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Our Role

The White Company is seeking a Head of Sustainability with a proven track record in setting, and leading the delivery of environmental sustainability strategies, and with experience of delivering measurable success in improving environmental performance and sustainability culture within our organisation, our supply chain, and with our customers.

A strong sustainability all-rounder with experience in the product/supply/channel side of a fast-paced retailer relevant to The White Company and an understanding of our position as an entry-luxury brand in the global marketplace.

You will be an excellent communicator with high-level influencing skills and the ability to gain credibility across our organisation. This is a highly collaborative role, where you will engage cross-functional stakeholders across several departments.

What you’ll be doing

• Working with the Board of Directors, you will set the strategic direction and have overall responsibility for sustainability programmes and workstreams, integrating sustainability into commercial and supply chain practices. Act as the senior subject matter expert on product sustainability, circularity, climate change and Scope 3 carbon emissions
• Set TWC strategic sustainability roadmaps and policies using data to develop short, medium and long-term targets. Manage the performance of all sustainability workstreams
• Work with key stakeholders in other departments to integrate sustainability KPI’s, developing, defining and supporting delivery of these KPI’s within our commercial and customer strategy.
• Oversee collation and reporting of sustainability data including accurate reporting of Scope 3 carbon footprint and fibre data
• Oversee delivery of internal and external reporting including annual sustainability reports, B Corp, Textiles 2020, and various NGO reports
• Empower the business to take a proactive approach to environmental impacts
• Monitor emerging global trends in sustainability, innovation and regulation and develop strategies to maximise opportunities and minimise risk while bringing in best practices gathered from external sources.
• To devise innovative ways to incorporate sustainability into TWC’s regular operations, determining how to reduce the organisation’s environmental impact while maintaining our business’s ability to provide the highest quality products and services, keeping the customer happy and maintaining or growing profits
• Leading and overseeing our Supply Chain transparency initiatives working to Tier 4 suppliers. Working with our CSR manager, develop robust sustainability policies to reduce risk and proactively engage our supply base, managing and escalating issues to ETI ensuring appropriate action and remediation is taken
• Oversee implementation of a robust certification process ensuring rigorous transparency and compliance to avoid any possibility of Greenwashing. Ensure integration of proof of certification into all commercial documentation, internally and at our supply base: measure, set targets, and monitor improvements.
• Oversee development and delivery of TWC circularity strategy from product concept (design) to end-of-life.
• Manage a team of technical and subject matter experts (to include CSR and compliance managers, and data analyst/admin) who collaborate across functions to progress sustainability initiatives. Support with the development of team members; coaching and fostering an inspired, inquisitive, and motivated workforce. Manage and coordinate training and induction programmes.
• Manage department budget

The skills & experience that you’ll need

• Strong understanding and experience of setting and leading Sustainability strategy for a fast-paced, retail clothing or/and lifestyle brand
• Public Goals/Reporting: Experience in reporting publicly (internally and externally) on a continual basis taking into consideration legislative requirements and awareness of public benchmarks
• Carbon Roadmap: Previous experience in delivering Scope 1-3 targets. Oversee the implementation of robust sustainability policies to reduce risk and proactively engage supply base.
• Legislation: Well-versed in up-and-coming legislative requirements globally including knowledge of the EU Green Deal, the Circular Economy Action Plan (CEAP) and Deforestation Act. The ability to prioritise strategically the impact on TWC categories rather than take a purely tactical approach.
• An experienced network of external contacts and experience of liaising with industry groups and NGO’s (and Campaigns) to enable TWC to build an appropriate group of memberships gaining valuable insights. In partnership with communications/marketing, build our brand recognition across our industry
• Critical thinking and analytical skills to help evaluate TWC sustainability practices, devising plans to improve those practices or develop new ones
• An understanding of how to incorporate sustainability into other business operations, finances and developments.
• Extensive and broad experience working in an ideally international business environment with strong knowledge of the product and supply chain compatible to the TWC type of business. Sound understanding of our customer, brand and retail environment
• Professional certifications of additional areas of sustainability study/training i.e. ISSP
• Proficient with Microsoft Office Suite

Our Equality Diversity and Inclusion statement of commitment

At the White company we are committed to creating an inclusive culture that welcomes and celebrates a diversity of backgrounds and identities.

We are working together to ensure our environment is one where people can bring their authentic selves to work, where their contribution is valued, ability enhanced, and perspective appreciated. Where difference is respected, encouraged, and celebrated.

We are committed to an active Equality Diversity and Inclusion Policy, which starts with our recruitment and selection process.

We'd love you to join us on our journey.

What we’ll offer you

At The White Company, we value our employees for always going the extra mile for every one of our customers; we reward this with great benefits and competitive salaries.

• Discount - Up to 50% discount (dependant on contract type)
• Holiday – 25 days rising to 28 with length of service
• Holiday Buy – opportunity to buy up to an additional 5 days holiday
• Perkplace Benefits Platform – offering a variety of discounts across wellbeing and lifestyle
• Wagestream Money Management app - access to Wagestream gives you power over your pay and supports financial wellbeing
• Bonus - In addition to our competitive salaries, all our permanent employees are entitled to join a discretionary bonus scheme.
• Pension Scheme
• Life Assurance
• Private Medical

Additional benefits

• Fruit basket daily
• Tea and coffee provided
• Hybrid working - option to work from home on Mondays and Fridays
• Office working hours 9-5.30 pm, finish at 5pm on a Friday
• Social - Christmas party/social events throughout the year
• Seasonal Sample Sales
• Volunteer Day - with a charity of your choice
• Great Location - Close to transport links - overground Shepherds Bush station /underground White City & Wood Lane stations. Westfield shopping centre with shops restaurants/bars/cinema and gyms