Fabric & Certification Manager

Who we are: White Stuff was established in 1985 through a simple idea. This idea grew and now we have shops and concessions in the UK and internationally, selling women’s and men’s clothing as well as beautiful accessories and homeware. Our original prints (all designed in house), intricate details and considered design touches reflect our personality and make us subtly distinctive. Our people are at the heart of our brand, constantly moving and driving us forward. We’re sociable, talented and like minded and we’re not hierarchical or political in how we do business. We encourage entrepreneurial ideas and accountability at all levels. Primary objective of the job: To lead the development, sourcing and compliance of fabrics and certified materials across the product range, ensuring all products meet quality, sustainability, traceability and certification requirements. The role acts as the key link between suppliers, mills, certification bodies and internal product teams to support responsible sourcing and sustainability objectives. Reporting To Head of Garment Tech/Sustainability/Fabric & Certification What you’ll be doing: Fabric Strategy & Development - Develop and implement the fabric sourcing strategy in line with business objectives. - Identify and introduce innovative, cost-effective and sustainable fabric solutions. - Work closely with Design, Buying, Technical & Sustainability teams on fabric selection, performance & Certification requirements. - Manage fabric development from concept through to bulk production. Certification & Traceability - Review/create and proactively manage robust certification programmes including Scope Certificates, Transaction Certificates and Chain of Custody requirements. - Track and ensure suppliers maintain valid certification for relevant standards. - Verify sustainability claims through appropriate documentary evidence. - Maintain robust certification records and traceability systems. - Coordinate external certification audits and support corrective action plans Sustainable Materials Management - Lead the implementation of responsible fibre and material strategies. - Monitor uptake of certified fibres and sustainable material targets. - Work with suppliers to improve environmental and social performance. Provide guidance on standards such as GOTS, OCS, GRS, FSC, Fairtrade and other relevant certification schemes. Material Sourcing & Textile Innovation - Eco-Conscious Development: Identify and develop cutting-edge, sustainable fabric options that hit WS commercial targets and ESG initiatives. - Supply Chain Tracing: Evaluate and map tier-2 mills and tier-3 raw material suppliers to ensure total transparency and proactively manage supply chain risks. - Commercial Balancing: Collaborate across product development and production to align fabric aesthetics and technical performance with target margins and delivery timelines Sustainable Materials Management - Lead the implementation of responsible fibre and material strategies. - Monitor uptake of certified fibres and sustainable material targets. - Work with suppliers to improve environmental and social performance. - Provide guidance on standards such as GOTS, OCS, GRS, FSC, Fairtrade and other relevant certification schemes Supplier Management - Build strong relationships with mills, manufacturers and certification bodies. - Support supplier onboarding, training and compliance activities. - Conduct supplier reviews and monitor certification performance. - Resolve certification, traceability and material compliance issues. Governance & Compliance - Monitor emerging sustainability legislation and industry requirements. - Educate and train WS teams on emerging sustainability legislation. - Ensure compliance with customer, regulatory and certification requirements. - Develop policies and procedures relating to certified materials. - Support audits, customer requests and due diligence activities. Data & Reporting - Create and maintain efficient, accurate certification and traceability records. - Produce reports on certified material usage, supplier compliance and sustainability performance. - Analyse data to identify risks, opportunities and improvement actions. What you’ll need: Skills & Experience Essential - Experience in fabric sourcing, textile development or material management within fashion or apparel. - Strong understanding of textile manufacturing processes. - Experience managing certification schemes such as GOTS, OCS, GRS, FSC or Fairtrade. - Knowledge of chain of custody and traceability requirements. - Strong project management and stakeholder management skills. - Excellent communication and analytical abilities. - Experience with ESG, responsible sourcing or sustainability programmes. - Understanding of evolving regulatory requirements affecting fashion supply chains. - Experience managing external audits and certification bodies. Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) - Percentage of certified materials used in product ranges. - Supplier certification compliance rate. - Transaction Certificate submission compliance. - Audit completion and certification renewal success. - Reduction in certification non-conformances. - Delivery of sustainable material sourcing targets. What we will offer you: As a Fabric and Certification Manager at White Stuff you will be entitled to an array of great benefits, some of which include: - Hybrid working - Annual bonus opportunity - Up to 25 days holiday per annum, plus bank holidays - 2 extra (paid!) days off per year to volunteer in the local community - 50% discount - Subsidised BUPA Dental Insurance - Healthcare cash plan and Life Assurance - Interest free season ticket loan - Pension Contribution We are committed to creating an environment where we can all be proud to work and be ourselves. Part of this commitment is being an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will be considered for employment without regard to race, colour, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, genetics, disability, and age. #LI-hybrid