Senior Specialist, Supplier Sustainability

GENERAL SUMMARY: Evaluate and assess factories to ensure compliance with Gap Inc.'s Code of Vendor Conduct (COVC) and relevant labor, environmental, and safety laws. Responsibilities include reviewing BW and SLCP reports, making informed judgments, and transferring data to the Global Sustainability System (GSS). Support factories in identifying improvement areas, conducting root cause analysis, and implementing sustainable remediation. Facilitate training and monitor progress to ensure a comprehensive understanding of Gap Inc.'s sustainability requirements. Investigate high-risk issues and collaborate with internal and external partners to ensure compliance, while also engaging with stakeholders for joint assessments and supporting other sustainability initiatives as required.
ESSENTIAL DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES:
1. Evaluation and assessment criteria for monitored vendor and factories. (30%-40%)
• Ensure vendors and factories understand and comply with Gap Inc.'s Code of Vendor Conduct (COVC) and local laws.
• Evaluate factories' compliance with COVC, legal, sustainability, and safety requirements.
• Identify, document, and address non-conformances in the Global Sustainability System (GSS).
• Support factories in executing Corrective Action Plans (CAP) and follow up on remediation efforts.
• Maintain and update a master list of active factories, ensuring timely follow-up on issues.
• Analyze non-conformance trends, assist in root cause analysis, and recommend remediation.
• Escalate serious non-conformances and facilitate required remediation with management.
• Investigate and resolve key concerns or high-risk cases, documenting actions in the GSS.
2. Manage & Support Joint Assessments with designated internal and external partner. (5&-10%)
• Identify and make recommendations for facilities to participate in BW and SLCP according to the established selection criteria.
• Coordinate and manage communication and planning.
• Enter assessment data into the GSS database as required.
• Transfer BW reports and SLCP verification reports data into GSS database as per the established protocols.
• Review and assess relationships with external partners, reporting to the manager regularly.
• Attend and respond to issues / concerns / complaints raised by the internal and external partner prior to, during or after joint assessments.
• Annually review and analyze joint assessments with partners and recommend improvements.
3. Deliver capability building training programs to factories. (30%-40%)
• Coordinate and implement training programs focused on enhancing factory capabilities and driving improvements, as directed.
• Track progress and monitor key performance indicators (KPIs) to measure the effectiveness of the training initiatives.
4. Partner with designated internal and external Business Partners. (5%-10%)
• Investigate high-risk cases or concerns and provide findings and recommendations to relevant parties, documenting them in the GSS database.
• Build and maintain relationships with internal and external partners to ensure goods are manufactured in compliant conditions.
• Help deepen integration with GIS on an as-needed basis, under the guidance of in country Supplier Sustainability manager.
• Partner with Supplier Sustainability Operations / License team for timely evaluations and results communication.
• Coordinate oversight of Gap Inc.'s Global Sustainability and / or industry initiatives as directed, e.g., ILO Better Work program, Women & Water, etc.
• Share, cross-check and verify production related data with PQA and Sourcing, especially when investigating unauthorized subcontracting cases.
• Provide vendors, factories, and other business partners with training / overview on Gap Inc.'s COVC, assessment and remediation, environmental, fire and building safety requirements, and capability building program.
• Ensure consistent issue compliance by regularly communicating with other specialists and managers.
5. Comprehend and maintain Global Sustainability and Company policies & procedures. (5%- 10%)
• Keep informed of and track changes in national, federal, state, and provincial labor and environmental laws.
• Review and comprehend Assessment Manual, Global Sustainability Policies and SOP's, GSS Database procedural manuals and other relevant departmental guidelines.
• Comply with Gap Inc. and Global Sustainability policies, including Code of Business Conduct, expense submission, confidentiality, department travel policy, employee discount policy, etc.
6. Drive company, department, and industry improvements. (5% - 10%)
• Build and maintain relationships with local leaders, government, environmental groups, and workers.
• Keep abreast of in country political, economic, sustainability, and industry trends that affect Gap Inc.
• Provide routine and ad-hoc analysis and forecasts of local, political, cultural, and economic conditions and provide recommendations.
• Provide ongoing operational and project management support on an ad hoc basis as the Supplier Sustainability program continues to evolve.
• Actively participate in project teams to contribute to the development and implementation of departmental strategies and initiatives.
• Understand and pro-actively address issues that impact Gap Inc.'s sourcing and sustainability activities.
ORGANIZATION RELATIONSHIPS: Collaborate with and advise vendor / factory management and their compliance staff, PQA field staff, business partners, and other industry practitioners to achieve sustainable improvements in working conditions.