Manager Cultural Heritage and Native Title

PLS is delivering on its vision to be a leading global producer of lithium, a mineral critical to enabling the world’s transition to a more sustainably powered future.

As the owner and operator of the Pilgangoora Operation, the world’s largest independent hard-rock lithium mine, we are expanding fast, investing boldly, and building a global portfolio that positions us at the forefront of the energy transition.

Most recently, we acquired Latin Resources, adding the Colina Project in Brazil to our portfolio — strengthening our international footprint and creating new pathways for growth.

With more than 900 people employed globally, we’re building a future-focused business where talented people can create real impact. At PLS, our Values aren’t just words on a wall, they drive how we work, how we lead, and how we grow: Safety First. Great People. We Deliver. One Team. Shaping Tomorrow.

If you want to be part of an organisation that is ambitious, innovative and shaping the next era of battery minerals, this is a once in a lifetime opportunity to join us.

What PLS offers

• Annual short-term incentive bonus recognising individual and business performance
• PLS employee share scheme
• 18 weeks parental leave for primary carers and 4 weeks for secondary carers
• Flexible working arrangements, including work from home options
• Health and wellbeing allowance
• Novated leasing through salary sacrifice
• Paid community leave
• Access to our Employee Assistance Program and Company Chaplains
• Monthly employee recognition awards
• Access to PLS’ KidsCo School Holiday Program

The opportunity

Reporting to the Head of Environment and Sustainability, the Manager Cultural Heritage and Native Title leads PLS' cultural heritage and native title function at the Pilgangoora Operation. As a member of the Site Senior Leadership Team, the role provides strategic and technical leadership on cultural heritage and native title matters, ensuring these considerations are appropriately integrated into operational planning and decision-making while supporting PLS to meet its obligations and commitments.

The role works closely with the Nyamal and Kariyarra Traditional Owners, their representative corporations, regulators and internal stakeholders to support respectful engagement and effective heritage management.

This is a permanent, hybrid role based in Perth with a regular presence at the Pilgangoora Operation. Flexibility is required to support cultural heritage surveys, engagement activities and other operational requirements.

This is a permanent full-time Hybrid Perth-based leadership role with site work at Pilgangoora (4-3 site and 5-2 Perth roster)

Key responsibilities

• Lead PLS' cultural heritage and native title function at the Pilgangoora Operation.
• Provide expert advice on cultural heritage, native title, land access and agreement matters.
• Lead and develop the on-site function and supervise the First Nations Liaison Officers, fostering a culture of safety, compliance and cultural respect.
• Build and maintain strong, respectful relationships with the Nyamal and Kariyarra Traditional Owners and their corporations, and represent the site in external forums.
• Act as the primary interface for heritage matters with the Nyamal Aboriginal Corporation (NAC), Kariyarra Aboriginal Corporation (KAC) and Traditional Owner representatives
• Coordinate and manage cultural heritage surveys, monitoring programs and associated workstreams in line with operational and project requirements.
• Oversee native title matters, including agreement implementation, stakeholder engagement and processes under the Native Title Act 1993 (Cth).
• Ensure compliance with applicable legislation including Aboriginal Heritage Act 1972 (WA), Cultural Heritage Management Plans and related agreements.
• Partner with Operations, Approvals, Land Access, Legal, Environment and external regulators on heritage and native title matters.
• Provide strategic advice to site leadership on heritage, native title and regulatory risks and opportunities.
• Manage consultants and prepare reports, recommendations and presentations for internal and external stakeholders.

About you

• Relevant tertiary qualification in Archaeology, Anthropology, Cultural Heritage Management or a related discipline.
• Extensive experience in cultural heritage, native title and land access within the resources sector.
• Strong knowledge of applicable cultural heritage and native title legislation and regulatory frameworks.
• Proven leadership experience and the ability to build trusted relationships with Traditional Owners, regulators and internal stakeholders.
• Strong governance, risk management and compliance capability.
• Experience working in complex operational environments and delivering practical outcomes.
• Well-developed administrative, spatial systems, written communication and stakeholder engagement skills.
• Existing relationships with the Nyamal and/or Kariyarra Traditional Owners and their representative corporations will be highly regarded.
• Current driver's licence and ability to travel regularly to site.

Supporting an inclusive and diverse workforce

PLS is an Equal Opportunity Employer committed to creating a workplace that values, respects and supports diversity and inclusion. We believe diverse perspectives strengthen our business and help us deliver better outcomes for our people, our communities and the future we’re building. We foster an environment where everyone feels safe, included and able to contribute their best. Our recruitment processes are designed to be fair, equitable and accessible for all.

We encourage applications from people of all backgrounds, including Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, people with disability, people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds, all ages, and people of all genders and sexual orientations (LGBTQIA+).

We are committed to providing reasonable adjustments throughout the recruitment process and in the workplace to support all applicants and employees. If you require any adjustments, please let us know via the application process or inform our Careers team if you are contacted for an interview.Our recruitment process

As part of our recruitment process, a number of checks will be conducted, including police / criminal background checks, medical assessments, drug and alcohol testing, due diligence, right to work checks and reference checks.

We respectfully request agencies not to submit unsolicited resumes.

Acknowledgement of Country 

PLS respectfully acknowledges the Nyamal and Kariyarra People of the Pilbara, the Whadjuk Noongar People of the Perth region and all the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples who are the Traditional Owners and First Nations peoples of these lands.

We pay our respects to Elders past and present and acknowledge their continuing connection and care for the land, water and Country.

If you would like to learn more about PLS or register for future opportunities, please visitwww.pls.com.