Human Rights and Responsible Business Lead

Minderoo’s Effective Philanthropy Enabler drives the foundation strategy and vision through a holistic, systems-thinking approach and the development of organisational capability. It builds long-term relationships with philanthropic peers, deploys impact investments, and sets standards for impact-related activities, impact measurement, capability development, and sustainability.

Reporting to the Head of Sustainability, you will contribute to a high-performing team and work collaboratively across the matrix structure, championing One Minderoo Culture. In this role, you will lead Minderoo’s modern slavery and responsible business work, while supporting broader human rights due diligence, gender equality reporting, supplier engagement, and continuous improvement across operations and partnerships.

You will be responsible for managing and improving Minderoo Foundation’s responsible business framework, with a particular focus on modern slavery risk management, supplier due diligence, annual reporting, gender equality obligations, and broader human rights issues. You will help identify risks, strengthen controls, support remediation, and ensure the organisation’s reporting and practices reflect leading standards and regulatory expectations.

Responsibilities

• Develop and continuously improve frameworks, policies, and practices relating to Minderoo Foundation’s modern slavery, human rights, and responsible business requirements, aligned with other organisational requirements.

• Lead the organisation’s modern slavery risk management and due diligence processes, including risk identification, supplier engagement, control improvement, remediation tracking, and reporting.

• Support broader human rights due diligence and responsible business initiatives across operations, partnerships, supply chains, and investments where relevant.

• Coordinate and deliver annual reporting and disclosures relating to modern slavery, gender equality, and other responsible business commitments.

• Provide advice on modern slavery, human rights, and responsible business risks, opportunities, and emerging regulatory developments in Australia and internationally.

• Work with internal teams to engage partners and suppliers to improve responsible business practices and address key risks in operations and supply chains.

• Monitor and report on commitments and projects in areas such as modern slavery, gender equality, Indigenous participation, climate-related risk, emissions reduction, single-use plastic elimination, and other sustainability-linked initiatives where relevant.

• Ensure clear communication of modern slavery, human rights, and responsible business strategies, plans, performance, and risks to key stakeholders.

• Promote internal awareness of commitments and performance by collaborating with and reporting to relevant teams and leaders.

Competence and experience

Subject matter expertise

• Deep knowledge of modern slavery, supplier due diligence, human rights, and responsible business practices.

• Demonstrated experience in compliance, reporting, and implementation of programs relating to modern slavery, human rights, gender equality, supplier risk, or related governance issues.

• Understanding of regulatory requirements and best practice approaches in Australia and internationally.

• Experience managing and influencing internal and external stakeholders, including senior leaders.

• Strong ability to analyse complex social, economic, and environmental issues and translate them into practical action.

• Ability to adapt plans, solve problems, and contribute to a collaborative and values-led culture.

• Tertiary qualifications in a related field such as law, social science, commerce, environmental science, public policy, or another relevant discipline.

Collaborating and influencing

• Works effectively in a matrixed environment and can reconcile diverse viewpoints across internal and external stakeholders.

• Builds trust, influences constructively, and contributes as a strong team player.

• Communicates clearly and confidently with partners, suppliers, peers, and senior leaders.

Work health and safety

• Ability to comply with all relevant laws, rules, and regulations applicable to the role, including employment, equal opportunity, anti-discrimination, and WHS obligations.