Head of Sustainability - 12 month FTC

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Company Description

We're ASOS, the online retailer for fashion lovers all around the world.

We exist to give our customers the confidence to be whoever they want to be, and that goes for our people too. At ASOS, you're free to be your true self without judgement, and channel your creativity into a platform used by millions.

But how are we showing up? We're proud members of Inclusive Companies, are Disability Confident Committed and have signed the Business in the Community Race at Work Charter and we placed 8th in the Inclusive Top 50 Companies Employer list.

Everyone needs some help showing up as their best self. Let our Talent team know if you need any adjustments throughout the process in whatever way works best for you.

Job Description

Over a decade ago, ASOS launched Fashion with Integrity. Since then, it has guided our approach to business and our drive to be a responsible company that delivers positive benefits for people and minimises its impact on the planet.

The Head of Sustainability plays a pivotal role in helping ASOS to meet these ambitions, working closely with the Commercial ESG & Sustainability Director to manage and develop the Environmental aspects of FWI, across Product Sustainability, Circularity and Supply Chain. This is a highly collaborative role, where you will engage cross-functional stakeholders, across a number of areas. You will set the strategic direction and have overall responsibility for sustainability programmes and workstreams, integrating sustainability into commercial and supply chain practices. They are the programme lead for the ASOS Net Zero strategy and have experience in setting and delivering ambitious carbon-reduction targets across complex organisations.

The Details

Strategy

• Drive forward the Fashion with Integrity programme, working with Senior leadership to evolve the strategic direction and goals
• Enable and empower the business to take a proactive approach to Environmental impacts
• Work closely with Commercial ESG Director to engage Exec Board members to gain buy-in and support for the programme
• Represent the Sustainability team within the FWI steering group, leading key strategic workstreams in support of achieving the goal of "becoming the most sustainable online retailer"
• Set the framework, polices and manage performance of FWI workstreams
• Work collaboratively with others, using an agile approach to drive and deliver an integrated approach to FWI, driving change at scale and managing risks in the supply chain to support our 'Be Transparent' goal
• Ensure integration of KPIS across other functions such as Commercial, Sourcing, Technical & Fabric sourcing, to deliver against goals such as fibre switching and transparency
• Delivering against a diverse number of workstreams including Net Zero programme management, Circular design strategy, ESG reporting and benchmarking, external Diversity, Equity & Inclusion, and charitable partnerships and giving, including the ASOS Foundation

Commercial

• Lead and oversee integration of sustainability into business practices, including engaging senior leadership and stakeholders across Commercial teams
• Work with key stakeholders to develop, define and support delivery of KPIs and commercial strategy
• Set the strategic direction of product sustainability roadmap; using data to develop short, medium and long-term targets
• Oversee development and delivery of ASOS' circular design strategy; including successful delivery of circular collections, publication of design guide and long term strategy with measurable KPIs
• Oversee development and delivery of internal training programmes, tools, guides and communications to help upskill commercial teams
• Act as the senior subject matter expert for product sustainability and topics such as circularity, climate change and scope 3 carbon reduction
• Oversee implementation of a robust certification process - short term ensure Labelon system is implemented, med to long term ensure integration into PLM and commercial/technical functions
• Oversee collation and reporting of Product and Supply Chain sustainability data; including accurate reporting of Scope 3 Carbon footprint, Fibre and circular design data

Supply chain

• Oversee the supply chain, including implementation of Higg, development and implementation of carbon and impact reduction programmes across supply base

Risk, policies & governance

• Keeping abreast of changing global ESG sustainability legislation and understanding how it effects an online fashion retailer.
• Ensure identification of incoming external risk is managed and mitigated eg CMA, EU policies & UK policy
• Oversee development of robust sustainability polices and implementation to reduce risk and proactively engage supply base
• Identify, manage and escalate supply chain issues to Ethical Trade and ESG Sustainability Director; ensuring appropriate action and remediation is taken
• Respond to NGO campaigns in an appropriate manner, working closely with corporate comms team to deliver responses
• Escalate and manage risks via the ASOS ESG risk register as appropriate
• Oversee delivery of internal and external reporting; including Annual and Sustainability reports, Textiles 2030, Textile Exchange and various NGO reports
• Monitor and evaluate outcomes of projects and programmes, reporting regularly to senior leadership committee and board
• Collaborating with the Corporate Responsibility team on reporting, for example, ESG corporate reporting, SBTi reporting

Team leadership

• Manage a team of technical and subject matter experts who collaborate across functions to progress sustainability initiatives
• Taking a prominent role in the ASOS foundation management team, working with the senior CSR manager to deliver the foundations strategy and goals.
• Manage department budgets
• Support the development of team members coaching and helping foster an inspired and motivated working environment, championing high etc-performance and reflecting the company culture, values, and behaviours.

Qualifications

• Extensive experience of working in a similar role across multiple sustainability topic areas
• An in-depth knowledge of changing global sustainability legislation and how it effects an online fashion retailer.
• Ability to define, communicate & set direction for the department strategy and motivate the team to deliver
• An agile and dynamic working style, trading risks and opportunities
• Appreciates cultural sensitivities across multiple supplier and stakeholder groups
• Able to speak knowledgeably and accurately on current environmental and ethical matters to a range of audiences (expert/non-expert), engaging people's hearts and minds and making a clear business case for new initiatives.
• A good influencer with skills in advising and coaching others
• Able to facilitate cross-business or multi stakeholder groups
• Commitment to continuous improvement
• Proactive nature with the ability to work independently within a framework
• Thrives in a fast paced, agile environment
• Demonstrates ASOS' core values - we are authentic, brave, creative and disciplined in everything we do
• Flexible, able to change business plans as circumstances change

Additional Information

What's in it for you?

• Employee discount (hello ASOS discount!)
• ASOS Develops (personal development opportunities across the business)
• Employee sample sales
• Access to a huge range of LinkedIn learning materials
• 25 days paid annual leave + an extra celebration day for a special moment
• Discretionary bonus scheme
• Private medical care scheme
• Flexible benefits allowance - which you can choose to take as extra cash, or use towards other benefits