Manager Sales Lithium Atlantic

• Leading commercial growth across the Atlantic lithium market and shaping long-term partnerships with global EV, battery and cathode manufacturers.

• Opportunity to influence Rio Tinto’s lithium growth strategy, lead a regional sales team and work closely with global OEMs in the energy transition sector.

• Based in Chicago, Illinois, with exposure across North America and Europe with a salary range between 151,760 – 227,640

About the role

We’re Finding Better Ways™ to provide materials the world needs, now and in the future. Our values of care, courage and curiosity guide how we work and how we treat each other.

We are looking for a Manager Sales Lithium Atlantic to help the Lithium Commercial team deliver sustainable commercial growth and maximise value from strategic customer relationships across the Atlantic region. Reporting to the VP Sales & Marketing, Lithium, this role leads regional sales strategy, customer engagement, contract negotiations and team performance while supporting Rio Tinto’s position in the global battery materials market.

What you’ll be doing

• Develop and execute the Atlantic regional sales strategy aligned to global lithium growth objectives and market opportunities.

• Manage strategic customer relationships across EV, battery, cathode and OEM customers to secure long-term value and retention.

• Lead negotiations for long-term, medium-term and short-term lithium chemical supply agreements, including pricing and commercial terms.

• Drive regional sales performance through forecasting, pipeline management, CRM discipline and KPI tracking.

• Partner with market analysis teams to identify trends, competitive threats and emerging growth opportunities.

• Lead, coach and develop a high-performing regional team across North America and Europe.

• Collaborate with technical, product, legal, quality and operations teams to support customer qualification and commercial execution.

• Provide commercial insights and performance reporting to senior leadership while supporting strategic business decisions.

About you

We’re looking for someone whose experience aligns with the key requirements below. You do not need to meet every “helpful for success” item to apply. If you bring relevant experience and are excited by the opportunity, we encourage you to submit an application.

Required for Success

• A commitment to the safety of yourself and your team.

• Demonstrated experience in strategic account management, sales leadership or commercial relationship management within chemicals, minerals, energy materials or comparable technical industries.

• Experience leading customer negotiations and delivering value through long-term commercial agreements in complex markets.

• Ability to build and maintain executive-level stakeholder relationships across customers, partners and internal teams.

• Experience leading, coaching and developing commercial teams in a results-focused environment.

• Strong understanding of sales forecasting, pipeline management and CRM systems such as Salesforce.

Helpful for Success

• Qualification in business, marketing, engineering, chemistry or a related discipline, or equivalent practical experience.

• Understanding of lithium chemistry, battery manufacturing processes and EV or energy storage supply chains.

• Experience navigating global supply chain dynamics and market factors affecting battery materials demand and supply.

• Experience working with, or selling to, major North American automotive OEMs, battery manufacturers or cathode producers.

What we offer

Be recognised for your contribution, your thinking and your hard work, and go home 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 Virgin Pulse 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. 

Where you’ll be working

Our Commercial function at Rio Tinto connects our product groups, customers and suppliers from mine to market. We bring together Sales & Marketing and Trading (Sell), Global Procurement (Buy), and Marine & Logistics (Move) to buy, sell and move the materials the world needs, by partnering across the value chain to optimise outcomes for our customers and the Group. Headquartered in our global Commercial hub in Singapore, and with a strong presence in Chicago, Frankfurt, Antwerp and across Asia in Beijing, Shanghai, Tokyo and Seoul, we work as one team to deliver customer centric value, safely and sustainably.  

Join our downtown Chicago office. Easily accessible and close to decision‑makers across our key markets, you'll be able to support customers and suppliers deliver value across the Atlantic market.  

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.