Sustainability Manager

Job Title : Sustainability Manager

Location : Toronto (Hybrid)

Reporting to : Head of Sustainability

About UNIQLO

UNIQLO is a brand of Fast Retailing Co. (FR), a global Japanese retail holding company that designs, manufactures and sells clothing under multiple brands including GU, Theory, Helmut Lang, PLST (Plus T), COMPTOIR DES COTONNIERS, PRINCESSE TAM TAM, and UNIQLO.

FR is currently among the world’s top three largest apparel retail companies and UNIQLO, its pillar, is considered Japan’s leading specialty retailer.

With an operation spanning over 2300 stores worldwide in more than 25 countries and regions, UNIQLO is driven by its LifeWear concept for ultimate everyday clothes, offering unique products made from high-quality, highly functional materials, at affordable prices.

UNIQLO proactively seeks to minimize the environmental impact of our businesses through the development of recycle-oriented products while continuing to offer people all over the world the joy, happiness, and satisfaction of wearing truly great clothes that embody our corporate philosophy : Changing clothes.

Changing conventional wisdom. Change the world.

At UNIQLO, we are committed to providing our employees with enriching and challenging opportunities where achievements and personal growth are acknowledged and rewarded.

We are dedicated to offering our employees training, performance-based increases, and unlimited growth opportunities. If you are an ambitious, hard-working individual who welcomes new challenges, have a drive for success, and embraces the responsibility of leadership then you belong at UNIQLO!

Position Overview

The Sustainability Manager will report to the local Head of Sustainability and will be responsible for managing North America-related sustainability initiatives, communications, reporting, administration and volunteer opportunities among other things.

The Manager will also help strengthen relationships with our key stakeholders, identify and build new ones together with the department head.

The ultimate goal of this role is to Unlock the Power of Clothing across the 3 pillars of People Planet and Society while ensuring that employees and customers in Canada fully appreciate UNIQLO’s sustainability strategy.

By enhancing the impact and visibility of sustainability actions (and basic internal awareness of sustainability) the manager will help attract new customers, enhance loyalty, increase staff pride and retention and bolster our brand and business reputation.

In other words, delivering measurable impact - in partnership with other departments is how success will be measured.

Job Description

TEAM MANAGEMENT

• Ensure the global sustainability strategy & lead the retail and corporate sustainability
• Manage the team of local sustainability team members :
• Ensure the team is aligned with priorities and projects
• Provide clear direction for the goals of sustainability projects + oversee project initiation, project supervision, and execution, including the creation of presentations, reports, proposals of the team.
• Ensure the daily and annual management of the Team : have 1o1 every week, evaluation, feedbacks
• Ensure coordination with their local Marketing Manager and COO
• Ensure the organization of and / or participation in weekly team meetings, Bi-annual team meeting etc
• Ensure the organization of Top management reporting and sharing
• Ensure alignment & project management with GHQ sustainability team
• Ensure recruitment & training of new team members

SUSTAINABILITY MANAGEMENT & PROJECT LEAD

• Create strategic, seasonal plans and manage the overall sustainability calendar and projects
• Support global projects and be at the initiative and forefront of new project with the teams and across teams including stores and head office
• Monitor, report, and evaluate effectiveness of sustainability projects
• Nurturing and fostering robust connections with internal stakeholders & directors throughout the organization to make sure the sustainability strategy is known and understood : build strong relationships with senior management so that they understand, appreciate, value and support Sustainability activities.
• Engage with external stakeholders such as NGO, partners and participate to forums, webinars and be a represent Uniqlo externally when needed
• Manage relationships with existing non-profit organizations to create, plan and perform meaningful volunteering opportunities (social and environmental).

Coordinate employee volunteering events

• Conduct research and analysis to ensure that business practices, products and services are environmentally friendly and compliant with government rules and regulations
• Encourage diversity and inclusion as UNIQLO’s fundamental core principles, support the inclusion of people with disability, refugees and other vulnerable target groups
• Promote our activities both internally as well as externally through partnerships and in collaboration with HR
• Act as the primary liaison with store operations and staff to keep all sustainability information up to date in stores by building effective relationships with store managers and using internal communications tools and other effective platforms (creating the right communication, website, newsletter etc)
• Monitor and report sustainability KPIs (energy / CO2 reduction measures, HR, recycling etc.) and share with stakeholders including the global headquarter team
• For Canada, it is especially important to lead all information gathering efforts related to Extended Producer Responsibility / Waste Management regulations for all provinces.
• Submit all reports on a timely basis and coordinate closely with the relevant teams including Finance, MD, MK, BOS and Logistics
• Support sustainability being considered into key areas of our business such as recruiting, training, new store openings, store operations, product development / sales, PR / marketing and digital communications

RE.UNIQLO

• Support the new development and opening of ReUniqlo studio across the local market
• Plan the strategy and new opportunities of ReUniqlo within the local market

Desired Skills and Experiences

• A minimum of 3- 5 years working in corporate sustainability, ESG, environmental management or related areas, preferably in the retail or consumer goods sector, ideally clothing / fashion
• Experience in different aspects of sustainability including People, Plant, Society and Community engagement
• Excellent understanding of best practices and trends in sustainability especially in retail operations
• Demonstrated experience leading sustainability projects within a commercial environment, with a technical and / or legal understanding of key sustainability issues.
• Strong business acumen, communication, interpersonal, influencing and relationship-building skills KPI-driven
• Experience working with people from other cultures
• A strong understanding of sustainability topics, with an ability to drive change.
• Ability to articulate complex topics in a clear way, as well as engage and discuss within all levels of the organization using relevant metrics ROI, customer voices and so on.

UNIQLO Canada is an equal-opportunity employer. UNIQLO Canada encourages applications from all qualified candidates and accommodates persons with disabilities.

Candidates who are selected for interviews should advise us if they require accommodation.

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