Sustainability Assistant

Margaret Howell Ltd.; City of Westminster; On-site; GBP 32,000 - 44,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

5 weeks holiday + bank holidays

Clothing allowance

Staff discount

Life insurance

Pension & Salary Exchange

Personal development grant

Cycle to work

Birthday off

Volunteering day off

Maternity/Paternity leave

Job summary

Margaret Howell Ltd. is seeking a Sustainability Assistant to help build and implement the company’s sustainability strategy across environmental, ethical, product and circularity dimensions.

You will manage data collection for carbon footprints, material certifications, and supplier engagement while supporting Sedex administration and project delivery. You will collaborate with product/design and supply chain teams to drive compliance with GOTS/GRS/RWS, report on biodiversity and social

Qualifications

• Strong verbal and written communication in English.
• Sustainability/environmental management degree or relevant experience.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office, Excel and PowerPoint; strong data management.
• Attention to detail with ability to handle large amounts of information.
• Ability to meet deadlines in a fast-paced environment.
• Highly organised with ability to manage multiple priorities.
• Interest in fashion, sustainability, and ethical compliance.

Responsibilities

• Support data collection for scope 1-3 carbon emissions and use of CarbonFact platform.
• Analyze annual raw material data including traceability and biodiversity considerations.
• Ensure product sustainability compliance with certifications (GOTS, GRS, RWS; EPR for textiles).
• Coordinate with supply chain to request data for ethical trade and environment pillars.
• Process supply chain and social compliance data via Sedex; monitor supplier performance.
• Support ethical trade projects and issues like Living Wage and freedom of association.
• Develop packaging baselines for EPR and PPWR submissions.
• Attend industry events and share key takeaways with the team.
• Take and circulate concise meeting minutes.
• Assist with internal/external communications and annual reports.
• Support circular economy initiatives and monitor timelines.
• Research evolving sustainability legislation and assist administration.
• Promote sustainability as a core company value across departments.

Skills

Strong communication

Attention to detail

Deadline driven

Highly organised

Interest in fashion sustainability

Education

Sustainability/Environmental degree or experience

Relevant experience in sustainability

Tools

Microsoft Office

Excel

PowerPoint

Job description

Margaret Howell is a contemporary British clothing designer who has worked successfully in men’s and women’s clothing for over five decades. Today, Margaret Howell clothes are sold worldwide with 12 own shops in Europe, over 70 outlets in Japan and an established online business.

We are looking for a Sustainability Assistant to join our team! The role will support the development of the Company’s sustainability strategy across environmental, ethical, product and circularity. Responsibilities include raw material certification management, carbon footprint data collection, supplier engagement including for traceability and ethical trade, Sedex administration, and general support for sustainability projects.

MAIN DUTIES

• Support with the collection of data for scope 1, 2 and 3 carbon emission calculations, and learn and support use of CarbonFact platform to assist with data analysis and decarbonisation strategy to meet SBTi targets on net zero emissions.
• Collate and support the analysis of data for annual raw material reporting, including traceability data for contribution to carbon footprint, biodiversity strategy, social compliance and product development strategy.
• Liaising with product and design teams, and with suppliers, assist with product sustainability compliance, including the management of product certifications and initiatives such as GOTS, GRS, RWS and for textiles EPR.
• Liaise with Margaret Howell’s supply chain to ensure compliance with the standards above, and to request data for our ethical trade and environment pillars.
• Process supply chain and social compliance data such as audits, supply chain mapping and subcontractors, using Sedex to monitor supplier performance.
• Support work on ethical trade projects, and in line with identified salient issues, such as Living Wage, freedom of association, and grievance mechanisms.
• Produce B2C and B2B packaging baselines, in support of packaging EPR and PPWR submissions.
• Attend industry events and webinars as required, communicating key takeaways back to rest of team.
• Support in meetings, taking and circulating concise minutes.
• Support in the production of internal and external communications, including options papers, presentations, and published annual reports.
• Assist with circular economy initiatives, capturing relevant data and monitoring project timelines.
• Support on evolving sustainability legislation research and administration.
• Work to ensure sustainability is embedded as a core value throughout the Company, including coordinating between departments to ensure follow-through of initiatives and best practice.
• Work on other sustainability initiatives as required by Sustainability Manager.

Requirements and skills

• Strong verbal and written communication in English
• Sustainability/environmental management degree or relevant experience.
• Strong proficiency using different systems including Microsoft Office, Excel and Power Point with excellent data management skills
• Excellent attention to detail, ensuring data accuracy, and ability to handle and distil large amounts of information
• Ability to work to deadlines, ensuring timely completion of workload
• Highly organised and efficient, can manage multiple priorities and work in a fast-paced environment with competing priorities
• Interest in fashion, and sustainability, and ethical compliance, and driven to meet targets

REWARDS

• 5 weeks holiday plus bank holidays, increasing to 6 weeks with service
• generous clothing allowance
• significant staff discount
• life insurance
• contributory pension and salary exchange scheme
• personal development grant
• cycle to work scheme
• birthday day off
• volunteering day off
• IVF support for parents
• paid maternity and paternity leave
• opportunity to request flexible working (27% of Head Office employees work part-time hours)
• menopause friendly

We actively implement blind recruitment practices to eliminate bias and ensure a fair evaluation of candidates based on their skills, experience, and qualifications. We believe in creating a level playing field for all applicants, and our initiatives reflect our dedication to promoting diversity and inclusion in the workplace.

Applications will be considered as they are received. Candidates will be shortlisted based on how their skills and experience match our requirements as set out above.