Social Sustainability Specialist
Department: CSR & Sustainability
Employment Type: Permanent - Full Time
Location: Head Office, Chelsea House
Reporting To: CSR & Sustainability Lead
Description
The Ethical Sustainability Specialist at River Island implements the Sustainability strategy by working closely with Suppliers, Buying and the Reassurance Network (TRN) in-country teams to ensure all of our factories and production sites operate within the guidelines set by the River Island Ethical Code of Conduct and the ETI Base Code. This is achieved through strong Buying team, In-Country Team and Suppler relations.
All work must have a clear focus on the rights of workers within the supply chain and ensuring that we reduce the risk of worker labour rights abuses and modern slavery occurring. This should be driven by a strong continuous improvement approach across the supply chain.
You are recognised by peers, buying teams and suppliers as a knowledge resource who guides the achievement of established social sustainability standards for all River Island suppliers and production sites – in line with Brand priorities, broader business objectives and legal requirements.
You are responsible for ensuring that the buying teams and suppliers are provided with current information, communicated effectively, to enable them to make improvements and key informed decisions in achieving our social sustainability strategy requirements.
Key Accountabilities
- A key part of the role is ensuring all metrics and data are up-to-date and available to the business, with a focus on key social data metrics, taking a hands‑on approach as and when required.
- Working with the CSR & Sustainability Lead to drive efficiencies in data examining the potential of software and AI to provide key solutions in the data gathering process, reducing the need for manual input.
- Knows the most effective efficient processes to get things done with a focus on continuous improvement. For example, using metrics and benchmarks to monitor accuracy, taking steps to make methods productive and efficient, promptly and effectively addresses process breakdown.
- Works without supervision and provides technical guidance when required on developing, monitoring, interpreting, and understanding audits, policies and procedures, while making sure they match organisational strategies and objectives.
- Makes good and timely decision that keep the organisation moving forward, knowing when to act independently and when to escalate issues. Making sure they have gathered the correct metrics essential for decision making.
- Conduct regular reviews of current and changing/emerging global legislation, ensuring pro‑active implementation into the business.
- Responsible for risk mitigation relating to social sustainability issues and ensuring that any issues that arise are dealt with in a timely manner with a clear focus on root cause analysis to prevent future issues occurring.
- Responsible for progressing investigations and decisions on supplier’s failure to meet social sustainability standards – including communication to peers and relevant stakeholders.
- Co‑ordinate, support and conduct training across all stakeholders to ensure a full understanding of standards and requirements for social sustainability.
- Develops and implements training programs and processes for evolving guidance and information around social sustainability, legislation, and risk management.
- Establish effective Supplier communication to encourage understanding of and compliance of RI Social Sustainability strategy.
- Maintain current and identify new external networks of standards and industry bodies to continue to build on our current knowledge base and consultative resource to provides an ongoing awareness of current Social Sustainability updates in legislation.
- Manages projects relating to new initiatives providing, training, processes, support, and project management to achieve time bound goals for launches.
- Suggests new initiatives and innovations to improve Social Sustainability within River Island.
- May be required to manage a junior member of the team – e.g., apprentice / student. Includes mentoring, setting objectives to be achieved and ensure they are being worked towards; providing timely feedback and support to enable that person to work to the best of their ability.
- Builds strong relationships at all levels within the Buying and Technical teams in order to influence, engage, increase knowledge, and upskill.
Key experience required:
- Degree in Sustainability or fashion related or a minimum 2- years’ experience in Sustainability/responsible sourcing for a clothing retailer or supplier to the retail industry.
- Computer literate using Word, Excel, Powerpoint, Outlook & other IT Systems to a high level.
- Trained to SA8000 Lead Auditor Standard
Job role competencies:
- Excellent commercial and analytical skills
- Excellent verbal and numerical reasoning skills
- High attention to detail and accuracy focused.
- Skilled decision maker and problem solver.
- Skilled interpersonal and collaboration skills and self‑management.
- Builds strong relationships with peers, highly collaborative approach.
- Tenacious, resilient, and adaptable to change.
- Passion for the RI brand and customer
- Ability to advise and influence stakeholders, peers and senior management.
- Skilled in project management processes, highly organised with ability to prioritise tasks and workflows.
About Us
We’re a much‑loved brand with an exciting future. Our Islanders are a diverse bunch of bright, talented people who love working together – and are proud of the work they do. Progression here can take you in all kinds of directions. This is what a career at River Island is like. And this is where yours starts.
This role is based at our Head Office in West London. Check us out here on a map.
What we can offer you:
Generous 50% staff discount so you can treat yourself to the latest products, and a bargain staff shop on site!