Sr. Social Responsibility Specialist

The Corporate Responsibility team (CR) drives companywide initiatives focused on empowering people, sustaining places and in enhancing responsible business practices.  Our work includes climate management, sustainable and responsible manufacturing, chemicals management and global community impact. The Social Responsibility team specifically focuses on building a program that ensures that workers in our supply chain are being treated fairly and ethically and are working in safe conditions.   

As a Senior Social Responsibility Specialist, you will develop and manage Columbia Sportswear’s social and environmental compliance program for suppliers, specifically Columbia Japan and Korea retail offices.  You will manage other compliance programs at the HQ level as well liaise with Japan and Korea offices to manage monitoring, remediation, training and capacity building of the suppliers.  In addition, this role will work on Columbia’s social responsibility program for licensees and co-labs.

HOW YOU’LL MAKE A DIFFERENCE 

• Develop and manage Columbia Sportswear’s social and environmental compliance program for suppliers for Columbia Japan retail office across Asia to comply with Columbia Sportswear’s Standards of Manufacturing Practices (SMP) and relevant compliance requirements.
• Manage social responsibility assessment scheduling, report review and integration, and scorecard review of the suppliers and licensees.
• Provide training to vendors and licensees on corporate responsibility initiatives and programs at both global and regional-specific levels. Build awareness and support for corporate responsibility initiatives internally with Japan office, suppliers and licensees.
• Be the liaison for suppliers and licensees on multi-stakeholder compliance program (Better Work), social and environmental assessment tools (SLCP & Higg FEM).
• Support assessment and remediation of suppliers in in Asia for Columbia’s portfolio of brands.  Work closely with home office, brands and regional CR teams to cover suppliers in the region as needed.
• Develop and manage services of third-party service providers for assessment, remediation and system services for suppliers.  Regularly monitor and review quality and performance of the providers.
• Enhance Social Responsibility program for Licensees to drive better performance and licensee ownership
• Establish partnerships with external stakeholders to develop collaboration and drive industry changes.

YOU ARE 

• Someone with strong interpersonal and communication skills (good listener)
• Able to travel and work independently throughout Asia.  Travel 10-15%.
• A good team player and willing to spend extra effort to support others.

YOU HAVE 

• Bachelor’s degree required, preferably in social sciences, business management, environmental or industrial engineering, or disciplines related to Corporate Responsibility.
• 3 or more years of experience in social and or environmental responsibility field required. Experience with apparel or footwear industry in social compliance monitoring, corporate responsibility program or project management strongly preferred.
• Proven track record of leading projects and people to achieve goals.
• Excellent command of spoken and written English, proficiency in Japanese preferred
• Computer skills to support reporting and analysis such as power BI/ Power Point…   

This job description is not meant to be an all-inclusive list of duties and responsibilities, but constitutes a general definition of the position's scope and function in the company.