Overview

The Barbour story began in 1894 in South Shields in the North East of England. Founder John Barbour began supplying oilskins and other garments to protect the growing community of sailors, fishermen and dockers. Still family owned and now fifth generation, Barbour HQ remains in South Shields. Under the leadership of Chairman Dame Margaret Barbour, Barbour has grown into a lifestyle brand sold in over 55 countries worldwide including Europe, the US and Asia offering a wardrobe of stylish functional clothing, footwear and accessories inspired by the unique values of the British countryside. The iconic Barbour Bedale and Barbour Beaufort wax jackets continue to be made by hand in the factory in South Shields. In 2020, Barbour launched Wax for Life, an overarching name for all of Barbour’s wax services designed to encourage customers to extend the life of their wax garments. Wax for Life includes re-waxing and repairs (first introduced in 1921) and Barbour Re-Loved an upcycling circularity initiative. Each year over 70,000 wax garments are sent back to Barbour globally to be repaired, rewaxed or altered.

Position Overview:

We have an exciting opportunity for a Product Sustainability Manager to join our Supply Chain team here at our Head Office in South Shields. This new role will support the Senior Sustainability Manager in further implementing activities to support our environmental sustainability commitments. The role will focus on enhancing Barbour’s products by improving their sustainability credentials whilst retaining, or even further advancing, their quality, heritage and durability.

A key focus of the role will be to increase the use of “preferred materials” and to support compliant product sustainability claims as well as improving and utilising product sustainability data. The role will work closely with our Design, Fabric Development and Quality teams as well as the Supply Chain Sustainability Manager. This is an exciting opportunity to play a fundamental role in further advancing Barbour’s sustainability activities.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

  • Improve the sustainability impacts of Barbour’s products, including carbon reduction, by identifying and implementing design and material changes.
  • Increase the uptake of preferred materials across Barbour’s product range, prioritizing options for cotton, wool, leather and synthetics. Work with colleagues to understand fabric briefs, identify viable “preferred material” options, implement accordingly and ensure compliant claims can be made.
  • Ensure brand compliance with requirements set out by relevant third-party schemes including Better Cotton initiative, Leather Working Group and Textile Exchange Standards(GRS, RCS, OCS, RWS, RAS, RDS). Approve product claims in line with these standards and legislation, where appropriate.
  • Develop strong working relationships with Barbour’s Design teams and Fabric Development team and implement processes, policy and training as required to support Barbour’s environmental sustainability commitment across its product range.
  • Oversee improvements in the availability, accuracy and management of product sustainability data in line with business need. This includes utilizing key systems such as PLM.
  • Analyse data, including results from carbon reports, eco-scores and EPR submissions, to identify products and materials with the greatest environmental risks or opportunities and prioritize actions.
  • Support the development of Barbour’s product-related sustainability policies and ensure these are upheld across the business. These include Barbour’s Animal Welfare Policy and Product Certification Manual.
  • Stay up to date of current and proposed legislation and best practice relating to environmental sustainability of products.
  • Complete sustainability reports and respond to customer queries relating to environmental sustainability.
  • Form a key part of Barbour’s sustainability team, help embed a culture of sustainability throughout the business and contribute to other areas of sustainability activity as required.

Skills and Experience:

  • Strong value of textiles – experience in cotton, wool, leather and/or polyester and polyamide is favoured.
  • Good working knowledge of sustainability, especially in relation to textiles. Experience of certification schemes, such as the Textile Exchange Standards, would be a bonus.
  • Excellent communication skills and experience of building strong internal relationships.
  • Able to articulate complex concepts and requirements to a variety of audiences.
  • High level of attention to detail.
  • Strong data management.
  • Competent user of IT packages, including Microsoft Office. The ideal candidate would also have experience of PLM software.
  • Able to work in a fast-paced, challenging and often changing environment.
  • Results focused, curious, resilient and has an enthusiasm for solving problems as well as the motivation to achieve long term outcomes.
  • Able to prioritize and organize own workload, and to work independently within a very small team.

Benefits:

  • Discretionary Company bonus scheme
  • Staff Discount
  • Staff Shop
  • Healthcare Cash Plan
  • 25 days holiday as standard increasing with length of service plus bank holiday
  • Access to training and development activities to support your career development
  • Free onsite parking
  • Subsidised canteen
  • Operate hybrid & flexible working
  • 4pm finish on a Friday
  • Wellbeing support
  • Refer a friend bonus scheme
  • Reward & Recognition Program
  • Length of Service Rewards

Note: In the event that a sufficient volume of suitable applications are received, the post may close prior to the specified closing date. Please apply as soon as possible

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