Director of Legal, Quality and Risk Management

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.

Job Summary

The Director of Legal, Quality and Risk Management is a newly created position to bring additional legal functions in house (previously outsourced), as well as providing strategic direction for the organizational Quality/Risk management functions. While we expect to retain outside counsel for the foreseeable future for specialized projects and to leverage international networks, this role will focus on building out internal capacity as well as the management and optimization of external relationships with legal firms. This role will be a strategic thought partner for the Chief Business Officer and Leadership team to advise the organization on overarching legal strategies, oversee complex contractual negotiations, build a risk management system for the entire organization and ensure current templates and tools are fit for purpose. This position oversees a Legal Specialist, and a Manager of Quality and Risk Management. While this position is not expected to litigate, it is expected that the role holds a JD degree and has the capability to advise and aid external firms should the need ever arise. The Director of Legal and Quality/Risk management will also oversee our Quality functions, which include ISEAL compliance, knowledge management, and other functions as assigned.

The first 90 days of this role will see a focus on onboarding and acclimation: meeting many of the key internal and external stakeholders. A review of prior “legal audits” should be performed to create a current gap analysis, with the development of an annual workplan aligned with the Textile Exchange strategic plan. As a new hire at a rapidly scaling organization, it is expected that many of the proposed process changes will be analyzed, proposed, and then developed by this role, with help and coordination from other Business Service platforms and staff.  In addition, this role will rapidly acclimate and learn from the current Quality/Risk Management team to integrate an oversight function to various ISEAL an knowledge management projects.

Duties and Responsibilities

Legal (60%)

• Advise leadership and operational teams on laws applicable to non-profit organizations registered in the US with an international scope;
• Advise on legal issues related to the review and negotiation of contracts and documents such as certification body and accreditation agreements, contribution agreements, membership terms of service, NDAs, MOUs and consulting agreements;
• Work closely with Legal Specialist to develop a process and platform for contract review, negotiation and signatory processes;
• Audit current approved templates, refine as needed and liaise with external firm to develop additional template agreements as business needs evolve;
• Develop training programs for staff internally on contract review processes;
• Own relationship with our external legal firms, regularly communicating with them on various legal matters;
• Monitor and analyze legal developments of interest to Textile Exchange such as: policy changes that could impact our standards claims and labeling, disclosure and reporting regulations that could impact our reports and research activities, policy changes and legal registrations that may impact our membership offerings;
• Lead legal response (often through outsourced counsel) for any crises that arise with legal or reputational risk;
• Present summary recommendations to leadership team and board on various legal matters and responses;
• Forge strong relationships with key internal teams: assurance, for Certification Body contracting, claims and labelling support, Stakeholder Engagement for partnership support, and the Climate and Nature Impacts team for policy and contracting support;
• Periodically review and update templates and processes as business needs change;

Quality Risk Management (QRM) (40%)

• Lead and mentor a team focused on ISEAL compliance, quality, knowledge and organizational risk management, as well as the contract review team;
• Create and manage a data-driven risk management function imbedded within the organizational business processes, with clear accountability and risk mitigation measures that can be assessed and tracked to inform program decision-making;
• Ensure risk management system aligns with leading risk management practice for sustainability organizations and in accordance with ISEAL best practice.
• Regularly summarize and report out on risk factors and mitigation measures to the executive team;
• Other duties as assigned.

Minimum Experience and Qualifications

• JD degree from accredited university,
• A minimum of 10 years’ experience of experience managing teams, preferably in a non-profit, remote setting;
• Knowledge of contractual agreements including financial, vendor, commercial, consultant, services, sales, licensing, etc.;
• Strong familiarity with sustainability standards system/sustainability system operational practices and current market and risk contexts (e.g. of ISEAL member organizations)
• Ability to work independently in designing management programs and projects from design to implementation with inputs from a range of team members;
• A high attention to detail, careful organization, and clear communication style;
• Ability to work independently and collaborate effectively with the Textile Exchange remote team and key external stakeholders;
• Self-motivated with remote work experience. Must be able to work remotely/from home.
• Ability to lead and manage global projects;
• Excellent interpersonal skills, along with the ability to lead a team in a collaborative manner;
• Experience working with international, multi-cultural communities, preferably in the environmental non profit Standards and Certification sector;
• A strong track record in achieving sustainable goals and objectives;
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills in English;
• Experience working with people from diverse backgrounds, perspectives, and cultures;
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite and Office 365 tools;
• Must be flexible to communicate with multiple time zones outside of standard working hours.

Employment Package

• Reports to: Chief Business Officer
• Full Time Position, 40 Hours a Week
• Location: Virtual/Remote
• Annual Salary Range: $128,000-$160,000 USD
• To be filled as soon as possible (start date to be agreed between both parties).
• For Global Benefit packages (if applicable) please see FAQ: https://remote.com/preemployment-faq
• Our offers for salary and benefits are dependent on the region of the final candidate. We post most positions based on a US-based Team member but final offers are done in alignment with the final candidate's permanent residence and in line with Textile Exchange's regional employment package.

How to Apply

Please apply here:

• Resume
• Cover Letter

If you have any pressing questions after completing your application, and meet the qualifications, please contact recruitment@textileexchange.org.

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.

Keywords

LegalQualityRisk Managementnon-profitclimate changestrategic directionlegal strategiesrisk management systemISEAL complianceknowledge managementJD degreeremote work