Sustainability Coordinator – Product & Sourcing

Job Introduction

Buying Better, Inspiring Change is Selfridges’ award winning approach to sustainable business. It envelops our Selfridges strategy and informs the way we do business. We have set clear targets for how to deliver this strategy in terms of how we Build, Buy, Work, Ship and Sell. ‘Buy’ focuses on sourcing responsibly and ethically. We work with our suppliers and brand partners to achieve our objective of at least 50% of our product being better for people and the planet by 2022. This is closely linked to ‘Sell’ which focuses on how we can inform and inspire our customers to live more sustainable lifestyles. We want to be a responsible retailer and trusted curator of brands. 

Working as part of the Buying and Merchandising ‘Projects Team’ the Sustainability Coordinator – Product & Sourcing will assist the Ethical Trade Manager with the delivery of responsible sourcing initiatives within the B&M team and wider business.This role has a key focus on both project and stakeholder coordination, which involves working with the Sustainability team to share and deliver key Sustainability initiatives with the B&M teams and wider business as required.

A bit about the role

Coordinate and support responsible sourcing related Buying Better, Inspiring Change initiatives to include:

• Manage and/or coordinating projects including developing and updating timelines; collating and storing information in an accessible way
• Supporting the Ethical Trade Manager with monthly reporting requirements  
• Building and improving systems & processes to deliver initiatives
• Creating and updating materials to support the delivery of key initiatives, including communication packs for internal and external audiences
• Undertaking desk-based research on a range of sustainability subjects
• Managing responsible sourcing purchase order raising
• Developing presentations
• Supporting the development and event logistics of B&M learning modules
• Administration relating to all initiatives including setting up meetings, raising purchase orders; recording attendees
• Supporting B&M and wider business with initiatives as required
• Set-up and keep trackers up to date by being pro-active in gathering content
• Building strong and professional relationships within the buying office and wider business
• Ensure you have access to the latest information regarding sustainability initiatives

Existing project specific responsibilities (not limited to and subject to change):

Compliance

• Support the B&M (incl. Food teams) and GNFR representatives with the Sedex supplier on-boarding process
• Maintain the Sedex database and internal supplier mapping 
• Manage the Sedex reporting process including feeding into company-wide dashboards and updates on a monthly basis
• Set-up and keep trackers up to date by being pro-active in gathering content.
• When developed assist with the company-wide Ethical Trade programme
• In line with our Ethical Trade Requirements, monitor prohibited products in retail channels e.g. fur, raising concerns to the Ethical Trade Manager and supporting with a resolution
• Offering support and guidance to business functions who may query prohibited products

 Sensitive Materials roadmaps

• Support with the development and coordination of systems and processes to support the implementation of sensitive materials roadmaps

Buying Better Labelling

• Project manage a business-wide auditing programme – working with retail operations, B&M teams and other internal teams to ensure product is correctly highlighted via the appropriate customer channels
• Develop and own the systems and processes to support the implementation of product identification, eligibility and communication to key business functions
• When necessary develop business-wide processes and assist the relevant functions
• Provide secretariat support to the Ethical Trade Manager in managing the Buying Better Labelling Steering Group including note taking, following up on actions and, where necessary, chair the meeting

Governance

• Support meeting the monthly reporting requirements

A bit about you

Qualifications/ Training

• Degree level

Experience

• Knowledge of sustainability  relevant to fashion/food supply chain/sourcing
• Experience of retail and or supply chain/purchasing
• Experience of reporting and project management desirable

Technical Skills

• Essential knowledge of MS Excel and other MS Office applications (i.e. Word, PowerPoint)

Personal Attributes/ Behavioural Skills

• Highly motivated with a personal passion for sustainability
• Excellent communication, presentation and interpersonal skills
• Ability to build strong working relationships with multiple stakeholders internally and externally
• Highly organised, methodical and with attention to detail
• Analytical thinker
• Action orientated
• Numerate
• Team player

A bit about us

We are a shop run on imagination: a place where the world’s most covetable brands combine with the most extraordinary spectacles, events and ideas for an experience like no other.

We have challenged the rules of retail from day one, whilst demonstrating our unwavering commitment to sustainability.  In 2016, we were the first to be awarded with recognition for the ‘World’s Best Sustainability Campaign by a Department Store’ at the IGDS Global Department Store Summit, in-line with its focus on buying better and inspiring change. We are also recognised as the Best Department Store in the World (2010, 2012, 2014 & 2018) underlining our place at the forefront of retail. In 2018 we were recognised as a LinkedIn Top Company to work for.

Our vision is to be the destination for the most extraordinary customer experience, and our people are central to us achieving this.  As an employer we are committed to making Selfridges an exciting, inspiring and fun place to work