Sustainability Manager

New Balance; Brighton; On-site; GBP 50,000 - 70,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading sportswear company in Brighton is seeking a Manager of Product Sustainability – Apparel to drive its sustainability goals through effective product creation methods. The ideal candidate will lead sustainability initiatives, manage cross-functional teams, and support marketplace integration for sustainability communications. A strong background in material science and sustainability principles is essential for this role.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree related to sustainability, material science or a relevant field.
• Experience with material science and development.
• Ability to navigate through ambiguity and complexity.

Responsibilities

• Manage the coordination of new materials with EPM credentials.
• Lead the integration of apparel sustainability initiatives.
• Work with legal to create a communication framework for sustainability efforts.

Skills

Material science knowledge

Sustainability principles

Cross-functional collaboration

Ability to navigate complexity

Education

Bachelor’s degree related to sustainability or relevant field

Job description

Job Mission:

As the Manager, Product Sustainability – Apparel at New Balance, you will be a key member of our Product Sustainability team, working to drive our corporate sustainability goals into our product creation methods. You will be responsible for embedding the work needed to meet New Balance’s corporate sustainability goals within the apparel product creation engine and our key stakeholder teams and also manage how sustainability integrates into the marketplace. Furthermore, you’ll drive the exploration of new technologies and processes to advance our sustainability goals within the apparel organization.

Major Accountabilities:

Seasonal Integration of our Product Sustainability Ingredients

• Manage the process that coordinates with Innovation, Concepts and Development on validation and costs of new materials with EPM credentials. Co-create seasonal introduction of new materials for apparel.
• Lead the integration of apparel sustainability initiatives and EPMs into product creation to ensure adoption and scale.
• Build repeatable seasonal approach for integrating apparel sustainability initiatives and EPMs into seasonal creation processes, supporting the integration of category dashboard at key seasonal milestones.

Build & Maintain Product Sustainability Toolboxes

• Support the creation of design toolbox related to sustainability. (For example, Less Waste guidelines, design guides, Materials Guides) and collaborate on the adoption and integration strategies/processes.

Marketplace Integration

• Work with legal and brand to create a framework by which New Balance communicates its sustainability efforts externally and manage the process to approve and edit any such communication.

Requirements for Success:

• Bachelor’s degree related to sustainability, material science and development, or relevant field
• Experience with material science and development and sustainability concepts and principles
• Ability to navigate through ambiguity and complexity
• Ability to successfully operate in a cross-functional, collaborative, team-driven environment