The role We’re looking for an Group Head of

The role

We’re looking for an Group Head of Responsible Sourcing & Fit to join our Retail team

We are looking for an Group Head of Responsible Sourcing & Fit who can Provide strong leadership, through clear direction, to the sustainability, packaging, product innovation and digital fit teams.

Demonstrating a digital and innovative mindset that is constantly driving efficient and complaint processes that focuses on ‘value engineering’, inclusive of sustainability credentials. Value engineering and understanding our customers is critical to ensure that we exceed customer expectations and deliver exceptional value for money through products that make our customers look and feel amazing!

What will you do as an Group Head of Responsible Sourcing & Fit at N Brown?

Lead, develop, influence and deliver the organisation's sustainability & fit strategy
Responsible for delivering strategic leadership and direction for the sustainability, quality, fit and technical functions globally, working in partnership with our internal and external stakeholders and strategic partners in providing innovative ideas, solutions and ways of working to support our growth and brand credentials.
Support heads of business functions and leaders to deliver an integrated sustainability strategy and demonstrate progress against strategic objectives and performance indicators
Be responsible for all corporate sustainability (environmental and social) aspects of the function including compliance with all UK & EU statuary regulations and reporting.
Lead the packaging team and ensure actions are in line with the sustainability strategy
Lead the function, recruit, select and support team members and line manage by setting performance objectives, reviews and performance coach providing clear and constructive feedback in regular 121’s, agreeing training and development plans accordingly.
Responsible for the effective governance and delivery of the Sustainability & Digital Fit strategy across the group for both Accelerate and Heritage Brands, setting clear intent, action plans and guardrails to achieve outcomes aligned to the group and wider business strategy ensuring that the customer is at the heart of all we do.
Ensure the team are identifying and managing potential risks to provide products which are legal and safe and delivering customer satisfaction through appropriate processes, collation and analysis of data and customer feedback driving a measurable programme of continuous improvement and grow sales.
Actively collaborate with our cross functional teams, analysing and refining business processes, ways of working and supplier communications to drive opportunities for increased efficiencies, reduced costs, and lead times, increase speed to market and eliminate duplication without compromising our standards.
Measure, review and manage Supplier and Service Providers’ performance and compliance to support the Sourcing Strategy, contributing to KPI’s and Supplier Scorecards and any required cost / benefit analysis.
Responsible for delivering day-to-day group management, including opex and capex costs, in line with agreed business budgets and business / group KPI’s
Growth in profitability – Manage the returns KPI and customer reviews whilst streamlining and simplifying all technical, quality and fit processes to improve efficiency, execution times, Customer perceptions of quality/value/fit, reducing returns rates and costs while always delivering uncompromising product quality, fit and safety.

What skills and experience will you have?

Degree level, equivalent or relevant work experience;
Have Corporate Sustainability leadership experience in a large organisation;
Be an accomplished manager, with experience leading a team of sustainability and fit specialists.
Excellent subject matter expert for relevant products in product construction and testing, fabric knowledge, Fitting and grading where applicable.
Knowledge of 3D Digital technology used in a product development environment.
IT skills – competent in word, excel and PowerPoint

Behaviours & Attitudes:

Strives to be the best they can be, adaptable to changing priorities and new product categories quickly and effectively whilst demonstrating a calm, logical and structured approach to challenges with ‘can do’ mentality.
Passionate about our Customer, understands their needs and how to address and the importance of how delivering a great customer experience impacts on successful conversion, sales and returns.
Resourceful, decisive, and courageous leader with a strategic mind set, willing to challenge assumptions and established thinking to drive an improved result and achieve the buy-in of all stakeholders, exercising a creative and pragmatic approach with a solution focussed attitude, commercial acumen and sound business judgement.
Highly motivated and resilient, able to work independently and manage ambiguity within a fast-paced environment, able to move between strategic, tactical, and operational levels at pace whilst demonstrating high standards of professionalism and integrity
Takes personal accountability for delivering a diverse and inclusive environment where difference and talent thrives, driving a step change to greater cross functional integration of our ways of working, and recognised as an integrated team of creative solution providers consistent with our values.
Results driven and capable of transitioning our technical teams into a product development right first-time mind set willingly embrace change.
Be a sustainability advocate that drives positive innovation and change
Role models our values and actively grow, mentor and develop our teams.

What’s in it for you?

Hybrid working
24 days holiday (+ 8 bank holidays) with the option to buy an additional 10 days
Annual bonus scheme
Enhanced maternity and adoption leave
Access to Apricity, a self-funding IVF benefit at a reduced rate
Company pension with up to 8% N Brown contribution
Mental Health support both internally and externally, including access to our wellbeing champions and counselling services
A range of financial wellbeing support
Colleague discount across all N Brown brands
Onsite café with subsidised rates and local restaurant discounts!
Life Assurance and Private Medical Insurance
Paid volunteer time – all our colleagues can take a full day paid to volunteer for a charity of their choice

N Brown – who we are and why work for us?

At N Brown, we’re committed to building a diverse workforce and creating an inclusive environment that values equality for all. Our vision is that by ‘championing inclusion, we’ll become the most loved and trusted fashion retailer’. Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging are, therefore, at the heart of our culture.

We’re a forward-thinking digital retailer with a financial services proposition to be proud of. We’re customer-obsessed, serving them through three core brands: JD Williams, Simply Be, and Jacamo. We’re experienced, with over 160 years of trading under our belt. We’re inclusive, as we believe in fashion without boundaries; and we’re sustainable, striving to make as little impact on the planet as possible.

In May 2024 we were delighted to be named one of The Sunday Times Best Places to Work 2024. We work hard to create a happy and inclusive culture for everyone and we’re so proud to have made this list - as voted for by our very own colleagues!

Ways of Working

We offer hybrid working which varies across the business depending on the role you’re in. Our Head Office is located in the Northern Quarter in Manchester City Centre. So if you are travelling by train, tram or bus we’re perfectly located, plus we’re surrounded by cool cafes, trendy bars and the best places to eat!

Our full-time working hours are 36.17 per week over 5-days. We don’t have strict working hours therefore there is some flexibility around start and finish times as long as you are meeting the needs of the business.

Our promise to you:

We’re an equal opportunity employer and value diversity. We do not discriminate based on race, religion, colour, national origin, sex, gender, gender expression, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, or disability status.

What happens when you apply to a role at N Brown?

As soon as we receive your application, we’ll send you an email to let you know. We always aim to come back to you as soon as possible with an update and we really appreciate you taking the time to apply for a role with us. Good luck!