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, a yearly bonus, opportunities for continuing education, and more.
Like all roles at Textile Exchange, this role will be primarily home-based; Textile Exchange is a US-based but remote-working organization with a global team. Your key colleague will be mainly based in the US and Europe.
Job Summary
This role will work to drive increased availability and usage of recycled materials, with a primary focus on textile feedstocks, through engagement with suppliers, schemes, initiatives, and companies. The Recycled Materials Lead will act as the ‘voice’ for the recycled material producers and the system surrounding them. In this role they will provide subject matter expertise on recycling, staying apprised of the latest developments in recycling systems, and will also be responsible for developing and maintaining feedback loops both internally and externally. This role sits in the Engagement and Partnership department, in the Materials Engagement and Partnership team
The ideal candidate will have experience working with recycled materials and the textile supply chain. Ideally, they have spent time in facilities and understand the complexities of translating principles into reality on-the-ground. They share our organizational commitment to collaboration across different stakeholders and driving the sector towards beneficial climate and nature outcomes at scale. They have strong stakeholder engagement skills, excel at delivering against objectives in a collaborative context, and have a great track record managing a team.
Duties and Responsibilities
- Lead the strategy for recycled fibres and materials with the aim of accelerating the industry’s transition away from virgin fossil-based materials and towards textile-to-textile recycling. This includes problem-solving and helping to navigate the different innovations in this space, with the ultimate aim of supporting the scale and adoption of recycled materials (this includes all recycled feedstocks and both chemical and mechanical recycling)
- Ensure our organizational strategy related to recycled materials is informed by suppliers, schemes, initiatives, academic and research institutions, as well as the companies directly involved in recycling and recycled feedstocks.
- Foster and develop partnerships with key organizations working in the recycling space to help to advance strategic aims. Including making connections between different groups working towards creative and innovative solutions in recycling.
- Inform and support execution of the long-term strategy of how our standards system captures the complexities in recycling processes as well as our approach to increasing certified recycled material usage and the long-term move towards textile-to-textile recycling.
- Oversee Textile Exchange’s work on synthetics and manmade cellulosic materials as well as other recycled materials, soliciting and managing input from external experts when needed.
- Collaborate with recycled material suppliers, schemes, initiatives, and companies to advance progress on feedstock availability, impact measurement, traceability, and other identified priorities that help advance increased uptake and availability of recycled materials.
- Support the execution of the relevant Round Tables, working groups, and all related programs by contributing to content, material expertise, and agenda planning.
- Support the execution of the 2025 rPET Challenge and support the development of future commitments beyond 2025.
- Support organizational and industry thought leadership on the topic of recycled materials and feedstocks, including:
- Feeding into impact targets and impact measurement approaches, including relevant Life Cycle Assessment studies led by Textile Exchange, in partnership with the Impact Data & Measurement Team.
- Providing input into policy position papers, reporting frameworks, e.g. Science-Based Targets for Nature and Taskforce on Nature-Related Financial Disclosures, and Textile Exchange reporting frameworks, e.g. Materials Benchmark and Preferred Fiber and Materials Matrix.
- Overall organizational point of view and vision related to recycled materials.
- Partner with regional networks to deliver regional engagement strategies with, and companies.
- Work across departments and teams to ensure that appropriate feedback loops are developed and maintained between stakeholders and our core activities.
- Serve as a key point of contact for media requests related to recycled materials and support the Textile Exchange Communications team in the development of relevant content.
Minimum Experience and Qualifications
- 5+ years’ experience working in a senior capacity in sustainability, recycling, circularity, or relevant areas.
- Excellent stakeholder management and engagement experience and skill sets.
- Understanding of recycling, feedstock sources and challenges, and key schemes, initiatives, and companies working in recycled.
- Experience building and leading teams.
- Strong writing and facilitation skills.
- Strategic thinker able to develop, contribute to, and implement strategic planning.
- Content expert with strong industry knowledge and network.
- Experienced with hosting multi-stakeholder meetings and stakeholder engagement.
- Advanced project management skills.
- Knowledgeable of sustainable sourcing and production practices in the fashion and textile industry.
- Excellent time management and communication 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.
- Flexibility for travel, on-the-ground trips, field trips, and site visits.
Employment Package
- Reports to: Engagement and Partnerships Senior Director
- Full Time Position, 40 Hours a Week
- Location: Virtual/Remote
- Salary Range: 105,000-135,000 USD
- To be filled as soon as possible (start date to be agreed between both parties).
- Our offers for salary and benefits are dependent on the region of the final candidate. We post most positions based on a US-based Team member, but final offers are made in alignment with the final candidate’s permanent residence and in line with Textile Exchange’s regional employment package.
- To see if we hire in your country and for more information, please visit: https://remote.com/country-explorer
How to Apply
Please apply here with your resume and a cover letter.
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.