Salary: $115,000.00- $150,000.00
Industry Engagement Lead
Reports to: Industry Engagement Director
Direct reports: 1
Remote North America
About Us
Textile Exchange is a global non-profit driving positive impact on climate change across the fashion and textile industry. It guides a growing community of brands, manufacturers, and farmers towards more purposeful production from the very start of the supply chain.
By 2030, its goal is to guide the industry to achieve a 45% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions within fiber and raw material production. Its focus is holistic and interconnected, accelerating the adoption of practices that improve the state of our water, soil health, and biodiversity too.
For real change to happen, everyone needs a clear path to positive impact. Thats why Textile Exchange believes that approachable, step-by-step instruction paired with collective action can change the system to make preferred materials and fibers an accessible default, mobilizing leaders through attainable strategies, proven solutions, and adriven community.
At Textile Exchange, materials matter. To learn more, visit TextileExchange.org.
Working at Textile Exchange
We work remotely with a teamlocatedin 20+ countries. We are a diverse group committed to harnessing the strengths of the global textile industry to accelerate change toward climate and other key environmental goals. We work collaboratively on important environmental issues around the world by working and interacting with farming groups, processors, brands, retailers, and environmental experts in the textile and fashion industries around the world. We offer an opportunity to join a cutting-edge global environmental nonprofit and to help strengthen the impact of our organization.
Position Summary
We are looking for anIndustry EngagementLeadto work withinthe Industry Engagementand PartnershipsTeam. In thisroleyou willsupportand guidebrands and retailersintheirtransition to preferred production systems.This team sits within theEngagement and Partnership Department.
Reporting to the Director of Industry Engagement and Partnerships, theLeadwill workalongsideour Climate and Natureand Standards Systemteams.This role involves direct responsibility forengagingwith brands and retailers to drive the adoption of best practices, trackprogress,and increase the adoptionof preferredproductionsystemsandtheir resultingmaterials withinthe globaltextilesupplysystem.
TheLeadwillmanage a small team andplay a critical role in fostering strongrelationships withbrand and retailerstakeholdersbycreating the enabling environment to deliver collaborative, pre-competitive engagementopportunities across our diverse stakeholders.They willbe responsible fordriving accountability for progress by encouraging brands to report into the Materials Benchmark and helping to strengthenour impacttoolsthrough ongoing feedback mechanisms.inaddition, they willincrease awarenessof Textile Exchange's standards and certification to drivetheadoptionofpreferred production systems.To ensurea robust feedback loop ismaintained,they willbuild awareness andconvenestakeholders to support feedback loopsonpoliciesrelated totheMaterials Matter Standard (MMS) and Content Claim Standard (CCS) launches,Trackitsystem scaling, and other key initiatives.
This is a fantastic opportunity to work for a mission-driven organization.The successful candidatewillbe aself-motivated individualwith a proventrack recordinsustainability,demonstratedunderstanding of the climate and nature impacts of the apparelindustry,and delivering multi-stakeholderinitiativesand activities.Theywill havedemonstratedtheirability to remain flexible, proactive, resourceful, and efficient, witha high levelof professionalism. Expert-level written and verbal communication skills, as well as the ability toplan;strong decision-making capacity and attention to detail are all needed.Theyarea confident communicatorworkingeasily withstakeholdersfrom all parts of theglobalsupplysystem.
Primary Duties and Responsibilities
External Stakeholder Engagement:
- Executetheengagementstrategy to support brands with the transition to preferredproduction systems and drivecollective action to accelerate this transition.
- Cultivate andmaintainstrong relationships with existing brand & retailer stakeholders, fosteringcollaboration with Textile Exchange.
- Serve as a representative ofthe standards system (claims, traceability, and standards) for thebrand and retailer community so that they feel supported
- Support the organizationin organizing andhosting events thatfoster collaborationand collective actionamong stakeholders.
- Representand speakatTextile Exchange at industry conferences, workshops, and meetings.
- Supportthe rollout of Textile Exchange tools, reports and researchand raise awareness of howTextile Exchangetoolscontribute to positive climate and nature impacts.
Driving Accountability:
- Drivebrandprogress inalignment with Textile Exchanges Pathway toPreferred Production Systems reportingintothe Materials Benchmark, sourcing through verified production systems andfostering industry collaborationto drive systems transformation.
- Collaborate with the data and tech teamcollectingbrand and retailer volumesand impact data for the Material Benchmark reports and ad hoc data requirements as needed.
- Work closely with theData Reportingand Impact Datateamstoestablisha clear feedback loop withstakeholders on our evolvingReportingand Impacttools, contributing to the development of the value proposition of reporting.
- Provide regular updatesto stakeholders onour reporting tools, impacttoolsand related research (i.e.LCA studies),creating opportunities for brands to sponsorand engage with Textile Exchange studies and research.
Internal Engagement:
- Collaborate with the Climate and Nature and Industry Activation teams to define and develop meaningful activations (working groups, regional events, advisory groups) that will support the transition to preferred production systems.
- Collaborate withinternal teamsto develop strong feedback loop mechanisms betweenstakeholders andall internal teams, ensuring continuous improvement.
- Keep abreast of industry and regulatory developments, requirements andrelated tothe textile andapparelsector.
Minimum Qualifications
- Bachelors degree in a relevant field.
- Minimum of6years of experiencein sustainability,stakeholderengagementorrelatedfield.
- Experience working in or withconsumer brands or retailers.
- Excellent communication and relationship building skills across a diverse range of stakeholders.
- Ability to build andmaintainpartnerships with keystakeholders.
- Demonstrated interest in Textile Exchanges vision, mission, and goals.
- Ability to work in a flexible, fast-paced remote environment, meet deadlines, and regularly share progress.
- Strong workethicand self-motivation with the ability to work effectively remotely.
- Proficient in delivering projects to set deadlines, ensuring attention to detail.
- Honest, professional, responsible, and discreet, acting with the utmost confidence.
- Excellent communication, written, and grammatical skills in English (native or bilingualproficiency).
- Proficiencyin Microsoft Excel, PowerPoint, and Word, and the ability to quickly learn newsystems.
- Ability and willingness to travel to keyeventsand/or conferences as needed.
- Passion for sustainability and a commitment to driving positive change in the fashion industry.
Preferred Qualifications
- Masters in Sustainability orrelevantfield.
- Experience managing direct reports.
- Experience insustainability teams withinoutdoor, contemporarybrands or retailers.
- Experience with voluntary reportingand disclosurerequirementsrelated toevolving policy and regulations.
- Familiarity withpolicy and regulatory requirementsas itpertains to textiles.
- Experience infacilitatingmulti-stakeholder meetings.
Employment Package
- Full-Time Position, 40 Hours a Week
- Required travel: between 20-25%
- Annual Salary Range: $115,000 - $150,000 USD