Organic & Regenerative Agriculture Specialist: Cotton& Fiber Crops

Organic & Regenerative Agriculture Specialist: Cotton & 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.

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, a yearly bonus, opportunities for continuing education, and more.

Job Summary

The Organic and Regenerative Agriculture Specialist will support Textile Exchange's Cotton & Fiber Crops Climate+ Strategy, providing technical expertise to move programs towards Climate+ outcomes and goals for Cotton & Fiber Crops. In this role, the Specialist will work closely with the Cotton & Fiber Crops Lead to develop and implement programs that support regenerative and organic farming practices across the cotton sector. This will require a deep understanding of agricultural systems and the ability to work collaboratively with stakeholders across the value chain. The successful candidate will have a mindset of inclusivity and understand the importance of working with the broader community to transform the cotton industry. They will need to be a bridge builder and a tactician, able to bring together diverse groups of stakeholders and move programs forward in a collaborative manner.

The ideal candidate will have experience in regenerative agriculture and understand how it can be integrated into different farming systems, as regenerative practices will cut across all types of production systems. Role reports to: Cotton & Fiber Crops Lead.

Duties and Responsibilities

Key areas of focus and responsibility:

· Contribute to Climate+ Strategy for Cotton and Fiber Crops (vision and strategy for organic/regenerative).

· Chair and lead the Organic Cotton Round Table (OCRT).

· Provide strategic support for the successful delivery of the Global, Regional Round Table Summits.

· Advise the Sr. Coordinator and Cotton Manager on Sustainable Cotton Round Table activities and programmatic development.

· Coordinate relationships with organic cotton and regenerative community/stakeholders.

· Collaborate with regional ambassadors and support organic and regenerative cotton program activities, including providing support for regional pilots and assisting with framing metrics and outcomes.

· Provide technical expertise on regenerative/organic agriculture and agroecology related to cotton and fiber crops, including contributing to relevant reports. · Provide expert advice on soil, water and biodiversity impacts related to cotton and fiber crop systems.

· Provide expert advice on impacts related to fertilizer and pesticide use in cotton and fiber crops production systems. · Serve as key subject matter expert on organic and regenerative cotton and fiber crops systems, including best practices and industry challenges and contribute across all platforms, to reports and position papers, writing blogs, newsletter items, responding to journalists and other queries, as required by the organization.

· Provide oversight and input on communication content related to cotton.

· Represent Textile Exchange’s organic and regenerative cotton interests at relevant events and meetings . · Advise on cross-sectoral opportunities for collaboration and shared learnings, with a focus on fiber-food sector partnership.

Experience and Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in a relevant field. Experience in lieu of a degree may be considered Expertise in organic, regenerative agriculture and/or agroecokogy is required. Expertise in cotton and fiber crops systems is highly desirable.
• Demonstrated experience in field-level implementation, scientific research, and analyzing the effects of agrochemical inputs on biodiversity, soil, and water resources.
• Previous experience in the textile industry and supply chain management is a plus.
• Confident and highly capable of developing projects, managing deadlines, and delivering on work plans.
• Interested and passionate about addressing climate change in the textile and fashion industry.
• Team player, resourceful, eager to learn, and able to work independently in a virtual workplace.
• Highly attentive to detail with strong organizational and planning skills.
• A driven individual with a high degree of autonomy.
• Motivated, energetic, determined, and have strong interpersonal skills.
• Highly literate, with excellent written and grammatical skills.
• Strong motivation for analytical research.
• 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). Good command of French, Spanish, Portuguese, or Swahili is appreciated.
• Equipped with excellent computer skills, including advanced proficiency in Microsoft. Excel, PowerPoint, and Word and the ability to quickly learn new systems.

Employment Package

· Hours: Full-time, 40 Hours per week

· Location: Virtual/Remote

· Salary Range: $50,000 - $60,000

· Start Date: As Soon as Available

How to Apply:

Please submit the following for consideration through our application here:

· 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