Assurance Technical Specialist
Reports to: Assurance Technical Senior Manager
Remote – Global (Preference for Europe/North America)
About Us
Textile Exchange is a global non-profit driving positive impact on climate change across the fashion and textile industry. It guides a growing community of brands, manufacturers, and farmers towards more purposeful production from the very start of the supply chain.
By 2030, its goal is to guide the industry to achieve a 45% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions within fiber and raw material production. Its focus is holistic and interconnected, accelerating the adoption of practices that improve the state of our water, soil health, and biodiversity too.
For real change to happen, everyone needs a clear path to positive impact. That’s why Textile Exchange believes that approachable, step-by-step instruction paired with collective action can change the system to make preferred materials and fibers an accessible default, mobilizing leaders through attainable strategies, proven solutions, and a driven community.
At Textile Exchange, materials matter. To learn more, visit TextileExchange.org.
Working at Textile Exchange
We work remotely with a team located in 20+ countries. We are a diverse group committed to harnessing the strengths of the global textile industry to accelerate change toward climate and other key environmental goals. We work collaboratively on important environmental issues around the world by working and interacting with farming groups, processors, brands, retailers, and environmental experts in the textile and fashion industries around the world. We offer an opportunity to join a cutting-edge global environmental nonprofit and to help strengthen the impact of our organization.
Position Summary
The Assurance Technical, Specialist supports the work of the Assurance Technical team to implement and maintain the quality assurance and credibility of the Textile Exchange Standards through acting as content lead for focus areas of accreditation and chain of custody assurance. They also support assurance provider (certification and accreditation body) communications and internal assurance systems. The ideal candidate will have experience in the textile and/or certification sectors and will work across all Textile Exchange standards and policies.
Primary Duties and Responsibilities
Accreditation and Chain of Custody Assurance Content
- Serve as content lead in focus areas of accreditation (ISO 17065/17011 and other non-standard specific assurance criteria) and chain of custody assurance/supply chain auditing.
- Serve as content lead for document revisions and calibrations within assigned focus areas.
- Serve as content lead for stakeholder questions within assigned focus areas
- Support Supply Chains and Claims & Labeling teams when Assurance input is required.
Assurance Provider Communications
- Support communications with assurance providers via email, online community, and virtual meetings.
- Research and document issues identified in Textile Exchange standards and assurance policies.
- Answer technical questions around Textile Exchange standards and assurance policies.
- Manage and follow-up information requests from assurance providers.
- Assist in the maintenance and publication of supporting documents to the Textile Exchange standards and assurance policies.
- Support engagement initiatives with assurance providers to ensure compliance with the certification system operational requirements.
Assurance Systems
- Provide administrative support to assurance related processes involving certification bodies.
- Support the maintenance of assurance systems, including databases, document management, and case management.
- Drive improvement initiatives of the assurance systems.
- Support specific topics of the Textile Exchange standards and assurance policies when engaging with assurance providers, particularly related to assigned focus areas.
General Support
- Provide guidance and respond questions from stakeholders in support of the Standards System Department.
- Support other areas of the Standards System Department as needed, including language. interpretation/translation where required and skills allow.
- Represent Textile Exchange at events and meetings.
- Organize meetings and webinars with the assurance provider community as needed.
Minimum Qualifications
- Two to four years of experience working in a certification/standards or sustainability scheme capacity.
- Knowledge of accreditation systems, including ISO 17065 and/or ISO 17011.
- Knowledge of chain of custody certification and auditing
- Strong English language communication skills. Ability to synthesize and present complex information in a simple, meaningful way.
- Ability to communicate and collaborate respectfully and effectively in English with non-native English speakers.
- Detail-oriented, logical, systematic, methodical, and highly organized.
- Demonstrated interest in Textile Exchange’s vision, mission, and goals.
- Ability to work in a flexible, yet fast-paced remote environment, able to meet deadlines and share progress regularly. Comfort with ambiguity and changing direction.
- Strong work ethic and self-motivation with ability to work remotely effectively.
- Able to work remotely/from home 100% of the time.
- Able to accommodate flexible working hours with a minimum daily overlap with their supervisor and teammates’ schedules.
- Proficient with Microsoft Office 365, including strong skills with Microsoft Excel.
- Flexible to communicate with multiple time zones outside of standard working hours.
- Able to travel internationally on occasional basis.
Preferred Qualifications
- Additional language(s) knowledge, especially Mandarin.
- Native-level proficiency in English, particularly for technical writing.
- One to two years of certification body experience.
- Knowledge of other areas related to Textile Exchange standards (recycling, animal fiber farming, organic cotton).
- Minimum a College/University degree (B.A. or B.S. or equivalent).
- Experience working with Textile Exchange standards, or other ISEAL or ISO 17065 based standards.
Employment Package
- Full-Time Position, 40 Hours a Week
- Required travel: up to 20%
- Annual Salary Range: $65,000 - $80,000 USD
