Gillingham, Dorset
Embody the values of an ethically-minded organisation and drive continued improvement in our mission to deliver high-quality, sustainable products.
As an Ethical Sourcing Manager, you will be instrumental in ensuring that our sourcing strategy and practices align with ethical, social, and environmental standards. You will work collaboratively with suppliers, internal teams, and stakeholders to establish and maintain responsible sourcing practices and to build a future-focused supplier strategy, while developing commercial, technical, and ethical objectives over short, medium, and long-term timelines.
Day to day, you will:
* Lead the development and execution of the business-wide sourcing strategy.
* Collaborate with internal teams to create a forward-thinking supplier strategy
* Develop and maintain strong relationships with global suppliers
* Identify sourcing opportunities across the business, leveraging existing and new supplier relationships to introduce new products
* Oversee the entire supplier onboarding process, ensuring ethical audits and responsible practices are adhered to.
* Drive and expand the supplier management processes, regularly reporting progress to both internal and external stakeholders, and using data and analytics to support strategic decision-making
* Manage collaboration with suppliers on cross-costing initiatives.
* Communicate global macro changes from suppliers to the wider business.
* Ensure that the risk profile of the Sourcing department is managed, and suitable continuity plans are developed and in place.
* Attend Sourcing Fairs/ Trade Fairs and provide feedback to the wider business.
* Educate internal teams on ethical sourcing practices and provide guidance on integrating sustainability considerations into procurement decisions.
* Stay informed about industry trends, best practices, and emerging issues related to ethical sourcing.
* Champion a culture of high performance and continuous improvement
You will need:
* Experience in Ethical Sourcing, Responsible Sourcing, or Sustainability within retail, sourcing, or manufacturing.
* Strong knowledge of ethical sourcing principles, environmental impact, and social responsibility standards.
* Familiarity with industry certifications and compliance frameworks such as ETI standards and SEDEX auditing processes.
* CIPS qualification is preferred
* Excellent communication and negotiation skills, with the ability to build strong relationships.
* A detail-oriented approach with a strategic mindset.
* Understanding of global ethical sourcing regulations and standards.
* Naturally embodies the values contained in the ‘Essence of Neal’s Yard Remedies.
* Proven track record of continuous improvement
Neal's Yard Remedies are partnering with Cogito on this recruitment. Upon receipt of your application, a member of the Cogito team will be in contact to discuss next steps.