporting our government relations efforts.  In addition, the Principal Advisor – Government Affairs is responsible for forging and maintaining positive working relationships with key external stakeholders, including state political leaders, business leaders and trade organizations both within Arizona and in other western states.

 

The Principal Advisor – Government Affairs overseas the company’s resources in this area, and provides leadership for RCM’s opinion research and public relations initiatives. In addition, it closely collaborates with the internal communities, communications and permitting team.

 

Responsibilities include:

• Create and maintain multi-year plans and the strategy for government affairs and associated key stakeholders, manages departmental and functional forecast and budgeting.
• Develop and maintain a coordinated program of stakeholder outreach, including stakeholder mapping, issues management and relationship development and maintenance for the government affairs area.
• Design and direct government affairs programs and initiatives and handles issues management. Oversea outside government affairs consultants.
• Work closely with leadership and to shape public policy development.
• Collaborate closely with  the permitting team  and provides consultation on outreach to and relationships with local and federal agencies and NGOs.
• Lead public opinion research and polling initiatives.
• Contribute to development of all communications activities, including strategy and message development, executive communications, media relations and internal communications for the land exchange effort.
• Provide strategic leadership for stakeholder engagement programs and initiatives. Manage lobby groups, legal firms and related consultants with the Washington DC office to ensure a successful outcome to the needed land exchange work to develop the mine and tailings sites.
• Testify as needed at Senate/House hearings.

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