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Sustainability Lead

N Brown Group • United Kingdom • Added on Aug 3, 2026
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As the Sustainability Lead at N Brown Group, you will be the operational engine behind the delivery of the Group’s integrated sustainability and responsible sourcing strategy. You will oversee the transition from theoretical targets to concrete actions across product lifecycles, supply chain ethics, and operational efficiency. Your work involves translating complex ESG data into actionable insights while ensuring the business remains ahead of a rapidly tightening regulatory landscape.

This role is vital because it sits at the intersection of retail inclusivity and environmental accountability. You will directly influence how a major digital platform manages its human rights due diligence and circularity initiatives, ensuring that fashion accessibility does not come at the cost of planetary or social health. It is an opportunity to shape the legacy of a heritage business as it pivots toward a fully transparent and compliant digital future.

This suits someone who possesses a deep technical understanding of textile sustainability and thrives when bridging the gap between high-level ESG reporting and day-to-day supplier engagement.

Job FAQs

What are the main missions and responsibilities of this role?

The primary mission involves operationalizing the Group's Sustainability and Responsible Sourcing Strategy. You will be responsible for the end-to-end management of social compliance programs, which includes ethical audits and corrective action plans to ensure the supply chain aligns with international human rights standards. On the product side, you will manage compliance with emerging environmental legislation, such as Digital Product Passports and circularity requirements. You will also lead the collection and validation of ESG data for external disclosures, including CDP and Modern Slavery statements, ensuring the business is audit-ready and transparent in its progress.

Key learning opportunities for this job

Candidates will gain significant expertise in the technicalities of textile sustainability certifications like Better Cotton, GRS, and FSC. You will develop a sophisticated understanding of the evolving EU and UK regulatory landscape, specifically around ESPR and Green Claims governance. Furthermore, the role offers exposure to cutting-edge ESG technology, as you will be tasked with integrating AI tools and supplier management platforms into the sustainability workflow. This provides a unique opportunity to lead digital transformation within a corporate social responsibility context.

How does the ideal candidate look like (experience, skills)?

The ideal profile holds a degree in Sustainability, Fashion, or Supply Chain and brings at least three years of experience in an ESG-focused role. You should demonstrate a strong command of responsible sourcing frameworks and have a proven track record of engaging with global supply chains to drive ethical improvements. Analytical rigor is essential; you must be comfortable interpreting complex datasets to produce meaningful ESG reports. Soft skills are equally important, as you will need to influence cross-functional teams in Buying and Sourcing to adopt sustainable practices that may challenge traditional retail workflows.

Advice to stand out and make a successful application

To stand out, demonstrate a specific understanding of the inclusivity mission at N Brown and how sustainability can be a lever for financial empowerment. Avoid generic statements about loving the environment; instead, highlight your technical familiarity with specific textile pacts or modern slavery reporting. Prepare to discuss how you stay updated on emerging regulations like CSRD or CSDDD. Showing an analytical mindset—specifically how you have turned audit findings into successful supplier remediation projects—will demonstrate that you are ready for the operational realities of this role.

What aspects of the company's sustainability is this role likely to focus on?

The role focuses heavily on the circularity and traceability of products, moving the company toward a model where environmental claims are backed by robust data. Social sustainability is also a core pillar, with a significant emphasis on worker welfare and ethical trade within the global supply chain. You will also be deeply involved in climate-related risk management. This involves assessing how environmental shifts impact the business’s enterprise risk profile and ensuring the company meets its voluntary commitments under frameworks like the UK Textile Pact.

What are the main challenges someone in this role might face?

One of the primary challenges will be navigating the fast-paced digital retail environment where commercial speed must be balanced with rigorous ethical due diligence. Aligning diverse internal departments like Buying and Finance with long-term sustainability OKRs can require significant negotiation and persistence. Additionally, keeping pace with the fragmented global regulatory environment requires constant vigilance. Ensuring that data from hundreds of suppliers is accurate and ready for external audit presents a significant logistical and technical hurdle.

How could a typical day look like for someone in this position?

A typical day might begin with reviewing ethical audit reports from suppliers and coordinating with the Sourcing team on necessary corrective actions. Mid-day might be spent in cross-functional meetings to discuss the integration of Digital Product Passports into the platform's user interface. Afternoons are often dedicated to data governance—validating sustainability metrics for upcoming investor reports or climate disclosures. You may also spend time delivering training sessions to the Buying team to help them understand how material choices impact the Group's overall carbon footprint.

What are the opportunities for professional growth and development in this role?

As the business evolves its digital platform, this role offers a path toward senior ESG leadership. Success in implementing traceability systems and regulatory frameworks will position you as a key strategic asset for the Group's long-term compliance and reputation management. There are also opportunities for lateral skill development in areas like enterprise risk management or sustainable procurement. High-visibility projects, such as leading the response to major sustainability ratings, provide a platform to demonstrate leadership to executive stakeholders.

The main stakeholders you might be interacting with

Internal stakeholders include the Product, Buying, and Sourcing teams, whom you will influence to adopt sustainable materials and ethical practices. You will also work closely with the Finance and Risk departments to align ESG reporting with broader corporate governance. Externally, you will be the point of contact for suppliers, NGOs, and industry bodies. Building collaborative relationships with these partners is essential for driving systemic change and ensuring that N Brown remains a trusted participant in global sustainability initiatives.

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