Daily Sustainability Job Post

* The link and job description provided was active on January 3, 2023 – the date this was posted. Please refer to the employer’s website for up to date information. This is not our search, we are providing these links as a service to the community of sustainability and ESG jobseekers.

Position Overview:

Founded in 1992, Anthropologie operates over 200 retail stores in North America and Europe, and ships to over 100 countries worldwide via our ecommerce channels.  We cater to fashionable, educated, and creative women between the ages of 28 to 45, who desire an inspirational shopping experience.  To that end, we are committed to exceeding her expectations in unexpected, delightful ways.  Our unique product assortment includes women’s apparel and accessories, home furnishings and décor, gifts, beauty, and found objects.  Our mission is to provide our customer with an unimagined experience.

Title

Sustainability Manager, Anthropologie, BHLDN & Terrain

Reports to

Senior Manager, Sustainability & Social Impact, Anthropologie, BHLDN & Terrain

Overview

Part of running a world-class retailer involves operating responsibly – in ways that contribute to A Greater Good, beyond simply making profits. One of our business priorities is to better serve the planet we call home and the people on it through the products we sell and the experiences we create. This role is a unique opportunity to support the development and implementation of our Sustainability and Social Impact strategy while gaining hands-on experience in a fast-paced and creative environment. The role involves setting internal-facing sustainability goals and targets pertaining to product sustainability, packaging and waste reduction initiatives and working cross-functionally to achieve them. It also involves working across multiple product categories, such as apparel, home, beauty and garden and will span both in-store and online activations. The job also has a strong cause marketing focus and will require engaging both Anthropologie Group customers and employees.

Responsibilities

• Lead the design and implementation of our annual Earth Month strategy and activation for both internal and external audiences, that grows in maturity year-over-year (such as, expanding existing non-profit partnership/s, designing product capsule collections, joining industry coalitions, etc.)
• Lead circularity initiatives across Anthropologie Group brands, such as expanding our partnership with Cotton Inc.’s Blue Jeans Go Green program; investigate and pilot other product takeback initiatives
• Lead product-focused sustainability initiatives to better market the products we currently sell that are sustainable online and in-store; Streamline the current sustainability claims process for both apparel and home products in partnership with buyers, merchants, copy writers and web developers; establish a clear standard operating procedure in collaboration with stakeholders and effectively roll out and manage the process on an ongoing basis (success is being able to easily pull a list of products that we sell that are sustainable, as well as what makes them sustainable in an automated and timely manner, according to URBN guidelines and ensuring said products are being marketing on all owned channels appropriately)
• Establish a sustainable products baseline with the breakdown of materials used in Anthropologie Group owned brands (both apparel and home), as well as the market brands we sell in both the apparel and home categories; establish appropriate sustainable textile and forestry goals aligned to URBN sustainable raw material targets and work with cross-functional teams to achieve them; track progress against said goals in a central location
• Take our Pilcro sustainability initiatives to the next level, including customer-facing storytelling both online and in-store; help set Pilcro-specific sustainability goals & targets
• Manage the Anthropologie relationship with Trex; represent Anthropologie on the URBN Plastic Mitigation Work Group; identify workable near-term and long-term solutions; handle all implementation needs and track metrics; launch additional in-store waste reduction initiatives over time
• Establish a strategic partnership with Nuuly, both in-stores and online to create a strong proof point around product circularity (rental and resale, in-store repair services, etc.)
• Act as the point person for Anthropologie Group brands for URBN’s carbon footprint
• Manage all Anthropologie Group sustainable packaging initiatives for both store and online orders, including the setting of Anthropologie Group-specific sustainable packaging goals and targets, aligned with URBN packaging targets
• Establish relationships with industry coalitions such as the Better Cotton Initiative and The Ellen MacArthur Foundation; share trainings and resources with Home Office employees
• Maintain ongoing awareness of industry trends, governmental regulations and environmental sustainability best practices
• Conduct peer benchmarking and other relevant research and compile findings in the form of recommendations in a central location.
• Support the execution of Sustainability/Social Impact plans and initiatives, as needed.

Qualifications

• Background experience and deep knowledge in product sustainability required; experience with marketing sustainable products and setting product-related goals and targets ideal
• Keen resourcefulness and problem-solving skills
• A self-start with the ability to work independently, lead and execute work through to completion; ability to work on multiple projects at once
• Excellent organizational skills with attention to detail, particularly as it relates to establishing new standard operating procedures and managing different types of data from different sources
• Strong project management skills used to build new programs and sustain existing ones; experience implementing programs across brands and/or internationally ideal
• Foundational understanding and experience practicing effective marketing strategies that engage customers in sustainability initiatives, making it easy for them to understand and join in
• Skilled at asking smart questions and staying curious; practicing a mindset of continuous improvement
• Ability to think strategically and capitalize on opportunities for scale
• Experience working with non-profit organizations; leading a comprehensive corporate/non-profit partnership ideal
• Ability to think creatively, take risks and tackle everyday problems in creative and unique ways
• Confidence in subject matter expertise and bringing forth ideas to make an impact, as well as representing the Anthropologie Group brands externally
• Particular passion and skill in knowledge sharing, specifically amongst colleagues and employees
• Willingness to jump in and do; looking for someone with a bias for action over analysis
• Experience: 3-5 years professional experience leading projects in a corporate setting

Education

Bachelor or Master’s degree program in Sustainability, Marketing, Business and/or Communications from an accredited college or university. Any specialized training or curriculum focused on Corporate Responsibility or Sustainability preferred.

Location

Philadelphia, PA