Vacancy: Head of Sustainability at Stella McCartney

About the Team

Sustainability and innovation are at the core of the Stella McCartney brand. Every decision we make is a symbol of our commitment to defining what the future of fashion looks like. From never using leather or fur and pioneering new alternative materials to utilising cutting edge technologies, pushing towards circularity, protecting ancient and endangered forests and measuring our impact with ground-breaking tools.

Overview

As a vital member of the senior management team and reporting to the CEO, you will be responsible for driving and delivering the brand environmental sustainability strategy, identifying and building partnerships with the most exciting innovators and start-ups, delivering measurable improvements in sustainability performance across the operational organisation and supply chain in line with the broader business objectives. You are a recognised expert guiding internal stakeholders and representing Stella McCartney’s values externally.

Your Mission

• • Responsible for development, communication & implementation of overall direction and sustainability strategy
  • Responsible for maintaining Stella McCartney’s sustainability commitments, policies and standards
  • Monitoring and reporting on sustainability performance and progress against sustainability objectives to the leadership team
  • Identify new opportunities to create a positive impact and develop actionable strategies and plans to address key impact areas
  • Work closely with internal teams including design, merchandising, production, marketing & communications, logistics, store planning, finance
  • Overseeing annual company environmental impact calculation (using natural capital accounting), and other sustainability reporting
  • Overseeing Science-based Targets for Climate, defining reduction opportunities in line with the targets
  • Anticipating future trends as well as monitoring emerging global environmental issues, innovation landscape and regulation direction
  • Managing relationships with key innovation partners and build new relationships with promising start-ups
  • Generate new partnerships and build on existing relationships with key stakeholders such as NGOs and supply chain partners
  • Developing and supporting communication activities, campaigns and copy as they relate to sustainability & innovation
  • Being a spokesperson for the brand – routinely presenting at public events as well as corporate and client meetings and steering groups to ensure the brand is engaged in all key conversations and to bring industry knowledge into our sustainability strategy
  • Overseeing and managing appropriate training programmes, methods of delivery and evaluation of effectiveness to ensure employees are competent with regard to their sustainability knowledge & duties
  • Be an expert. Providing support and technical advice to the wider business to enable them to undertake their roles and responsibilities for sustainability
  • Work with HR and senior management to foster a culture of sustainability – including the environment, social needs, health & wellness and community
  • Manage team finance & budgets

Your Talent

• • Passionate about creating meaningful change in the fashion industry
  • Previous experience in leadership role in a large organisation
  • Experience leading a team and developing people
  • Understanding of luxury fashion and supply chains
  • Strong technical understanding of sustainability topics such as animal welfare, climate change, biodiversity and the circular economy
  • Excellent communication and presentation skills. Communicates with impact and has the ability to inspire, excite and challenge
  • Strategically minded with good commercial awareness
  • Collaborative approach to implementation
  • Experience of operating in a complex, fast-paced environment
  • Able to lead and act as an ambassador in promoting a positive sustainability culture
  • Confident public speaker
  • Proven record of delivering targets and results-orientated
  • Detailed and broad knowledge of the innovation and start-up landscape
  • Ability to understand and analyse information to be able to recommend informed solutions to problems

System and Essenrials

• • Masters-level degree in sustainability or related qualification
  • Competent IT skills, especially Excel and PowerPoint

At Stella McCartney, we are committed to creating a supportive and inclusive environment in which all of our voices are heard. Where people can work to their maximum potential by offering equal opportunities for growth and fair pay. For us, it is about appreciating what is different in others and also what we have in common. We hire people who want to change things, disrupt the norm, who are naturally confident with a positive attitude. Our decisions respect all people regardless of gender, ethnicity, religion, nationality, disability, sexual orientation, age, social or political belief, or world view.