Standards Assurance, Associate Director
About Us
Textile Exchange is a global non-profit driving positive impact on climate change across the fashion and textile industry. It guides a growing community of brands, manufacturers, and farmers towards more purposeful production from the very start of the supply chain.
By 2030, its goal is to guide the industry to achieve a 45% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions within fiber and raw material production. Its focus is holistic and interconnected, accelerating the adoption of practices that improve the state of our water, soil health, and biodiversity too.
For real change to happen, everyone needs a clear path to positive impact. That’s why Textile Exchange believes that approachable, step-by-step instruction paired with collective action can change the system to make preferred materials and fibers an accessible default, mobilizing leaders through attainable strategies, proven solutions, and a driven community.
At Textile Exchange, materials matter. To learn more, visit TextileExchange.org.
Working at Textile Exchange
We work remotely with a team located in 20+ countries. We are a diverse group committed to harnessing the strengths of the global textile industry to accelerate change toward climate and other key environmental goals. We work collaboratively on important environmental issues around the world by working and interacting with farming groups, processors, brands, retailers, and environmental experts in the textile and fashion industries around the world. We offer an opportunity to join a cutting-edge global environmental nonprofit and to help strengthen the impact of our organization. Each Textile Exchange employee is offered a competitive compensation package with paid time off, yearly bonus, opportunities for continuing education, and more.
Job Summary
The Standards Assurance, Associate Director leads the standards assurance team that sets policies, requirements, training programs, and monitoring programs focused on auditor, certification decision maker, and accreditation body assessor activities. This role reports to the Assurance and Operations, Sr. Director and supports them through the implementation of standards assurance program strategy and objectives that ensures Textile Exchange’s voluntary sustainability standards remain credible and are implemented as intended. Standards Assurance is a team that works closely with the Standards Department that is responsible for development and maintenance of Textile Exchange’s suite of sustainability standards.
Like all roles at Textile Exchange, this role is primarily home-based, though travel will be required. Flexible working hours to facilitate different time zones.
Duties and Responsibilities
Standards Assurance Team Lead
- Oversees and is responsible for the Textile Exchange standards assurance team in their implementation of the standards’ assurance strategy and objectives that ensure program integrity and credibility.
- Plans, maintains, and executes the annual workplan activities of their team that will help accomplish the standards assurance strategy and objectives.
- Plans capacity and resources for growth and scale of Textile Exchange standards, including optimal assurance team structure planning.
- Leads and supports the assurance team leads on assurance provider areas: 1) calibration (policies and interpretation), 2) monitoring and assessment, and 3) training activities.
- Primary relationship manager with the certification and accreditation bodies across all engagement areas.
- Continually researches and implements improvements to the existing assurance program to respond to performance and capacity learnings as well as to keep pace with evolving technology competition and fraudulent actors.
- Leads collaboration as the Standards Assurance liaison with Standards and Data & Technology departments including serving on the Scheme Management Team that collectively oversees Assurance, Standard Setting, and Monitoring and Evaluation of our standards overall.
- Responsible for maintaining compliance to the ISEAL Assurance Code of Good Practice as part of ISEAL membership in coordination with the Assurance and Operations Manager who ensures the compliance of all three ISEAL codes.
- Occasional reporting to Senior Leadership and the Governance Board on assurance work.
- Represents Textile Exchange standards to the industry as needed.
- Supports the Standards Team as needed with their standard setting and impact activities.
Minimum Experience and Qualifications
- At least 10 years' experience in standards assurance programs, at a standards body and/or certification body, or related entity. Preference for prior engagement with an ISEAL Member standard or initiative.
- Experience leading assurance staff and performing assurance-related activities of sustainability standards (e.g. ISEAL member standard) or related programmatic performance against a set of requirements. Preference for experience with ISEAL code of good practice compliance.
- Proven leadership experience, including managing large, diverse teams. Preference for international and remote management experience.
- Excellent English written and oral skills. Preference for experience writing and development of sustainability standards policies and criteria.
- Excellent speaking and presentation skills.
- Excellent computer skills including advanced proficiency in Microsoft Excel, PowerPoint, & Word and the ability to quickly learn new systems.
- A driven individual with a strong work ethic and high degree of autonomy. Self-starting and proactive.
- Highly attentive to detail with strong organizational and planning skills.
- Able to hit the ground running – you will need to have experience of working in a fast-paced and demanding environment.
- Motivated, energetic, determined, and with strong interpersonal skills.
- Able to produce a high standard of work across all forms of media.
- Honest, professional, responsible, discreet, and able to act with the organization’s utmost confidence at all times.
Employment Package
- Full Time Position, 40 Hours a Week
- Location: Virtual/Remote
- Salary Range: $110,000-$125,000 Dependent on Experience
- Start Date: As Soon as Available
How to Apply
Please apply here:
- Resume
- Cover Letter
- Salary Expectations
Applications will be considered on a rolling basis as they are submitted. Early application submission is strongly encouraged.
Textile Exchange is committed to creating a diverse environment. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, genetics, disability, age, or veteran status.