Textiles Strategist

Your mission

Your role in the Circle Economy team

As a textile Strategist, you will co-lead and execute multi-stakeholder projects across Europe and South East Asia collaborating with strategic partners of Circle Economy. You will carry out and co-design projects from inception to delivery. This will include, but not be limited to, capacity development initiatives. You will co-lead the development of proposals, and build and nurture strategic relationships with partners across the public, private and third sectors in line with our organisation's impact objectives. 

Next to this, you will work hand-in-hand with colleagues across a number of projects simultaneously, towards ambitious goals of designing, piloting and analysing novel interventions across the circular textile value chain. 

We are looking for an experienced and motivated Strategist knowledgeable and passionate about impact, circularity, sustainability, and social justice and who wishes to leverage their experience to contribute to our organisation's mission and vision.

You have a thorough understanding of the challenges and solutions associated with creating just, circular and sustainable global textile value chains. You have at least three years of experience in the sustainability and/or circular economy field, having worked on multi-stakeholder projects in the private, non-profit, academic or public sectors.

You have experience working in multicultural teams in an international environment and are fluent in English, with Dutch and other languages being a plus.

Your profile

Core competencies

• Industry Expertise: In-depth knowledge of the apparel and textile industry's challenges, particularly concerning sustainability and the circular economy, including business models, manufacturing, recycling, waste management and resource efficiency

• Training and Facilitation: Experienced in conducting workshops and training sessions, both online and in-person, focused on sustainable practices in textile and apparel, engaging diverse stakeholder groups

• Strategic Collaboration: Proven ability to build and maintain a network of industry stakeholders and collaborators to advance initiatives in circular and sustainable textile

• Effective Communication: Strong communicator skilled in client-facing interactions and public speaking, contributing to discussions and publications on circular economy, sustainability, and innovative textile solutions.

• Research and Technical Expertise: Up to date or involved with research related to challenges of implementing sustainability, knowledgable of best practices and advancements in design, materials and manufacturing

• Autonomous Project Management: Hands-on approach to managing projects aimed at implementing sustainable practices in the sector, working independently to achieve defined goals and objectives

• Impact-Driven: Committed to leveraging knowledge, skills, and professional network to drive meaningful change in the textile and apparel industries, emphasizing circular economy principles.

Key Responsibilities 

• Design, deliver and contextualise workshops, courses and materials into curricula, programmes, or e-learning modules tailored to identified target audiences

• Co-design pilot processes with adequate timelines, KPIs and deliverables 

• Lead and support colleagues and project partners in secondary and primary data gathering and identification of key findings and recommendations 

• Lead and work with analysts and researchers to deliver high-quality and novel insights and recommendations relevant to our textile project portfolio.

• Ensure effective delivery of final reports and all project deliverables

• Availability to travel regularly within Europe and approximately once per quarter globally

Why us?

We are a team of 55+ driven professionals, coming from diverse backgrounds and from more than 20 different countries. We work in a lively atmosphere in an open office space in the heart of Amsterdam. At Circle Economy, we have a culture of getting things done while having fun, and apart from friendly and open team dynamics, you can expect a drink in your hand every other Thursday by 5 PM.

Our Values

As a team, we have guiding principles of Belonging, Collaboration, Courage, and Transformation that define our mindsets and are inherent in the way we work each day, especially in the way we treat each other and others. Our values are a compass to guide our culture internally and shape our impact externally, they further our greater mission and don’t impose ideology but enable ideas.

What we offer you

For this role, we are offering an initial 1-year contract for 32 to 40 hours per week. We offer an awesome challenge for a passionate person that loves to learn continuously and take up responsibilities in a vibrant and talented team. Salary is competitive within the non for profit sector in The Netherlands. To apply please respond with your CV and a motivation letter. Applications will be closed on November 30, 2024.

*****Please note : The anticipated start date for the role is January 2025.*****

Please respond to this vacancy with your cv and a concise cover letter. In your cover letter please respond to at least two of the targeted questions below:

1. Describe a project where you successfully implemented circular strategies in global value chains of textile or fashion. What challenges did you face and how did you overcome them?

2. What do you believe are the biggest barriers to adopting circular practices in the textile industry, and how would you address them?

3. What emerging trends do you see in the circular textile space that public and private stakeholders need to be aware of?

4. What motivates you to work in the field of circular economy?

!!!!!Only applications addressing the questions above will be considered !!!!!