Fiber and Materials Strategy Lead: Cotton and Fiber Crops

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

Job Summary

This role sits in the Fibers & Materials platform. This platform is our 'think tank’ and is home to our fibers and materials knowledge and expertise. The Fibers & Materials platform works closely with our Climate + team and all our platforms to provide a clear direction of travel for the industry to achieve GHG reductions in each core material area, while maintaining a holistic approach.

As the Fiber and Materials Strategy Lead: Cotton and Fiber Crops, you will be responsible for integrating our Climate+ strategy into our cotton programs, while expanding the strategy to incorporate other strategic fiber crops (e.g., hemp and flax). In this position, you will shape the overarching direction of travel for preferred cotton for the industry and lead the Preferred Cotton Round Tables (e.g., Sustainable Cotton and Organic Cotton) to pivot the industry into action in achieving Climate+ goals and objectives. You will work across our key programs to ensure that information flows between core activities (standards, benchmarking, communications, data, etc.) and drive industry convergence to deliver industry-wide transformation.

The ideal candidate will have experience working with brands, as well as experience in the supply chain. Ideally, they have spent time on farms and understand the complexities of on-the-ground transformation. They are passionate about organic cotton but understand that the topics we are tackling go beyond organic. They share our organizational commitment to building bridges across the different cotton programs and driving the sector towards organic and regenerative practices at scale. They are friendly, open, and able to hold the space for collaboration. They excel at managing teams and achieving results in a dynamic environment.

Duties & Responsibilities

1. Set the direction of travel for Textile Exchange's Cotton and Fiber Crops strategy to drive continuous improvement across growers, suppliers, and brands to deliver on Climate+ goals and outcomes.

• Provide guidance and support for implementation of Textile Exchange’s Climate+ strategy – our goals on emissions reduction, soil health, biodiversity, and water – in relation to cotton and fiber crops.

• Develop regional cotton strategies and impact reduction plans in partnership with regional ambassadors, and other fiber leads.

• Lead and promote the adoption of regenerative and organic best practices industry-wide with an initial focus on Soil Health, Biodiversity and Water.

• Guide organizational and industry thought leadership on preferred, regenerative and organic cotton production, and practices that drive continuous improvement towards Climate+ outcomes and impacts in farming.

• Provide direction of travel and fiber expertise for regional cotton activities and ambassadors to deliver on regional strategies and adoption of Climate+ practices and outcomes.

• Create and maintain impact reduction roadmaps in collaboration with the Climate+ team for preferred cotton programs to contribute to net-positive impact.

• Determine cross-sector opportunities to scale climate+ outcomes through food and fiber programs.

• Work cross-functionally on the creation and implementation of the Climate+ fiber strategy.

• Work across programs to ensure that information flows between core activities (standards, benchmarking, communications, data, etc.)

• Create tools and responses needed to support (both writing and speaking) statements, framing, direction of travel and responses to reports, press and other documents related to preferred and organic cotton production systems.

2. Lead stakeholder engagement to accelerate the adoption of preferred cotton and to drive implementation of climate-beneficial and regenerative growing practices at scale.

• Lead cotton program partners and critical stakeholders in driving continuous improvement and with the aim of working towards Climate+ outcomes.
• Guide the industry on impact reduction opportunities to support Climate+ goals and initiatives as related to the growing of cotton, hemp and flax.
• Oversee Cotton key strategic partnerships; further developing a strategy and governance structure that supports and leverages Textile Exchange’s relationships in the sector.  For Example; OCA, Cotton 2040 (Cotton Up Guide)
• Develop and maintain critical relationships on core topics such as soil health, regenerative farming and organic management/certification.

3. Oversee the Preferred Cotton Round Tables and related all related programs.

• Guide the Round Tables to align with the cotton strategy and direction of travel.
• Govern the 2025 Sustainable Cotton Challenge and lead the development of an organic cotton in conversion and 2030 cotton challenge.
• Connect Round Table activities related to cotton and fiber crops to Communities of Practice programs and pilot projects.

Minimum Experience & Qualifications

• 5+ years’ experience working in a senior capacity in sustainability, cotton farming, agriculture, or relevant areas.

• Experience building and leading teams.

• Strong writing and facilitation skills.

• Experience in research and communications support.

• Strategic thinker able to implement and update strategy and strategic plans.

• Content expert with strong industry knowledge and network.

• Experienced with hosting multi-stakeholder meetings and stakeholder engagement.

• Strong stakeholder management and engagement experience and skill sets.

• Advanced project management skills.

• Experience developing and maintaining impact reduction roadmaps that contribute to net positive impact.

• Knowledgeable of sustainable sourcing and production practices in the fashion and textile industry.

• Excellent time management and communication skills.

• Ability to handle multiple projects and deadlines while maintaining excellent attention to detail.

• Ability to think outside the box to creatively problem solve in a new and often contentious space.

• Work cross-functionally to drive alignment and deliver results

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 $100,000 – 105,000

• 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 ASAP