JOB PURPOSE:
A regional role who partners with our cross-functional team to improve vendors and factories’ compliance performance and to meet 2030 sustainability goals.
JOB RESPONSIBILITIES & DUTIES:
Social performance
· Project management on human rights due diligence and traceability projects.
· Research and recommend compliance and sustainability best practices within the industry/region to share with factories as well as internally to continuously improve Williams-Sonoma program.
· Build effective relationships with in-country office team to solicit their commitment and support to impact improvements at partner factories
· Manage service providers that are related to due diligence and traceability work
Social impact
· Ensure WSI meets its public worker wellbeing goals of 75% of product purchases coming from vendors with a worker wellbeing program by 2030 and $10M paid in Fair Trade Premiums by 2025
· Work closely with Director/Manager Sustainability to build out Social Impact strategies, create goals (internal + public) and share updates on progress to goals.
· Manage the relationship with all Social Impact nonprofit partners (attend monthly calls, steering committee meetings, summits, conferences, etc.)
· Work closely with in-country Sustainability Managers to ensure successful execution and ongoing operations of each Social Impact initiative (host monthly check in calls, troubleshoot factory challenges, facilitate communications b/w partners + field staff, etc.)
· Oversee and ensure successful launch and communication of programmatic updates to Social Impact initiatives to all WSI brands, such as: launching new factories/ vendors / geographies, program changes (trade standard, premium changes, Fair Trade 2.0), operational streamlining (ex: PLM updates), new program launches, etc.
· Research and pilot new programmatic opportunities.
Communication and engagement
· Represent WSI and its interests in multi-stakeholder groups, including external stakeholders, government officials, NGOs etc. as directed by Management
· Escalate potential crisis situations to management, as appropriate
· Manage regular reporting requirements as directed by management
KEY ATTRIBUTES:
· Embodies the highest level of personal and professional integrity and ethics.
· A true passion for Running a business with purpose and achieving positive social and environmental impact
· Maintains a global perspective and is culturally sensitive and aware.
· Influences key members of an organization at all levels.
· Possesses a personally engaging style with excellent written and verbal communication skills.
· Thrivesin a collaborative team environment.
· Demonstrates a creative, energetic and motivated spirit.
COMPETENCIES & EXPERIENCE:
· Bachelor's degree in Sustainability, Social Studies or a related field;
· 8 years or above experience in the field of social responsibility either at an audit firm or at a retailer (auditing, developing or enforcing remediation)
· Strong communication and presentation skills
· Strong information-seeking skills and a drive to make things happen
· Ability to understand challenges or underlying concerns, share ideas and develop effective responses or elevate to higher management
· Ability to work independently and cooperatively in a diverse group
· Ability to network, influence, and utilize internal and external resources
· Demonstrated leadership capability, including the ability to motivate and mentor others within work group
· Ability to lead initiatives and project teams
· Fluency in written and spoken English
