ESG Manager

White Stuff; Greater London; Hybrid; GBP 55,000 - 85,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Annual bonus

33 days holiday

Volunteer days

50% discount

Dental insurance

Healthcare plan

Life Assurance

Season ticket loan

Pension

Job summary

White Stuff is seeking an experienced Sustainability Manager to lead and strengthen our sustainability strategy across climate, materials, supply chain due diligence, and regulatory compliance. You will work with Fabric and Product teams, suppliers, and external partners to drive improvements and ensure robust reporting.

The role requires managing complex cross-functional projects, data-driven decision making, and strong stakeholder relationships.

Qualifications

• Experience in sustainability, ESG, or supply chain compliance in fashion/retail.
• Strong understanding of climate reporting and net-zero transition planning.
• Excellent data skills and analytical mindset.
• Experience using AI tools to enhance insight and reporting.
• Excellent stakeholder management and collaboration across teams and external partners.

Responsibilities

• Develop and deliver sustainability strategy and objectives.
• Embed sustainability into decision-making through stakeholder management.
• Monitor progress and report to senior leadership and governance forums.
• Lead measurement, management and reporting of environmental impacts and net-zero commitments.
• Coordinate certification audits and ensure documentation controls and evidence.
• Strengthen supplier due diligence and responsible sourcing programmes.

Skills

Sustainability

ESG compliance

Responsible sourcing

Supply chain

Stakeholder management

Tools

AI tools

Job description

White Stuff was established in 1985 through a simple idea. This idea grew and now we have shops and concessions in the UK and internationally, selling women's and men's clothing as well as beautiful accessories and homeware. Our original prints (all designed in house), intricate details and considered design touches reflect our personality and make us subtly distinctive.

Our people are at the heart of our brand, constantly moving and driving us forward. We're sociable, talented, and likeminded and we're not hierarchical or political in how we do business. We encourage entrepreneurial ideas and accountability at all levels.

WHO YOU ARE

You will be someone who combines technical sustainability knowledge with practical delivery.

PRIMARY OBJECTIVE OF THE JOB

We are looking for an experienced and proactive Sustainability Manager to help lead and strengthen White Stuff's sustainability strategy across climate, materials, supply chain due diligence, certification and regulatory compliance.

This is a key role for someone who is confident working with data, comfortable managing complex cross-functional projects, and able to build strong relationships across Fabric and Product teams, suppliers, internal stakeholders, certification bodies and external partners.

The Sustainability Manager will support the delivery of White Stuff's sustainability strategy, helping to drive improvements across products, supply chain and operations, manage sustainability programmes and reporting, and ensure compliance with relevant environmental and social requirements.

WHAT YOU'LL BE DOING

Sustainability Strategy & Programme Delivery

• Support the development and delivery of White Stuff's sustainability strategy and objectives.
• Embed sustainability considerations into decision-making and day-to-day activities through effective stakeholder management.
• Monitor progress against sustainability commitments and provide updates and recommendations for senior leadership and governance forums.

Climate, Emissions and Net Zero

• Lead the measurement, management and reporting of environmental impacts, including greenhouse gas emissions and net zero commitments.
• Work with internal teams and external partners to improve sustainability data quality, methodologies and reporting, through collaboration with internal teams and suppliers.
• Support the development and delivery of climate related initiatives and decarbonisation programmes

Materials, certification and fibre strategy

• Work with internal and external stakeholders to support the delivery and continued growth of White Stuff's fibre strategy.
• With the Responsible Materials Partner:
• Manage certification programmes including scope certificates, transaction certificates and chain of custody requirements.
• Coordinate external certification audits ensuring documentation controls and evidence and maintained to a high standard.
• Provide clear internal guidance on certification requirements, sustainability standards and supporting evidence.

Responsible Sourcing and Supply Chain

• Lead or support human rights and supply chain risk assessments.
• Strengthen supplier due diligence processes, remediation and responsible sourcing programmes
• deliver supplier and internal engagement initiatives to improve responsible sourcing and supply chain awareness.

Packaging and Materials

• Ensure business packaging and materials conform with sustainability regulations, providing guidance and training to internal stakeholders as appropriate.
• Ensure EPR compliance, overseeing EPR registrations in relevant jurisdictions, and ensuring EPR reporting and submissions take place in accordance with required submission deadlines
• Manage the Junior ESG Data Analyst to improve existing EPR reporting and data gathering processes.

Governance and Regulation

• Monitor emerging sustainability legislation, standards and industry developments, translating requirements into practical business actions
• Support the implantation of sustainability compliance programmes including DPP, EPR and PPWR, highlighting risks and gaps, and providing practical recommendations in collaboration with relevant business areas.
• Work with internal teams to strengthen sustainability data governance, data accuracy, visibility and reporting quality.
• Manage ESG committee governance, working with committee members to agree and circulate agendas, supporting papers, notes and actions,

WHAT YOU'LL NEED

• Experience in sustainability, ESG, responsible sourcing or supply chain compliance, ideally within fashion, apparel, retail or consumer goods.
• Experience interpreting and implementing sustainability regulations in a commercial environment.
• Strong understanding of climate reporting and net zero transition planning
• Strong analytical and data skills.
• Experience of using AI tools to improve insight, efficiency and ways of working, with curiosity about how emerging technology can support sustainability, data and reporting activities.
• Excellent stakeholder management skills, with the ability to influence, challenge and collaborate across teams and with external partners.
• Strong project management skills, with the ability to manage multiple workstreams, deadlines and dependencies.
• Clear written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to translate technical or regulatory requirements into practical business actions.
• Good understanding of key sustainability and supply chain legislation, including EPR, PPWR, Digital Product Passport, EUDR, UKTR and CSRDDD.
• Knowledge of greenwashing legislation
• Experience in modern slavery prevention or ethical trade programmes.
• Experience supporting water stewardship, water use reduction, chemical management or impact reduction projects.

WHAT WE'LL OFFER YOU

As ESG Manager at White Stuff you will be entitled to an array of great benefits, some of which include:

• Annual bonus opportunity
• Up to 33 days holiday per annum
• 2 extra (paid!) days off per year to volunteer in the local community
• 50% discount
• Subsidised BUPA Dental Insurance
• Healthcare cash plan and Life Assurance
• Interest free season ticket loan
• Pension Contribution

We are committed to creating an environment where we can all be proud to work and be ourselves. Part of this commitment is being an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will be considered for employment without regard to race, colour, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, genetics, disability, and age.

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