The Role:
As an Assistant Ethical Trade Manager you will be responsible for supporting and assisting with the continuous development of the Next plc global Corporate Responsibility strategy and to support the compliance of the Next Group supply chain. This will involve identifying where issues exist, making decisions and reporting on the improvements required and managing such action plans to achieve the required standards. The role will involve national and potentially international travel. You will be working closely with relevant product teams to build awareness of our Code of Practice approach and will liaise regularly with our own overseas team.
The role will spend time at both Next Head Office in Enderby and Joules Head Office in Market Harborough
What You Will Take On:
Auditing
You will ensure that the new supplier on-boarding and induction process is followed correctly as well as processing New Site Requests and factory self-assessments for inclusion in audit planning. You will schedule and carry out audits as per Code of Practice in the ‘UK & Rest of World’ region in line with COP Principle Standards and Auditing Standards ensuring that non-conformities are clearly identified & communicated to the relevant supplier in a timely manner. Audit reports must be completed to a high standard in line with our team approach.
COP Process
As part of the role you will plan and hold meetings with internal teams and external suppliers covering a range of issues such as factory lists, compliance performance, remediation plans, global supply chain issues as well as supporting suppliers/factories/product teams/global COP team with management of corrective action plans. You will also be responsible for building and maintaining supplier and product team relationships
What You Will Bring:
You will demonstrate a passion and interest for ethical trading, as well as an understanding of broader global supply chain issues. Having a good understanding and appreciation for compliance processes and practices is also an advantage.
An ability and willingness to travel throughout the UK and overseas.
An effective communicator you will possess exceptional organisational skills and have an ability to adapt and prioritise a challenging workload.
A natural problem solver you will have experience of visiting factories and engaging with a range of stakeholders including internal teams, external suppliers and other organisations.
A strong understanding of compliance processes and ethical trading issues.
Excellent organisational skills and the flexibility to adapt to changing priorities.
Some experience of data analytics and using data to prepare reports is desirable but not essential.
A valid driving license and the ability to travel across the UK and overseas.
#LI-DC1
You know Next, but did you know we’re a FTSE-100 retail company employing over 44,000 people across the Next group. We’re the UK’s 2nd largest fashion retailer and for Kidswear we’re the market leader. At the last count we have over 450 stores, plus the Next Online and it’s now possible to buy on-line from over 80 countries around the world! So we’ve gone global!
At Next we never underestimate what we can do. Bring your energy, play to your strengths and never shy away from change. Push yourself and back others. Make things happen that will be bigger and better than before.
Come and work for one of the UK’s biggest retailers. It is everything you could imagine, and so much more. We’re constantly innovating, constantly working on something new and constantly creating more and more exciting new products, which means no day is the same, and no day is dull.
Whether you take up a role in making furniture with our lively warehouse team or join our team of superhuman developers and tech engineers, you’ll be rubbing shoulders with some of the most talented people in the country, who not only work hard but play hard too.
Let's take it on.
