Social Sustainability Lead, Apac

Are you a sustainability professional with a desire to use your experience to add value as part of a newly created regional sustainability team? Are you looking to make a further impact within the apparel, fashion and/or têxtile space?

If you are nodding your head to the above, we might have the perfect role for you

Acre is delighted to be partnering with a renowned luxury brand in search of a Social Sustainability Lead. You will be a purpose-driven, experienced sustainability professional with a keen interest in having a meaningful impact on human rights and driving social sustainability through the private sector and the world of work.

Reporting to the Head of Sustainability, APAC, you will support internal functions and business teams in designing and implementing practical work plans to scale and sustain social change across the brand's value chain. You will work closely with the corporate Social Sustainability team and cross-functionally with departments such as Procurement, Internal Audit, Legal, Human Resources, L&D, and Operations to drive social sustainability projects.

**In this role, you will**:

- Work closely with the Head of Human Rights at a corporate level, and with functions and business teams across APAC to shape the human rights and social sustainability roadmaps for the APAC region.
- Continuously undertake research and analysis on emerging regional human rights issues in an evolving social and environmental landscape.
- Help to design and tailor guidance documents, methodologies, and tools related to APAC social sustainability priorities.
- Ensure proper integration of sustainability into the brand's supplier management.
- Develop and pilot social sustainability programs in advancing dignity and prosperity across their value chain, complementing their social compliance auditing approach.
- Collaborate with the brand's business partners in their value chain in building social sustainability capacity within their operations.
- Lead the tracking and reporting on progress towards APAC social sustainability targets and KPIs.

Our client values creating an environment that allows employees to perform at their best and feel fulfilled and confident in their work. It prioritizes its employees and aims to create a safe and supportive environment that values individuality and humanity. This allows employees to fully bring themselves to their work and personal pursuits. The company offers a unique workplace that encourages personal and professional growth by fostering an understanding of the brand, business, and motivations.

Social impact is a key strategic priority for the brand's Sustainability strategy both globally and in Asia. Their social sustainability commitment pertains to their aim for everyone in their value chain (people working with or for them) to be treated with dignity and respect, and to have the opportunity to thrive.

**To be successful in this role, you will have**:

- 8+ years of relevant work experience in Human Rights or Social Sustainability with or within the private sector.
- Technical expertise on human or labour rights issues or worker welfare topics such as modern slavery, living wages, indigenous peoples and local communities' rights, gender mainstreaming, and just transition in the APAC region with a proficient knowledge of impact program typologies, relevant tools, and social innovations.
- A track record of successful program management and delivery, coordinating multiple contributors and workstreams.
- An entrepreneurial and creative approach to problem-solving, tackling challenges, and conceptualizing ideas.
- Experience and are comfortable engaging and working with actors from different working cultures and backgrounds, with diverse approaches to reaching the same goal.
- An ability to plan, organize, and prioritize your workload, and be autonomous.
- Fluency in English, with demonstrable spoken and written communication skills. Proficiency in a second language, preferably French, is a plus.

**Desirable but not essential**:

- Master's degree in Human Rights, International Human Rights Law, Socio-Economic Development, Sociology, Anthropology, or Public Policy.
- Previous experience working with or for the retail, consumer goods or luxury industry in the APAC region.
- Previous experience working with or for a civil society organization or NGO involved in social impact.