Principal, Port, Rail & State Agreements

Our Opportunity

Fortescue’s Perth office is located on the traditional lands of the Whadjuk Noongar people.

Roster: Monday to Friday

The Port, Rail & State Agreements team plays a critical role in enabling Fortescue’s growth through the strategic management of State Agreements, Port approvals and agreements, and key stakeholder relationships across government and industry.

Reporting to the Manager Port & State Approvals, the Principal will provide strategic leadership and oversight across State Agreements, Port Approvals and Port Agreements, while also informally guiding and supporting Advisors and Specialists within the team. This role is responsible for driving high-quality outcomes, influencing internal and external stakeholders, and ensuring alignment with business priorities.

Fortescue offers flexible working arrangements and is committed to supporting a positive work-life balance.

Key Responsibilities

• Provide strategic oversight and leadership in the management of Fortescue’s State Agreements and Port Agreements, ensuring alignment with corporate objectives and long-term planning.
• Lead the coordination of complex approvals (from advice, submission to compliance), ensuring critical studies, projects, and operational scopes are delivered on schedule.
• Oversee compliance obligations associated with State Agreements and Port Approvals and Port Agreements, including reporting and internal Land Use Certificate (LUC) assessments.
• Act as a senior point of contact for government agencies administering State and Port Agreements, managing relationships and influencing outcomes.
• Build and maintain strong, strategic relationships across the business to support operational and project delivery.
• Provide advice to internal stakeholders on statutory obligations, risks, and approval pathways.
• Drive continuous improvement in approvals processes, systems, and stakeholder engagement approaches.
• Provide informal leadership to Advisors and Specialists within the team, supporting capability development, prioritisation, and quality of outputs.
• Support the Manager in team coordination, workload management, and acting in a leadership capacity when required.

Qualifications and Experience

• Extensive experience managing State Agreements, Port Approvals, Port Agreements, or similar statutory frameworks within the resources sector.
• Demonstrated ability to operate at a strategic level while delivering high-quality technical and regulatory outcomes.
• Strong leadership and influencing skills, with experience mentoring or guiding team members.
• Excellent communication and relationship-building skills, with the ability to engage effectively across senior stakeholders, operational teams, and government agencies.
• Advanced drafting skills, including preparing documentation aligned with statutory and contractual obligations.
• Strong understanding of legislative frameworks and approvals processes relevant to mining, infrastructure, or maritime operations.
• Proven ability to manage competing priorities and complex workstreams in a dynamic environment.
• Strong business acumen and understanding of the resources sector.
• Tertiary qualifications in law, business, project management, or a related discipline will be highly regarded.

About Us

Be part of something big. Fortescue is leading the world with our plan to decarbonise our iron ore operations, projects that harness renewable energy and the development of technology that will change our planet forever.

Our Commitment

Fortescue celebrates individual strengths and team members are encouraged to bring their whole selves to work. Our global workforce drives and promotes an inclusive culture, both within our organisation and throughout the communities we interact with. Diverse backgrounds include First Nations Peoples, people with disabilities, LGBTQ+ community, gender, neurodiverse, cultural diversity, all age groups, and those with an intersectional or multiple diverse characteristics. We encourage candidates from all backgrounds to apply.

https://fortescue.com/careers

Internal Candidates / Current Contractors please apply via Success Factors Careers Portal. For further information on how to apply please visit the Fortescue Hub. 

Fortescue reserves the right to close applications early should a suitable pool of candidates be identified. Fortescue will never contact you to ask for payment of any kind, whether directly or through a third party.