Head of Ethical Trade and Sustainability - EMEAA
Because you can see how we can be better. Impact, your way.
Ethical Trade and Environmental Sustainability at Primark
We're responsible for keeping an eye on Primark’s social and sustainability commitments as part of our Primark Cares strategy. As a key member of our expansive EMEAA team, you'll collaborate with suppliers, champion ethical practices, and make a tangible difference. All with the purpose of ensuring we meet social compliance, environmental sustainability legislative requirements, industry initiatives and standards.
We proudly operate in 17 countries across Europe and the USA, and we are on an exhilarating growth trajectory, expanding into both new and existing markets. This unique and strategic new role is designed to fortify our Ethical Trade programme across Europe, the Middle East, Africa, and the Americas, promoting continuous improvement and supporting the ambitious objectives of our Primark strategy.
As we expand our business, we remain committed to delivering maximum joy at minimum cost to our customers. This role is crucial in ensuring that ethics and human rights, sustainable and environmental practices, and collaboration and innovation with our suppliers and partners are at the forefront of our operations. By building and managing impactful programs, you'll play a key role in shaping the future of our business and making a positive impact.
What you’ll get:
People are at the heart of what we do here, so it’s essential we provide you with the right environment to perform at your very best. Let’s talk lifestyle:
- 27 days of leave, plus bank holidays and if you want, you can buy 5 more.
- Flexible Working, the opportunity for an early Friday finish, and a subsidised cafeteria.
- Primark Perks – Discounts with some local partner businesses to our offices
What You’ll do:
We want you to feel challenged and inspired. Here, you’ll develop your skills across a range of responsibilities:
- Successfully direct Primark's Ethical Trade and Environmental Sustainability activities in the region, contributing to global strategy.
- Provide regional insights to global strategy and own the regional strategy and implementation plan.
- Developed and managed a high-performance team that ensured compliance with Primark's Code of Conduct and drove effective factory remediation and sustainability projects.
- Report and drive solutions for critical issues, engaging at all levels to protect the brand and workers' rights in Primark’s supply chains.
- Established positive relationships with stakeholders, including NGOs and unions, to support Primark's ethical and sustainability goals.
- Implementing significant improvements in supply chain monitoring and reporting processes, enhancing data integrity and operational efficiency.
What you'll bring
We want every person in our organisation to feel like they’re making a key contribution. Here are some of the experiences and skills you’ll need for the role:
- Over 10 years of experience in leadership roles in Ethical Trade and Sustainability, Corporate Social Responsibility or Ethical Supply Chain.
- Has led and developed diverse, expert teams (more than 30 team members)
- Expert knowledge of human rights due diligence in the industrial context and the workings of international Brands
- Managing such a programme in a country where human rights is a highly sensitive and potentially political topic
- Appreciates the bigger picture of the audit programme and its link to Primark as a business
- Drives worker welfare and reduces environmental impact while maintaining operational continuity.
- Switches happily between Human Rights, Environmental Sustainability and Brand agendas and seeks opportunities to combine all three.
- Solid understanding of factory monitoring and remediation processes (e.g. SMETA, SA8000, HIGG) and the management of 3rd party audit companies
- Strong experience in programme/project management with relevant partners, e.g. Better Work and local NGOs
Does this sound like you? Great, because we can’t wait to see what you’ll bring. You’ll be supported within a team of equally capable people, celebrating who you are and aiding you reach your potential. At Primark, we’re excited about our future - and we’re excited to develop yours.
At Primark, people matter. They’re the beating heart of our business and the reason we’ve grown from our first store in Dublin in 1969 to a £9bn+ turnover business a over 80,000 colleagues and over 440 stores in 17 countries today. Our values run through everything we do. In essence, we're Caring and always strive to put people first. We're also Dynamic, bravely pushing the boundaries to stay ahead. And finally, we succeed Together.
If you need any reasonable adjustments or have an accessibility requests, during your recruitment journey, such as extended time or breaks between online assessments, a sign language interpreter, mobility access, or assistive technology please contact your talent acquisition specialist.
All offers of employment are subject to background checks, including right to work, reference education and for some roles criminal, and financial checks. If you have any concerns please reach out to our talent acquisition team to discuss.
