Deforestation Free Leather Specialist - Remote

Deforestation Free Leather Specialist  - Remote

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. That’s 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 a driven community.

At Textile Exchange, materials matter. To learn more, visit TextileExchange.org.

Working at Textile Exchange

We work remotely with a team located in 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. Each Textile Exchange employee is offered a competitive compensation package with paid time off, yearly bonus, opportunities for continuing education, and more.

Introduction

The Deforestation-Free Leather Call to Action

Textile Exchange and the Leather Working Group are putting out a Call to Action (C2A) to brands and retailers to commit to source all their leather from verified Deforestation-Free supply chains by 2030 or earlier.

The objective of the C2A is to end deforestation as quickly as possible to protect wildlife habitat and biodiversity and preserve carbon stocks to mitigate climate change.

The intent is also to ensure that the cost of preserving forest is shared more equitably by the two ends of the supply chain and between more and less developed countries.

To reach these objectives the strategy is to:

• Leverage the size and power of consumer-facing leather brands to drive action in beef/leather value chains.

• Address the barriers to action: long, opaque and complex supply chains where leather brands have no connection with producers and cannot communicate or reward deforestation-free practices.

• Send clear signals to producers about the demand for deforestation-free leather.

• Facilitate immediate investments by brands to producers to support the preservation of forests and verification.

• Align industry actions.

• Collect and report on data to build momentum.

Toolkit description

The C2A toolkit aims to provide and reference the guidance and tools necessary for a brand to achieve deforestation-free leather sourcing by 2030.  The goal is to enable brands to access all the reliable resources they need in one place, providing efficiency and alignment within the industry.

Robust guidance already exists to guide companies towards deforestation-free sourcing, however some need to be made more specific for brands using leather and others need adjustment to be more user friendly. The toolkit will also reference credible tools and systems needed to solve for deforestation-free verification and traceability.

Job Summary

We are looking for a Deforestation-Free Leather Specialist to work within the Textile Exchange Team

The main focus of work for the Deforestation-Free Leather Specialist will be the delivery of the Deforestation-Free Call to Action for Leather. This work will require close liaison with the Textile Exchange Impact Acceleration team, as well as the other governance partner, Leather Working Group, and supporters such as the Accountability Framework initiative.  This work represents a substantial part of the Textile Exchange leather strategy.

The Call to Action will require project management, stakeholder engagement, developing tools and guidance to help companies meet the targets, and contributing to a solution to verify DCF sourcing at the slaughterhouse level.

The Deforestation-Free Leather Specialist will have expert knowledge on deforestation and its relationship to leather (bovine) and will support other Textile Exchange teams working on deforestation in other materials. The role may also include conducting research, writing reports and DFL Call to Action Toolkit, and supporting other technical information on deforestation for both internal and external use.

The Deforestation-Free Leather Specialist will also support the Leather Manager in implementation and execution of Textile Exchange’s leather strategy and critical leather programs as well as supporting the Leather Round Table (LRT), which convenes stakeholders throughout the leather supply chain. The LRT is important in aligning the industry to deliver key activities in support of the Textile Exchange Climate+ strategy such as, but not limited to, the C2A.

This is a fantastic opportunity to work for a mission-driven organization. You will be a positive person interested in sustainability and passionate about scaling solutions to address deforestation. You will have a proven ability to remain flexible, proactive, resourceful, and efficient, with a high level of professionalism. Expert-level written and verbal communication skills, as well as the ability to plan, strong decision-making capacity and attention to detail are all needed.  You are a confident leader, who works easily with people from all parts of the supply chain and the globe and can inspire action.

Like all roles at Textile Exchange, this role will be primarily home-based; Textile Exchange is a US-based but remote-working organization with a global team.

Duties and Responsibilities

1. Work on the delivery of the Deforestation-Free Call to Action for leather

• Participate in the development of the toolkit to support brands to meet the 2030 target, with guidance on:

• Policy development, public commitments, supply chain mapping and assessment, workplan, investing in deforestation-free supply

• Communication and claims guidance

• Verification and monitoring of slaughterhouse deforestation-free supply

• Traceability from slaughterhouse to brand

• Brand outreach to explain the C2A, encourage participation and initiate their engagement

• Develop and run webinars to explain the C2A

• Work with other industry organizations and NGOs to create alignment on messaging, tools, targets

• Work with other functions within Textile Exchange to leverage resources and drive alignment:

• Reporting

• Traceability and verification solutions

• Work on land conversion-free solutions for leather that align with Textile Exchange’s requirements for animal fibers and fiber crops.

1. Contribute to forestry solutions within Textile Exchange

• Possible deforestation-free requirements for other fibers or materials

• Participate in forest strategy discussions (Climate+, standards)

• Communicate with Man-Made Cellulosic Fibers (MMCF) Lead and (MMCF) Forestry Specialist

• Participate in and lead internal meetings, webinars, events

Minimum Experience and Qualifications

Required:

• Bachelor’s degree in a relevant field. Experience connected with forestry in lieu of a degree may be considered.

• Detail-oriented, logical, systematic, methodical, and organized.

• Proven ability to develop tools and guidance (eg: standards)

• Ability to communicate and collaborate effectively.

• Demonstrated interest in Textile Exchange’s vision, mission, and goals.

• Ability to work in a flexible, yet fast-paced remote environment, able to meet deadlines and share progress regularly. Comfort with ambiguity and changing direction.

• Strong work ethic and self-motivation with ability to work remotely effectively.

• Strong team player: ability to work effectively with multiple stakeholders

• Confident managing projects and deadlines, following them through to conclusion while maintaining attention to details.

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• Honest, professional, responsible, discreet, and able to always act with the utmost confidence

• Excellent communication, written, and grammatical skills in English (Native or bilingual proficiency).

• Confidence in preparing and delivering presentations.

• Equipped with excellent computer skills including advanced proficiency in Microsoft. Excel, PowerPoint, and Word and the ability to quickly learn new systems.

• Occasional travel, as needed

Preferred:

• Experience with the bovine cattle supply chain, or other animal fiber and materials supply chains

• Experience working in or with leather or cattle production supply chains

• Ability to work with American and European time zones

Employment Package

• Contract full-time position (40 hours per week).

• Work from home, virtual/remote (flexible working hours is a must due to difference in international time zones).

• Compensation range: US $45,000 - $55,000

• Textile Exchange is currently unable to provide sponsorship for work permits. Candidates need to have existing right to work in nominated working location.

• To be filled as soon as possible (start date to be agreed between both parties).

How to Apply

Please submit to Recruitment@TextileExchange.org with the subject Deforestation Free Leather Specialist

• Resume
• Cover Letter

Applications will be considered on a rolling basis as they are submitted. Early application submission is strongly encouraged.

Textile Exchange is committed to creating a diverse environment. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, genetics, disability, age, or veteran status.