Matalan has started the search to fill a head of ESG role – a newly created position for the fashion and homeware retailer.
The candidate will be tasked with leading, developing, and delivering the ESG (environmental, social and governance) strategy at Matalan, and ensuring the business is “correctly positioned aa a responsible and sustainable retailer”.
Advertised for the first time last week, the head of ESG job specification says the chosen candidate will work with business owners in the trading, facilities, marketing, people and retail functions to set and review short and long-term ESG related goals and targets.
As well as developing suitable processes to push the retailer in a more sustainable direction, the head of ESG will be expected to coach and educate the business through their external networks and knowledge, ensuring their expertise “is translated into a fit for purpose plan for Matalan and aligned to our overall business strategy”. Matalan is looking to recruit a “face of ESG” for its business.
Naturally, the work will entail alignment with Matalan’s ethical trading and compliance team to support the retailer’s ethical policy standards are communicated both internally and externally.
Matalan, which has undergone a change in senior management in the last year, with former Co-op boss Jo Whitfield arriving as CEO and former Co-op customer director Ali Jones taking the chief customer officer role, is seeking a head of ESG with experience of delivering an ESG programme ideally within the retail/fashion industry.
Matalan chief supply chain officer, Phil Hackney, said on a video shared on LinkedIn: “Our ESG agenda is well under way with passionate colleagues taking lead roles across a number of different areas such as environmental, product, and people
“We’re extremely proud of what we’ve achieved so far but we know we can do even more to push things to the next level, and with that in mind we’re actively recruiting for a new head of ESG, who will be responsible for the day-to-day cross-functional coordination of our annual plan and the associated reporting ensuring the key leads take accountability for their area.”
He added that the role “will be pivotal in the implementation of Matalan’s ESG strategy, making sure it meets the needs of the business, its suppliers, colleagues and customers”.
[Image credit: Green Retail World]
