Sustainability Assistant - Supply Chain

Leicester, England, United Kingdom

5/29/2025

Job Description

Job Title: Sustainability Assistant (Supply Chain)

Location: Head Office, Leicestershire

Salary: £Competitive plus bonus & benefits

About The Role

As Sustainability Assistant (Supply Chain), you’ll be right at the heart of NEXT Group’s sustainability efforts—supporting the full journey from raw materials to final product, and helping ensure we meet our environmental goals across NEXT and our wider brand family (Lipsy, Joules, FatFace, Reiss and Total Platform partners).

You’ll work alongside the Sustainability Manager to roll out supply chain strategies that tackle everything from chemical compliance and climate risks, to biodiversity and water stewardship. This role is hands-on, data-driven, and ideal for someone passionate about creating real change in how fashion supply chains operate. There’s also great scope to grow your responsibilities as the team and sustainability agenda evolves.

We will consider candidates on both a full time and part-time basis

What You’ll Be Doing ZDHC Programme

• Day-to-day management of the Zero Discharge of Hazardous Chemicals (ZDHC) programme
• Extend implementation beyond textiles to leather tanneries and synthetic leather supply chains
• Collaborate with internal tech teams and external wet processors to drive ZDHC adoption
• Handle data uploads and analysis via the ZDHC Gateway
  
  

Worldly Programme

• Oversee the daily running of the Worldly programme
• Work closely with Tier 1 to Tier 3 manufacturers and NEXT technology teams to implement the programme
• Support accurate data collection and uploads into the system
  
  

Supply Chain Strategy & Implementation

• Help shape and deliver strategies related to:
• Impact Reduction
• Water, Nature & Biodiversity
• Decarbonisation
• Traceability and Transparency
• Support product teams and suppliers across all brands in implementing these strategies at every stage—from raw material to finished product
• Manage and maintain our supplier database (Tier 1–Tier 5), covering everything from dye houses to fibre manufacturers
• Create and update relevant supply chain manuals and policies
• Deliver training and guidance to internal teams and supply chain partners
  
  

Research & Tracking

• Monitor NGO activity and emerging risks related to climate, biodiversity, and restricted substances (e.g., Greenpeace, WWF, Changing Markets Foundation)
• Support strategic responses to regulatory changes across UK, EU, and global markets
  
  

What We’re Looking For Essential

• A degree (or equivalent experience) in textile technology, leather/footwear tech, sustainability, environmental science or a related field
• Awareness of environmental impacts in the textile, leather, or footwear industry
• Strong research and summarising skills – curious, methodical and confident digging into new topics
• Advanced IT skills, especially in Excel/Google Sheets
• Comfortable juggling multiple projects and deadlines with precision and accuracy
• A genuine interest in sustainability and making a measurable difference
  
  

Desirable

• Industry experience in a technical or sustainability-focused role within fashion, textiles, leather, or footwear
• Understanding or experience of the ZDHC Roadmap to Zero and/or Worldly
• Some knowledge of chemical compliance or a desire to grow in this area
• Experience in textile/leather testing or working with third-party labs
• Strong commercial awareness of the product lifecycle in fashion
• Experience creating or delivering training content
• Willingness and ability to travel internationally when required
  
  

About Us

You know Next, but did you know we’re a FTSE-100 retail company employing over 35,000 people across the UK and Ireland. We’re the UK’s 2nd largest fashion retailer and for Kidswear we’re the market leader. At the last count we have over 500 stores, plus the Next Online and it’s now possible to buy on-line from over 70 countries around the world! So we’ve gone global!

About The Team

• 25% off most NEXT, MADE*, Lipsy*, Gap* and Victoria's Secret* products (*when purchased through NEXT)
• Company performance based bonus
• Sharesave scheme
• On-site Nursery available; OFSTED outstanding in all areas
• 10% off most partner brands & up to 15% off Branded Beauty
• Early VIP access to sale stock
• Access to fantastic discounts at our Staff Shops
• Restaurants with great food at amazing prices
• Access a digital GP and other free health and wellbeing services
• Free on-site parking
• Financial Wellbeing - Save, track and enhance your financial wellbeing
• Apprenticeship - Grow and develop on the job whilst gaining a qualification
• Direct to Work - Discount online and instore, collect your items the next day for free from your place of work or local store
• Support Networks - Access to Network Groups to empower and celebrate each other
• Wellhub - Discounted flexible monthly gym memberships, with apps, PT sessions and more
  
  

Conditions apply to all benefits. These benefits are discretionary and subject to change.

We aim to support all candidates during the application process and are happy to provide workplace adjustments when necessary. Should you need support with your application due to a disability or long-term condition, feel free to get in touch with us by email [email protected] (please include 'Workplace Adjustments' in the subject line), or call us on 0116 284 2486 and leave a voicemail.