Leather Engagement Manager

About Us

Textile Exchange is a global non-profit driving a 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.

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. Candidates must be available to work with a minimum daily overlap across UK and European time zones.

Job Summary

We are looking for a Leather Engagement Manager, to work within the Animal Materials Team as part of our Engagement and Partnership Department.

The Leather Engagement Manager will support the implementation of the organizational leather strategy. The Manager will have a specific responsibility for developing engagement with organizations working with tier 4 stakeholders to deliver strategy goals. The primary focus for the delivery of the strategy will be in bovine leather supply chains.

Leather supply chains are complex and there is little or no connection from the tier 4 level to the final product. The primary driver for raising animals whose hides and skins are processed for leather is the production of food. As such the Leather Engagement Manager will have an understanding of the importance of engagement with food production systems and certifications that apply to tier 4. They will further be able to propose options for closer alignment between the food and textile industries, as well as promote examples where such alignment already exists.

The expected work will include promoting the implementation of Textile Exchange tools such as the Preferred Fiber and Materials Matrix (PFMM) and the Regenerative Agriculture Outcomes Framework. For the PFMM this could include support and encouragement for standards that cover beef cattle to carry out a self-assessment for inclusion in the PFMM and possible recognition by Textile Exchange.

The Engagement Manager will ensure that a high level of goodwill is developed and maintained with key leather stakeholders, with a focus on those at or working with tier 4. Achieving this will require ongoing collaboration as well as feedback loops so that stakeholders feel included in our decisions around work on leather.

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 the climate crisis. 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 will be a confident communicator, who works easily with people from all parts of the supply chain and the globe.

Expectations and Responsibilities

1. External Stakeholder Engagement and Relationship Management:

• Provide insights and recommendations to support the finalization of the organizational leather strategy. The Manager will then be responsible for implementing this strategy, with a focus on tier 4 stakeholders engaged in cattle production.
• Serve as the primary liaison between Textile Exchange and external stakeholders, including industry partners, farmers and farm groups, NGOs, standards scheme owners and project developers.
• Build new relationships between the food and textile sectors primarily as this relates to bovine leather, but with an understanding that there are cross-over points for other leather types and other animal materials such as down that could be exploited to the benefit of all.
• Ensure that existing strong relationships with tier 4 level stakeholders are nurtured to foster collaboration and build goodwill towards Textile Exchange. This work includes ensuring stakeholders feel their comments and feedback are heard and considered.
• Maintain relationships with other leather stakeholders beyond tier 4.
• Promote the implementation of Textile Exchange tools such as the Preferred Fiber and Materials Matrix (PFMM) and the Regenerative Agriculture Outcomes Framework.
• Track and report on the progress of stakeholder engagement efforts, providing regular updates to senior management.
• Act as a liaison between different stakeholders, facilitating effective communication and collaboration to address shared challenges and opportunities in preferred leather production.
• Support the organization and hosting of trips and events to foster collaboration among stakeholders.
• Represent Textile Exchange at industry conferences, workshops, and meetings.
• Provide regular updates to stakeholders on the progress of work, incorporating their input.
• Support the rollout of Textile Exchange reports and research.

1. Other Animal Fiber and Materials Work:

• Support the Animal Materials Lead with work on down and feathers, where building a connection with the food industry is also key to achieving our goals.
• Assist in the creation of reports and position papers as required.
• Provide input on agenda development for round tables and where relevant the Communities of Practice: suggest speakers and/or topics that support overall engagement with leather stakeholders.
• Support animal material working group activities when these are relevant to leather.

1. Internal engagement

• Support data and tech with collection of tier 4 data for market reports etc.
• Support the PFMM team in adapting the current PFMM criteria to be relevant for bovine leather and engage with key cattle production standards and programs to ensure their inclusion in the PFMM.
• Align with other teams within E&P as well as other Textile Exchange departments.

Experience [Required:]

• Minimum of five years of experience in stakeholder engagement, sustainability, or a related field.

• Experience working for or with farm animal certification programs at tier 4, ideally related to cattle production.

• Understanding of the intersection between food and textile production.

• Excellent communication and relationship building skills across a diverse range of stakeholders.

• Ability to build and maintain partnerships with key stakeholders.

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

• Ability to work in a flexible, fast-paced remote environment, meet deadlines, and regularly share progress.

• Able to accommodate flexible working hours with a minimum daily overlap with their supervisor and teammates’ schedules.

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

• Strong team player.

• Proficient in delivering projects to set deadlines, ensuring attention to detail.

• Highly literate with excellent written and grammatical skills.

• Honest, professional, responsible, and discreet, acting with the utmost confidence.

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

• Ability and willingness to travel to key leather production regions and/or conferences and industry events as needed.

• Passion for sustainability and a commitment to driving positive change in the fashion industry.

Experience [Preferred]

• A second language relevant for engagement with stakeholders in key bovine leather production regions.
• Experience in facilitating multi-stakeholder meetings.

Qualifications [Required]

• Bachelor’s degree in a relevant field.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Excel, PowerPoint, and Word, and the ability to quickly learn new systems.

Employment Package

• Reports to: Strategy Lead, Animal Materials
• Full Time Position, 40 Hours a Week
• Location: Virtual/Remote
• Annual Salary Range: 62,000 - 94,000 USD, per year, depending on experience.
• To be filled as soon as possible (start date to be agreed between both parties).
• 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 made in alignment with the final candidate's permanent residence and in line with Textile Exchange's regional employment package.
• To see if we hire in your country and for more information, please visit: https://remote.com/country-explorer

How to Apply

Please apply here with your resume and a 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.