Innovation Manager - Decarbonisation (Maternity Cover)

Fashion For Good; Amsterdam; On-site; EUR 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

Fashion for Good is seeking an Innovation Manager who will drive decarbonisation initiatives and scale processing solutions across the fashion supply chain. You will lead a team of associates/analysts, manage partnerships with brands, manufacturers, financiers and ecosystem partners, and guide demonstrator facilities financing and roadmap development.

The role reports to the Innovation Platform Director - Scaling and requires 7+ years in decarbonisation or related fields, with experience in

Qualifications

• 7+ years in decarbonisation, renewable energy, supply chain transformation, or technology innovation.
• Experience in apparel/footwear supply chains is strongly preferred.
• Knowledge of energy financing models and low-carbon processing technologies is an advantage.
• Strong project management and organisational skills with ability to handle multiple initiatives.
• Excellent communication with external stakeholders is essential.
• Experience managing individuals or a team.

Responsibilities

• Drive decarbonisation initiatives and scaling strategy across the fashion supply chain.
• Lead cross-functional teams and manage key partnerships for Innovator support and demonstrator facilities.
• Develop roadmaps for fundraising, technology validation, and strategic supplier engagement.
• Oversee financing strategies for demonstrator facilities and maintain relationships with innovators, brands, manufacturers, financiers and ecosystem partners.
• Provide day-to-day guidance to associates/analysts and ensure coherent execution across workstreams.

Skills

Leadership

Stakeholder management

Project management

Strategic thinking

English proficiency

Team leadership

Communication

Education

Bachelor's degree in Sustainability, Engineering, Renewable Energy, Business, Economics

MBA or MSc is a plus

Job description

At Fashion for Good we're looking for an Innovation Manager - Decarbonisation to join our team.

POSITION SUMMARY & KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

Fashion for Good is seeking an Innovation Manager who, together with their team, will be responsible for driving decarbonisation initiatives and the strategy for scaling processing solutions (focused on tier 2), across the fashion supply chain. Reporting to the Innovation Platform Director - Scaling, the Innovation Manager will spearhead cross‑functional initiatives, manage key partnerships, and oversee a team dedicated to enabling a transition toward low‑carbon operations across Fashion for Good's network of innovators, brands, manufacturers, and ecosystem stakeholders.

The Innovation Manager will support mature innovators in the processing space, developing roadmaps to scale that encompass fundraising, technology validation, and strategic supplier and partner engagement. Beyond innovator support, the role carries direct delivery responsibility for the Scaling team's flagship initiative, Future Forward Factories. This includes guiding the team on blueprint development, advising on the retrofitting of existing facilities with new technologies, and leading strategy development for demonstrator facilities. The candidate will take strategic ownership of demonstrator financing – structuring financing approaches and driving this work forward – alongside active relationship management across innovators, brands, manufacturers, financiers and ecosystem partners.

The Innovation Manager also leads the associates and analysts within the team, providing day‑to‑day guidance and ensuring coherent execution across workstreams.

As part of this, the role is responsible for the following areas:

Key Responsibilities

Crafting and driving industry solutions that embed processing innovations in the industry at large.

• Demonstrate ability to think strategically and provide key innovators with a roadmap to implementation (e.g., identifying and connecting key suppliers, support with business models, impact, fundraising through review of investment decks and due diligence support for external investors).

• Demonstrate and track KPIs; advance key impact and progress visualisations (e.g., funnel, metrics dashboard).

• Provide best‑practices and toolbox to drive implementation further (e.g., off‑take agreements, deep dives on innovator business models, project financing).

• Drive emerging thought‑leadership opportunities.

• Support business development and partner retention through Innovation Platform strategy and new idea generation and execution.

• The Innovation Manager plays a bridging function between FFG innovators, partners (brands, retailers and manufacturers), investors/financiers, and NGOs. This person is also responsible for building and maintaining an active innovator alumni network alongside the programme associate.

  • Drive Industry Adoption of Processing Innovations.

  • Craft and drive industry solutions that embed processing innovations – including decarbonisation, renewable energy, and enabling technologies – across the supply chain at large.

  • Support mature FFG innovators in the processing space using our due diligence framework: evaluating technology readiness, market traction, impact, financial health and business models.

  • Develop and maintain deep knowledge of implementation challenges specific to processing focus areas.

  • Build roadmaps to scale for key innovators, covering fundraising, marketing, technology validation, and strategic supplier engagement.

  • Build and manage networks with brand, retail and manufacturing partners to understand real‑world supply chain implementation challenges.

  • Establish and manage relationships with technology and research institutions globally – including academia, multi‑stakeholder organisations, governments and incubators.

    • Where relevant, act as Fashion for Good’s topical expert and maintain the dialogue with the relevant experts in Fashion for Good’s brand, retailing and manufacturing partners.

  • Team leadership.

    • Manage innovation associates/analysts/interns by supporting them in managing various scaling activities.

    • Be responsible for their personal development and training as well as bi‑annual evaluation process.

    • Manage communication and collaborations with the cross‑functional teams.

QUALIFICATIONS

The ideal candidate has a relevant track record and combines strong interpersonal skills with a self‑starting, proactive attitude. The following qualifications are essential:

Essential Experience & Education

• Education: bachelor’s degree in Sustainability, Engineering, Renewable Energy, Business, Economics or related fields. Advanced degrees (MBA, MSc) are a plus.

• Professional Experience:

  • Minimum 7+ years in decarbonisation, renewable energy, supply chain transformation, or technology innovation.

  • Experience in the apparel and footwear industry or manufacturing supply chains is strongly preferred.

  • Familiarity with renewable energy markets, low‑carbon processing technologies, and energy financing models is a significant advantage.

  • Structured, strong project management and organisational skills, with the ability to handle multiple initiatives simultaneously.

  • Excellent communication skills representing the organisation effectively to external stakeholders.

  • Demonstrated experience managing individuals or a team.

  • Capacity to adapt to different and complex work environments, easily navigating change as well as different cultures and organisational settings.

  • An ability to think strategically and then proactively execute and mobilise large organisations to achieve the goals set out.

  • A true passion to make a difference and enact change.

Languages

Proficiency in English is a requirement.

YOUR APPLICATION

Please submit your application, consisting of a short motivation letter and your CV.

Applications will be considered on a rolling basis.