Sustainability Verification Lead

Dunelm is an ambitious company and wants to create a leading sustainability program, ensuring the business is fit for the future. Our strategy includes embedding circular thinking into product design and sourcing, as well as helping our customers use and reuse our products more sustainably.

To support our strategy, we have an opening for a Certifications Specialist to join our Climate & Sustainability Team. This role will be responsible for supporting our commercial teams to ensure verification of claims we make at Dunelm. The Certification Specialists will act as business partners to the product teams, advising on best practice and driving forward our sustainability claims and products.

Your key responsibilities will be:

• Manage certification and verification for more sustainable materials (product).
• Verifying and assessing supplier’s certifications against claims made on product and web.
• Liaise with suppliers on a daily basis to achieve verification.
• Produce reports to support commercial teams on verification progress.
• Regular meetings with commercial teams to review progress of products.
• Assess packaging claims.
• Develop processes for Dunelm product integrity strategy.
• Develop training and internal guidance for colleagues and suppliers.
• Support our global supply chain to achieve the right certifications.
• Support supply chain traceability projects.
• Carry out industry benchmarking on best practises and legislation on certification/ verification.
• Support annual and seasonal reporting to ensure the business hits sustainability commitments.

Qualifications

What do I need to have?

We would prefer candidates with good knowledge of sustainability:

• Background in certifications and auditing.
• Able to lead projects.
• Good understanding of supply chain mapping.
• Worked with certifications such as GRS, GOTs, Better Cotton, etc.
• Knowledge around product circularity, more sustainable materials- e.g., responsibly sourced cotton, timber, palm oil.
• Supply chain engagement skills- confident at communicating with colleagues and external stakeholders.
• Reporting- good level of excel and data skills.
• Organised and with good presentation skills.
• Sound data integrity skills.

Ideal background:

• Auditing and certifications.
• Worked for a brand or auditing company in verification departments or
• Studied subjects such as: geography, textiles, fashion management, supply chain environmental management, biodiversity.

You will have the ability to develop strong and meaningful relationships with stakeholders including internal teams, suppliers, and other 3rd party organisations.