Senior Sourcing Specialist

• Based in Shanghai – China

About the role

Rio Tinto Procurement delivers measurable value to Rio Tinto by establishing and continuously improving competitive markets and sourcing frameworks for goods and services, supported by disciplined governance, supplier safety outcomes and measurable value delivery.

The China Hub is evolving from a sourcing support channel into a regional category capability that can build market intelligence, develop suppliers, execute sourcing, manage risk and interface directly with Global Category teams and business stakeholders.

Electrical and equipment categories are becoming more important as electrification, infrastructure and major project activity increase global demand. China’s supplier market offer competitive cost, capacity and lead-time options. To realise this value requires clear category strategy, supplier qualification, technical assurance, sound governance and alignment with global teams.

Reporting to the Regional Category Manager China, you will:

• Lead the development and management of electrical and equipment categories in the region, build a reliable China supplier base, shape demand, lead sourcing and contracting, manage supplier relationships and connect regional opportunities with global category strategies.
• Build structured engagement with Global Category teams, project teams, operations and technical stakeholders to identify upcoming demand, shape sourcing options early and provide supplier insights, benchmarking and category recommendations.
• Lead complex or strategic sourcing activities, including sourcing strategy, negotiation strategy, evaluation model, award recommendation and implementation plan. Lead cross-functional working groups or workshops where required.
• Develop and maintain category roadmaps, supplier assessment tools, market intelligence templates, playbooks and lessons learned. Identify improvement opportunities through supplier development, market benchmarking, sourcing governance and value tracking.
• Resolve complex and ambiguous category issues, including demand uncertainty, technical specification constraints, supplier qualification gaps, commercial risk, quality concerns, global and regional interface issues and competing stakeholder priorities.
• Influence technical, operational, project and commercial stakeholders without direct authority across multiple regions and functions. Provide category guidance, coaching and practical support to J-band specialists within the team.
• Set strong procurement governance discipline across category strategy, sourcing, supplier selection, documentation and contract management. Manage risks relating to technical standards, quality, ESG, IP, cybersecurity, logistics, export controls, geopolitical exposure and delivery reliability.
• Monitor market developments across electrical equipment, supply chains and adjacent industries, translate insights into category strategies and sourcing decisions, and deliver measurable value through cost reduction, cost avoidance, shorter lead times, supplier competition and improved delivery models.
• Own the regional category plan and roadmap, including demand, supplier segmentation, risk, value levers, technical assurance, commercial models and implementation priorities.
• Develop a qualified and scalable China supplier ecosystem, with clear qualification pathways, performance governance and capability-improvement plans for priority suppliers.
• Own fit-for-purpose contracting, supplier performance governance and transparent value tracking, ensuring outcomes are measurable, evidence-based and aligned with Rio Tinto requirements. 

About you 

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

• Bachelor’s degree in commerce, Engineering, Supply Chain, Business, Law or a related discipline.
• Significant experience in procurement, commercial, category management, supply chain, manufacturing, project delivery or engineered equipment categories.
• At least 10 years of experience in a sourcing or procurement role.
• Experience in electrical, mechanical or other engineered equipment categories and industrial supply chains is highly desirable.
• Strong capability in category strategy, demand management, sourcing strategy, contracting, negotiation, supplier relationship management and influencing technical, operational, project and commercial stakeholders across regions and functions without direct authority.
• Strong commercial acumen, analytical capability and ability to convert market intelligence into category strategy and senior stakeholder recommendations.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills in English and Chinese.

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 LGBTQ+ 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.