Standards Director

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

The Standards Director leads the Textile Exchange Standards team, reporting to the Standards System, Sr. Director. The Director of Standards has oversight of the Standards team, which is responsible for standards development, maintenance, and technical content of standards. This will include accountability for strategic plan development and delivering against annual KPIs for the Standards team, personnel management, budget oversight, and reporting to Textile Exchange leadership. The Standards Director will be part of the Scheme Management team that oversees the full standards system. This role will have strong cross functional duties within the organization, including key collaboration with the teams overseeing standards assurance, stakeholder engagement, data and technology, and climate and nature impacts.

We expect the first 90 days of this role will focus on relationship building, onboarding, and acclimation to general systems and teams at Textile Exchange. Within the first 30 days, we expect a review of the current Standards team structure, focusing on meeting staff and key relationship building, as well as beginning to meet key cross-functional collaboration teams. The first 60 days will then see rapid integration into key projects – including but not limited to the unified standard project: a multi-year initiative and a priority for the organization in the short term. Within the first 90 days, it is expected that this role will be integrated into these project teams and begin to suggest process and structural changes to ensure the efficiency of project and process delivery and communication between teams.

Duties and Responsibilities

Standards Team Management & Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Oversee the Standards team, including personnel management, workplan development and prioritization, budget inputs, and reporting on key performance indicators;
• Plan capacity and resources for growth and scale of Textile Exchange standards, including optimal standards team structure planning;
• Guide the standards team internally and cross-functionally to connect inputs on different parts of our standards to ensure a cohesive system;
• Collaborate with internal experts on best practices in raw material production and recycling, impact and outcome monitoring, and stakeholder engagement to ensure standards are developed and communicated according to the best available knowledge, science, and credibility;
• Collaborate closely with the Assurance team to deliver credibility for the standards system, both directly and via the Scheme Management team;
• Collaborate with the Quality and Risk Management team to ensure proactive mitigation of real and potential risks to the standards system.

Standards System Management

• Manage our approach for recognition of eligible materials and verification systems that are accepted in our standards;
• Oversee the standard-setting cycles and processes for standards system development, including input through working groups and consultations, and testing through pilots, in conformance with ISEAL codes;
• Advise on new approaches in our standards system for driving outcomes;
• Participate in initiatives for stakeholder feedback loops and connect standards user and expertise input on different parts of our standards for a cohesive system;
• Oversee the development and upkeep of policies, templates, and guidelines to support understanding of standard intent as well as interpretation;
• Provide input on robust training and interpretation to accompany standards to ensure effective adoption and implementation;
• Oversee the International Working Group and other standards revision working groups: responsible for feedback and revisions of Textile Exchange standards.

Strategic

• Provide content for reporting to Senior Leadership and the Governance Board on standards work;
• Continually research and implement improvements to the existing systems to respond to performance and capacity learnings as well as to keep pace with evolving technology;
• Represent Textile Exchange standards to the industry as needed.

Minimum Experience And Qualifications

• At least 10 years' experience in verification programs, at a standards body and/or certification body, or related entity. Preference for prior engagement with an ISEAL Member standard or initiative.
• Proven leadership experience, including managing large, diverse teams. Preference for international and remote management experience.
• Excellent English written and oral skills. Preference for experience writing and development of sustainability standards policies and criteria.
• Excellent speaking and presentation skills.
• Excellent computer skills including advanced proficiency in Microsoft Excel, PowerPoint, & Word and the ability to quickly learn new systems.
• A driven individual with a strong work ethic and a high degree of autonomy. Self-starting and proactive.
• Highly attentive to detail with strong organizational and planning skills.
• Able to hit the ground running – you will need to have experience working in a fast-paced and demanding environment.
• Motivated, energetic, determined, and with strong interpersonal skills.
• Able to produce a high standard of work across all forms of media.
• Honest, professional, responsible, discreet, and able to act with the organization’s utmost confidence at all times.

Employment Package

• Reports to: Standards and Assurance Senior Director
• Full Time Position, 40 Hours a Week
• Location: Virtual/Remote
• Salary Range: 128,000 – 160,000 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.