Interim Human Rights and Social Responsibility Lead

Remote

Human Rights and Social Responsibility Lead (Interim)

Remote – UK, Europe and the USA

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.

Position Summary

We are seeking an Interim Lead, Human Rights and Social Responsibility, to provide parental leave cover for a 12-month period. This role will lead the integration of human rights and social responsibility considerations across Textile Exchange’s standards, tools, and core activities. This role reflects Textile Exchange’s mission to transform how we produce, choose, and reuse materials to benefit people and places at the source. It supports the integration of a social lens within our Climate+ strategy, recognizing that meaningful systems change in the textile and apparel industry must deliver both environmental outcomes and considerations for the people and communities at the source of material production. The role is not expected to design new strategic direction during the cover period, but to ensure effective delivery, continuity, and stakeholder confidence while existing strategies and transitions are implemented. During a period of organizational transition relating to Textile Exchange’s standards system and membership structure, this role supports the integration of a social lens across our core activities.

Key Responsibilities

Serve as the organization’s primary internal expert and point of contact on human rights, labor rights, and social responsibility topics.
Lead the integration of human rights and livelihoods considerations across Textile Exchange’s standards, tools, and core activities.
Develop and guide organizational strategy related to human rights due diligence, rightsholder engagement, and secure livelihoods.
Collaborate across departments to embed social considerations into programs, ensuring consistency and practical applicability.
Build and maintain relationships with key external stakeholders, including expert groups, NGOs, and industry initiatives at global and regional levels.

Primary Duties And Responsibilities

Collaborate with Standards System team to develop and integrate human rights and livelihoods guidance within the Materials Matter Standard and broader standards system.
Design and deliver accessible, user-friendly training and guidance within the Materials Matter Standard system, supporting upstream supply chain actors to understand, prioritize, and take practical steps toward implementing human rights due diligence in line with their context and capacity.
Contribute to advancing the inclusion of small-scale farmer groups in Materials Matter through the development of approaches that are practical, scalable, and responsive to implementation realities.
Partner with the Climate and Nature Impact team to ensure integration of human rights and livelihoods considerations into impact data frameworks and tools, landscape initiatives, and thought leadership.
Contribute human rights due diligence expertise to the development of preferred production systems targets, guidance, and reporting frameworks, ensuring alignment with evolving due diligence expectations.
Co-lead Textile Exchange’s efforts to better understand and address human rights risks in recycled feedstock supply chains, including informal collection and aggregation systems, by developing risk insights and supporting guidance and collective action that aims to strengthen conditions for workers and communities.
Collaborate with the Engagement and Partnerships team to support membership related efforts, such as collective action and collaborative initiatives, support human rights and social impact.
Represent Textile Exchange in relevant external forums, working groups, and partnerships related to human rights and responsible business conduct.
Develop and strengthen internal systems to support the implementation of the organizational Safeguarding Policy and provide guidance to ensure its appropriate application in engagement with external stakeholders.
Work with Communications and Events teams to develop clear, accurate, and accessible messaging on human rights and social responsibility, including contributions to Textile Exchange’s annual conference and external communications.
Develop strategic recommendations for the Executive Team and Board as required, on managing human rights risks and opportunities across the organization and industry.
Maintain Textile Exchange’s human rights risk landscape analysis, ensuring alignment with emerging global risks, data sources, and regulatory developments.

Secondary Duties and Responsibilities

Provide internal capacity-building support and guidance on human rights and social responsibility topics.
Manage external consultants or project-based resources as needed.
Undertake additional responsibilities as required to support team and organizational priorities.

Minimum Qualifications

Minimum of 8 years’ experience in human rights, ethical trade or social impact.
Demonstrated experience working with global supply chains and diverse stakeholders.
Strong understanding of international human rights frameworks and evolving regulatory requirements.
Experience conducting or applying human rights risk assessments and due diligence processes.
Proven project management skills, including managing multiple priorities and budgets.
Strong writing and facilitation skills.
Strong stakeholder engagement skills.
Ability to handle multiple projects and deadlines while maintaining excellent attention to detail.
Ability to think outside the box to creatively problem solve within an ambitious and dynamic context.

Preferred Qualifications

Experience in the textile, apparel, or related supply chains.
Familiarity with certification systems, standards, or assurance models.
Experience working with upstream supply chains (e.g., agriculture, raw materials, or informal sectors).
Knowledge of grievance mechanisms, rightsholder engagement, and/or worker voice approaches.
Experience working in multi-stakeholder environments or industry initiatives.
Flexibility for travel and on the ground field trips and site visits.

Employment Package

Part-Time Position, 32 Hours a Week
Required travel: up to 20%
Annual Salary Range: $115,000 - $150,000 USD (Full-Time)