Senior Sustainability Manager

Job Introduction

Buying Better, Inspiring Change is Selfridges' award winning approach to sustainable business. We believe that together, through our daily actions, we can create a more sustainable future for people and the planet. That’s why we’re committed to buying better and inspiring change, so our customers can do the same. This is a key role helping to shape and deliver this objective.

This role will be a recognised and respected senior leader within the business and an authority on sustainability issues, working to embed a culture of Buying Better, Inspiring Change.

Key areas of responsibility include but are not limited to sustainability strategy development, reporting and governance, legislative requirements such as transparency and risk and managing key roles in the sustainability function who are matrixed across business functions, overseeing their projects and providing direction and support. 

A bit about the role

Key responsibilities

Reporting to the Director of Sustainability, you will work across the business to support the development and delivery of key Buying Better, Inspiring Change objectives.

Strategy development/planning

• Work with Director of Sustainability to continue to develop the Buying Better, Inspiring Change strategy to ensure it is fit for purpose in both the short and long term; outline yearly targets in line with the Group 5-year leadership stairway.
• Manage a central sustainability budget and support others to budget for sustainability as required; attend monthly finance meetings.

Project management key sustainability projects

• Lead the project management of key sustainability projects, working closely with other members of the Sustainabilty Team, Creative Direction and Special Projects teams. Duties will include chairing project steering meetings, issuing agendas and tracking actions, ensuring regular communications with key internal stakeholders.

Supply Chain Transparency

• Work collaboratively with the Ethical Trade Manager to develop and implement a risk-based approach for suppliers and work with key stakeholders to pilot and roll out across the business.
• Co-ordinate the Ethical Trade/Modern Slavery programme for Selfridges; working closely with the Ethical Tade Manager and members of the Ethical Trade/Modern Slavery Working Group. Including supporting the chair of the Ethical Trade Working Group, manage strategic partnerships including Sedex, and preparation of the the Selfridges’ Modern Slavery Statement, including gaining relevant approvals.

• Monthly reporting contributions to risk committee and attendance at risk management meetings.

Reporting, Governance & Risk

• Develop and embed a robust governance and monitoring mechanisms; working closely with members of the sustainability team to implement approach.
• Support the Sustainability Steering Committee to deliver in line with its Terms of Reference by developing agendas, issuing minutes and actions, owning trackers and update sustainability team, support the Director of Sustainability and Managing Director to chair monthly steering group.
• Work with the Sustainability Manager, and other members of the sustainability team, to develop and maintain a dashboard which monitors key sustainability metrics and initiatives based on robust input data; reporting monthly to Selfridges and Selfridges Group.
• Manage relationships with Finance and Internal Audit teams to ensure alignment and robustness of approach and implementation.

Selfridges Group

• Represent Selfridges at Selfridges Group monthly meetings and conferences as required.
• Provide monthly reports to Selfridges Group against the dashboard template and additional status reports as required.

Line management

• Line manage the Sustainability Manager and jointly line manage the Ethical Trade Manager (in conjunction with the Director of Beauty, B&M team); building their knowledge and capacity to deliver and flourish in a fast-paced, changing environment.
• Ensure direct reports have regular 1:1s, annual and half year reviews and are clear on their objectives.
• Provide weekly reports to the Director of Sustainabilty and provide timely and robust ad hoc support and council to the Director of Sustainability, as needed.

A bit about you

Person Specification:

To succeed in this role you will have excellent knowledge and experience on environmental/ethical issues relevant to fashion supply chain/sourcing. This will be from a fashion or retail (or equivalent) customer focused environment.

You will have experience in project and change management, including strong planning, influencing and negotiation skills. You will be a real people person, with the ability to build strong working relationships with multiple stakeholders internally and externally.

You will have delivered sustainability initiatives with demonstrable outcomes. As a pro-active individual, you will also be numerate and analytical, strong on MS programmes and have outstanding presentation skills.

Finally, you will be highly motivated with a personal passion for sustainability.