Fortescue’s Principal Sustainability, Nature role turns ecological evidence into decisions across a global mining business. The position owns technical assessments of nature-related impacts, dependencies, risks and opportunities, then shapes advice for planning, investment and operational choices. It also contributes to the company’s nature disclosures and longer-term performance measures.
The work connects biodiversity, ecosystems, land and water to how mining projects are developed and managed. By applying TNFD methods and location-based analysis, the role can help Fortescue understand where nature-related pressures may affect operations, and where mitigation or monitoring could support better outcomes. That work sits alongside the company’s stated effort to decarbonise iron ore operations, while addressing a distinct environmental challenge: the relationship between industrial activity and nature.
This suits an experienced nature or environmental specialist who can interpret spatial and ecological data, understand complex operations, and explain technical findings clearly to senior leaders and teams across disciplines.
Job FAQs
What are the main missions and responsibilities of this role?
The role leads nature-related risk and opportunity assessments across operations, projects, facilities and value chains. This includes examining biodiversity, ecosystems, land and water, using spatial, ecological and operational data to identify impacts and dependencies.
It also develops technical inputs for TNFD disclosures, advises on relevant frameworks, and translates findings into recommendations for risk management, investment, project planning and environmental measures. The longer-term aim is to embed nature considerations into business decisions and support targets, monitoring and governance reporting.
Key learning opportunities for this job
The position could deepen expertise in applying TNFD and other nature-related frameworks within a large mining business. The candidate would gain exposure to how nature assessments connect with enterprise risk, project approvals, investment decisions and operational planning.
Working across technical and corporate functions may also build skills in spatial data analysis, ecological risk interpretation and communication with senior leaders. The posting does not specify formal training or certification support, so development would likely come through specialist workstreams and collaboration with internal and external experts.
How does the ideal candidate look like (experience, skills)?
The posting seeks an experienced specialist who has led nature-related assessments spanning biodiversity, ecosystems, land, water and environmental dependencies. Strong knowledge of TNFD, assessment methods and disclosure requirements is relevant, alongside advanced analytical skills with spatial, ecological and operational datasets.
Experience in a complex international organisation, especially resources, energy, manufacturing or another heavy industry, would be useful. An advanced or equivalent tertiary qualification in a relevant discipline is requested; postgraduate study, professional accreditation or specialist sustainability training is valued. Clear communication and the ability to influence technical and corporate stakeholders are also important.
Advice to stand out and make a successful application
Show how your assessment work has informed real decisions, not only reports. Select examples where you combined spatial, ecological or operational evidence, identified nature-related impacts or dependencies, and translated the findings into practical measures for planning, risk or investment.
For interviews, prepare to discuss how you would apply TNFD across a mining portfolio and handle uncertainty in data across different locations. Explain your role in the analysis, how you worked with operational and corporate teams, and how you presented complex findings to senior decision-makers. If you have experience with water, wetlands, coastal or freshwater ecosystems, make that specific expertise clear.
What aspects of the company's sustainability is this role likely to focus on?
The role is likely to focus on biodiversity, ecosystems, land and water impacts and dependencies across Fortescue’s operations, projects and value chains. Its TNFD work points to a need to identify and communicate where nature-related conditions could affect the business, and where operations may place pressure on ecosystems.
It may also connect nature analysis with project development, approvals, enterprise risk and investment decisions. Fortescue describes a wider effort to decarbonise iron ore operations, but this position addresses nature-related issues that are distinct from emissions reduction.
What are the main challenges someone in this role might face?
A likely challenge is building comparable, decision-useful assessments from spatial, ecological and operational information across varied sites and projects. Data quality, differing local conditions and uncertainty in methods could complicate conclusions.
The role must also make technical findings relevant to teams with different priorities, including Operations, Risk, Finance and Engineering. Integrating nature considerations into existing planning and investment processes may require clear evidence, practical recommendations and sustained coordination across functions.
How could a typical day look like for someone in this position?
A day could involve reviewing ecological, spatial or operational data for a site, checking assessment assumptions with technical specialists, and preparing nature-related analysis for a project or disclosure. Another part of the day might be a working session with Operations, Risk, Finance or Engineering to discuss what the findings mean for planning or investment.
The balance would likely shift between detailed analysis, coordination of internal or external experts, and writing clear advice for senior stakeholders. Work may also include developing TNFD inputs, monitoring measures or governance reporting material.
What are the opportunities for professional growth and development in this role?
The role could build specialist depth in nature-related assessment and TNFD, while expanding understanding of how environmental analysis feeds into enterprise risk, investment and project decisions. Its cross-functional scope may also develop experience in executive communication and organisation-wide strategy.
Over time, this expertise could support broader leadership in nature, sustainability reporting or environmental risk. The posting does not describe a defined promotion path, so progression would depend on Fortescue’s structure and the candidate’s interests and performance.
The main stakeholders you might be interacting with
The role is expected to work closely with Sustainability and the Manager Climate & Nature, as well as Operations, Risk, Finance and Engineering teams. These relationships would help connect technical findings with site realities, business risk and planning or investment decisions.
Other contacts could include senior business leaders, governance reporting teams, internal project groups and external technical specialists. The candidate may coordinate these contributors to develop assessments, TNFD inputs and practical recommendations.
CSR Jobs newsletter
Never miss the next opportunity
Get a curated selection of new CSR, ESG, and sustainability roles in your inbox. No daily noise, just useful opportunities.
You are subscribed
Want more relevant opportunities?
Share your LinkedIn profile so we can better understand the roles that may fit you. This step is optional.
You are all set!
Thanks for joining the CSR Jobs newsletter. Keep an eye on your inbox for sustainability opportunities.
Something went wrong. Please try again.
Cookies
CSR Jobs uses analytics and marketing cookies. You can decline without affecting your browsing.
