Manager - Sustainability & Social Compliance - Apparel Industry

Manager - Sustainability & Compliance is accountable for identifying, planning, developing and implementing long term sustainability initiatives and objectives, in alignment with the company's vision. The incumbent is also responsible for training, educating and developing team with the growing field of social, environmental and chemical compliance and sustainability. In addition, updating affiliations of the company on the importance and effectiveness of sustainability initiatives and ensuring their adherence to all laws and industry regulations, is a key role.

Major responsibilities :

CORE Compliance :

Update Company's Sustainability and Compliance Strategies :

1. Based on new trends and developments, develop compliance strategies, update audit scopes and scenario for the present and upcoming Company factories.

2. Develop a sustainable performance system for suppliers.

3. Interface social compliance, Occupational Health & Safety (OHS) and sustainability strategies with respective teams under the development of company's sustainability and compliance module.

4. Develop and follow up on periodic updates of the module.

5. Ensure 3rd party and customer audits pass at the first attempt.

Social Compliance and Safety :

1. Maintain 100% compliant and safe factory base as per customer requirement and company's Code of conduct (COC).

2. Timely upgrade strategies and audit criteria to ensure customers growing need on social compliance and safety.

3. Guide and upgrade factories and compliance team on new trends and practices of local and international bodies aligning with industry.

4. Communicate with RMG Sustainability Council (RSC), or any other authorities or customers, on relevant queries or issues to resolve them in a timely manner.

5. Implement and monitor SLCP at factory as per customer & Chemical Compliance :

1. Develop Energy management policy, water consumption metrics & sustainability strategy for company factories (tier 1 & 2) and implement reduction programs and timelines with specific targets.

2. Develop measurable waste management policy in supply chain & monitor the development.

3. Work with suppliers (raw material, processors & manufacturers) on waste to energy emphasis, to check if products and waste can be used into creating new product at a low cost.

4. Develop identification and prioritization of energy capital projects, practical implementation training that result in reduction of energy.

5. Evaluate and implement processes, developments and scalable solutions on Environmental & Chemical Compliance.

6. Identify the authenticity of processes and their positive impact as a scalable solution and identify the right supply partner.

7. Develop a roadmap of sustainability and compliance up to 2023 to execute strategic models delivering progress.

8. Develop an integrated ZERO WASTE Policy between suppliers, customers and the company.

9. Develop policies and corrective measures to monitor, reduce and control emission.

10. Develop and implement Effluent Treatment Plant (ETP) at wet processing unit among our vertically set up factories.

11. Monitor RSL (Restricted Substance List) failure on final product and take corrective actions accordingly to ensure product safety.

12. Analyze risk materials, chemicals and processes related to environment and natural resources and chalk out a phase-out plan.

13. Identify the key partners in our supply chain (manufacturing) who are working with the current requirement of sustainability (chemical & environmental safety) from a global perspective and derive their best practices and implement in our own supply chain.

14. Identify solutions through collaboration and tie-ups with innovators in research and manufacturing sector from private bodies to government enterprises.

15. Develop a process of implementing various methods of dyeing, e.g. Salt-free dyeing, waterless dyeing, natural dyeing in our production processes etc.

16. Devise Chemical and Material Management Solutions.

17. Evaluate chemical usage and identify companies from farm to finishing, like pesticides, dyeing, finishing, printing inks and processing.

18. Implement ZDHC guideline and HIGG FEM / FSLM (SLCP) in our supply chain to align with the industry.

Supply Chain Management (SCM) :

1. Develop Environmental Management System (EMS) and Chemical Management System (CMS) in supply chain.

2. Develop Water footprint strategy in SCM to monitor water consumption.

3. Develop process to identify the authenticity of material origin and implement it.

4. Develop company's internal evaluation from a genuine supply chain point of view.

5. Identify the list of preferred fiber and blends which apply all the above key conditions and can be easily recyclable.

6. Identify the suppliers and nominate them as partners to supply the yarns, fibers, fabrics etc. through regular meetings and collaboration and performance evaluations.

7. Devise packing materials & appropriate labelling solutions.

8. Research and analyze customers' requirements in terms of their sustainable initiatives.

9. Evaluate Tier-2 (dyeing, washing, printing) to ensure compliance as per company COC.

10. Monitor Sustainable Material sourcing process and Certification.

11. Assess current Supply Chain Management process.

12. Train and develop factories as per EMS and CMS.

Internal Communication :

1. Coordinate with Quality Controller (QC), Quality Auditor (QA), Independent Quality Auditor (IQA) to investigate safety practices of affiliated factories.

2. Prepare and provide approved factory list after auditing in detail and update it on MIS accordingly.

3. Assist Quality team members by updating factory list with updated compliance status.

4. Correspond with internal team to resolve any queries on sustainability practices or compliance issues.

5. Study and evaluate customers' manuals, Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) and Code of conduct (COC).

