Ethical Lead

Retail; Coventry; On-site; GBP 50,000 - 75,000; Full time

Job summary

Argos is seeking a skilled professional to advance our ethical trade programme across a broad General Merchandise supply base. You will work with suppliers, auditors and internal teams to identify risk, drive improvements and uphold our responsible sourcing standards.

The role is hands-on with opportunities to travel internationally, conduct supplier assessments and site visits, and support corrective action plans while empowering teams to embed best practice.

Qualifications

• Experience within ethical trade, responsible sourcing, business human rights, social compliance auditing, or ethical compliance programmes.
• Strong understanding of labour standards, ethical codes, and relevant legislation.
• Experience conducting audits, assessments, or supplier reviews.
• Strong stakeholder management and influencing skills.
• Excellent communication skills.
• Experience identifying risks and conducting root cause analysis.
• Strong organisation and project management capability.
• Good analytical and IT skills.
• Ability to manage sensitive or challenging conversations.
• Strong commitment to responsible sourcing and human rights.

Responsibilities

• Support the delivery of our ethical trade programme across a diverse General Merchandise supply base, working closely with suppliers, third-party audit partners, and internal stakeholders to ensure ethical standards are met.
• Conduct supplier assessments and site visits, identify areas of risk, support corrective action plans, and help suppliers drive continuous improvement.
• Assist onboarding of new suppliers, provide guidance on ethical compliance, and investigate issues within the supply chain.
• Monitor emerging legislation and ethical risks across countries and supplier types, sharing insights with the business.
• Deliver training and support to suppliers and internal teams to embed best practice.
• Support and deputise for the Global Ethical Manager when required to drive priorities forward.

Skills

Ethical trade

Labour standards

Audits & reviews

Stakeholder management

Communication skills

Root cause analysis

Organisational skills

Job description

At the heart of our responsible sourcing programme, this role helps ensure the products our customers buy are sourced ethically, responsibly and in line with our standards.

Working across a diverse General Merchandise supply base, you'll partner with suppliers, auditors and internal teams to identify risk, drive improvements, and help deliver our ethical trade commitments. This is a hands-on role, with opportunities to travel internationally, visit suppliers and make a real impact across our supply chain.

What you'll do

You'll support the delivery of our ethical trade programme across a diverse General Merchandise supply base, working closely with suppliers, third-party audit partners, and internal stakeholders to ensure ethical standards are met.

A key part of the role will involve conducting supplier assessments and site visits, identifying areas of risk, supporting corrective action plans, and helping suppliers drive continuous improvement. You'll also support the onboarding of new suppliers, provide guidance on ethical compliance, and help investigate any issues that arise within the supply chain.

Working across multiple countries and supplier types, you'll monitor emerging legislation and ethical risks, sharing insight and recommendations with the wider business. Alongside this, you'll deliver training and support to suppliers and internal teams, helping build capability and embed best practice.

You'll also support and deputise for the Global Ethical Manager when required, providing wider support across the Technical & Ethical team and helping ensure priorities continue to move forward effectively.

Who you are

You’ll be passionate about ethical trade and enjoy building strong relationships that drive positive change.

Whether you’re an experienced social compliance auditor or have worked within ethical sourcing, compliance or responsible sourcing programmes, you’ll be confident navigating complex issues, influencing stakeholders and balancing priorities across multiple suppliers and geographies.

You’ll enjoy working independently, getting out into the supply base and helping drive meaningful improvements that support both suppliers and customers.

Essential Criteria

• Experience within ethical trade, responsible sourcing, business human rights, social compliance auditing, or ethical compliance programmes
• Strong understanding of labour standards, ethical codes, and relevant legislation
• Experience conducting audits, assessments, or supplier reviews
• Strong stakeholder management and influencing skills
• Excellent communication skills
• Experience identifying risks and conducting root cause analysis
• Strong organisation and project management capability
• Good analytical and IT skills
• Ability to manage sensitive or challenging conversations
• Strong commitment to responsible sourcing and human rights

At Argos, we’re a digital-led UK retailer that keeps pushing boundaries to meet every generation with what they want, how and when they want it. As a market leader in general merchandise, serving millions of customers through our website, app, same-day delivery and Click & Collect services, we offer real opportunities to learn, grow and shape your career. With roles spanning Commercial, Buying, Merchandising, Design and Supply Chain, through to Digital, Operations, Customer Experience, Marketing, and People and Transformation , you will work with brilliant colleagues and directly shape how we serve our customers every day. From enabling inspiring choice across our owned brands, including Habitat, Chad Valley and Bush, alongside the world’s biggest brands like Apple, Lego, Xbox and Samsung, to making shopping effortlessly convenient, championing trusted value and accelerating our strategy - Argos is an exciting place to build your future.