6. Categorize factories exercising best compliance practices and assist team in choosing according to requirement from customers' end.

7. Conduct Internal audit and gap analysis to optimize implementation of compliance by law.

8. Work closely with product, design, quality & merchandising department.

9. Receive and verify audit request forms sent by internal team when required.

External Communication :

1. Assist factory to prepare for facing third party audit.

2. Communicate with third party auditors to facilitate audit process.

3. Comprehend and implement customer requirements to factories and monitor accordingly.

4. Conduct meeting with factory representatives to prepare RMG Sustainability Council (RSC) Corrective Action Plan (CAP).

5. Assist lead brands by keeping them updated on factories.

6. Coordinate communication between RSC, factories and lead brands by arranging meeting between the entities concentrating on specific remediation, pending issues, feedback, etc.

7. Follow up action plan and timeline and update customers when required.

8. Work closely with factories to elevate remedy plan.

9. Build commitment and trust with external entities to sustain efficiency and trigger new relationship.

10. Handle complaints from customers by conducting root cause analysis and resolve the issues by taking necessary steps.

11. Provide Aid to suppliers / factories regarding BSCI, SEDEX, WRAP, ISO, C-TPAT, OEKO-TEX, GOTS, GRS, RCS, OCS, ECOVERO VISCOSE, and Code of Conducts.

12. Provide expertise on documentation and certifications to factories to assist them with being certified by third party audit.

Auditing Factory :

1. Arrange and conduct Opening meeting with assigned factory to confirm or ascertain objectives of the assessments and means of communication and resources.

2. Check and verify all documents related to Policy & Procedure, SOPs, certificates, licenses and records.

3. Monitor and evaluate factory's production, manufacturing, shipping and receiving processes against related sustainability and compliance regulations.

4. Organize On-site visit to factories to verify all declared documents and processes.

5. Check Building Construction & Structural Approval with the name of authority.

6. Check factory lay out plan approval from chief inspector of factory.

7. Consult with factory management if required.

8. Conduct and attend Closing meeting and share reports for further assessments.

Follow up on factory & Update factory database :

1. Evaluate Corrective Action Plan (CAP) submitted by team members and approve it for next course of action based on business demand.

2. Review third party auditors' comments and take corrective action.

3. Follow up on factories regularly and update factory rating based on recent evaluation.

4. Provide best sourced factory to Business Units from factory bank.

5. Update factory compliance certificate status and share it with management.

6. Update factory database with active and inactive factories and share it with management.

7. Liaise with Production Planning & Control (PPC) team to update factory list.

GENERAL RESPONSIBILITIES :

Training & Development :

Internal Entities :

1. Provide training to Quality Controller, Quality Auditor, Independent Quality Auditor and other Quality team members on practices of factory safety.

2. Conduct training on Fire Safety and Fire Drill for company's Team members on company premises.

3. Train Compliance team members in the direction of new models to keep team updated and increase operational efficiency of the team.

4. Develop team with necessary training regarding compliance updates, to sustain collaboration and alignment within the team.

5. Provide training to internal colleague of company regarding sustainability initiatives, trends, sustainable material certifications and source, TC procedure etc.

External Entities :

1. Continuously monitor industry and customer / brand trends, Government and International regulations and work with industry and government / BGMEA working groups, to comprehend cutting-edge energy, waste, chemical management sustainable solutions and implement the knowledge, practices and processes where necessary.

2. Train and update external team and our buyers in the direction of the new model.

3. Develop and present phase-wise development plans for respective customers.

4. Assist vendors and third-party partners to implement projects and review progress reports. Oversee social compliance, Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) and sustainability teams' activities to ensure delivery is achieved on time.

5. Lead training sessions and workshops on sustainability practices and policies for firm employees.

6. Provide training to concerned factory personnel when required.

Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) :

1. Compare supplier's CSR strategies against customers, local and international best practices to inspire and guide company's vendors to improve standard of living of workers and society.

2. Understand best CSR practices and identify factories to propose these practices, to create alignment with customers.

HR / Team Process

1. Actively engage in the screening and selection process and take responsibility of appointing the right candidate during the recruitment process.

2. Regulate and approve leave and attendance relevant transactions of subordinate employees.

3. Analyze and strategize the training and development needs of team members to ensure efficiency in performance.

4. Actively partake in the investigation procedure during any disciplinary action against subordinate employees.

5. Strategize succession planning within existing resources to ensure member loyalty and long-term progression.

6. Conduct fair analysis and evaluation of subordinate employees' performance during the Annual Performance Appraisal / Mid-Year Review and take decisions regarding increments.

7. Actively engage in the separation proceedings of subordinate employees in line with company policies.

(ref : iimjobs.com)