Industry Engagement Director

About Us

Textile Exchange is a global non-profit driving positive impact on climate change across the fashion and textile industry. It guides a growing community of brands, manufacturers, and farmers towards more purposeful production from the very start of the supply chain.

By 2030, its goal is to guide the industry to achieve a 45% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions within fiber and raw material production. Its focus is holistic and interconnected, accelerating the adoption of practices that improve the state of our water, soil health, and biodiversity too.

For real change to happen, everyone needs a clear path to positive impact. That’s why Textile Exchange believes that approachable, step-by-step instruction paired with collective action can change the system to make preferred materials and fibers an accessible default, mobilizing leaders through attainable strategies, proven solutions, and a driven community.

At Textile Exchange, materials matter. To learn more, visit TextileExchange.org.

Working at Textile Exchange

We work remotely with a team located in 20+ countries. We are a diverse group committed to harnessing the strengths of the global textile industry to accelerate change toward climate and other key environmental goals. We work collaboratively on important environmental issues around the world by interacting with farming groups, processors, brands, retailers, and environmental experts in the textile and fashion industries.

We offer an opportunity to join a cutting-edge global environmental nonprofit and to help strengthen the impact of our organization. Each Textile Exchange employee is offered a competitive compensation package with paid time off, yearly bonus, opportunities for continuing education, and more.

Job Summary

The Industry Engagement Director will spearhead the strategic engagement of Textile Exchange corporate members—including brands, retailers, and suppliers—as well as the broader industry when appropriate. Operating within the Engagement and Partnership department, the Director will lead a dedicated team to engage with brands and retailers to meaningfully drive the adoption of best practices and increase the uptake of preferred fibers and materials within our priority fibers. This role reports to the Senior Director of Engagement and Partnership.

Key Responsibilities:

1. Strategic Leadership : Develop and implement a comprehensive strategy to engage brands and retailers in reporting to the Materials Benchmark, committing to the uptake of certified fibers and materials, and adopting Textile Exchange impact tools within their operations.
2. Team Leadership : Oversee a team of engagement specialists, in collaboration with the Activation team, to engage stakeholders through compelling events, webinars, and workshops that support brands and retailers advance toward industry goals.
3. Cross-Functional Collaboration : Strengthen and manage effective feedback loops between brands, retailers, and Textile Exchange departments—including Climate and Nature, Standards & Assurance, and Data and Technology—to ensure that programs, tools, and resources remain relevant and industry-specific.

The ideal candidate will possess extensive knowledge of the fashion, apparel and textile industry and its challenges in achieving beneficial climate and nature impact goals. They will have a collaborative approach, a strategic vision for industry engagement, and the ability to lead a team towards impactful solutions. This role requires a dedication to fostering meaningful relationships and ensuring that Textile Exchange’s initiatives and resources are effectively utilized to drive positive industry change.

Duties and Responsibilities:

1. Lead the organization’s overall efforts to engage brands and retailers in line with strategic objectives.
2. Manage and cultivate the Industry Engagement team to ensure continued adoption of tools, resources and standards, supporting Textile Exchange’s Engagement Model.
3. Establish and manage systems for collecting and analyzing stakeholder feedback to drive continuous improvement, leveraging data to track performance and glean stakeholder insights.
4. Design and oversee engagement strategies to enhance stakeholder satisfaction and comprehension of Textile Exchange services, spanning awareness, interest, activation, adoption, and evaluation stages.
5. Lead initiatives to raise awareness of how Textile Exchange standards, tools, and resources contribute to positive climate and nature impacts.
6. Oversee the delivery of relevant and informed events, workshops, conference sessions and webinars, in collaboration with the Activation team.
7. Work across the organization to ensure stakeholders are engaged in a cohesive, organized way.
8. Oversee the process to identify and engage strategic organizations that will contribute to the industry’s overall progress, leveraging opportunities through Textile Exchange’s Engagement Model.
9. Contribute to the development and strategy of Textile Exchange tools and resources, in collaboration with other departments, ensuring effective feedback loops are maintained and representing the perspectives of brands and retailers.
10. Contribute to the development of KPIs and metrics to track industry’s progress against goals and targets.
11. Manage budgets for the Industry Engagement team.
12. Travel and speak to represent Textile Exchange professionally across a wide range of stakeholders, including beginners in sustainability, C-suite executives, and sector leaders.
13. Maintain team satisfaction and keep motivation levels high to achieve maximum results.

Minimum Experience and Qualifications

1. 8+ years of experience in fashion, apparel, and textile sustainability, with a preference for prior engagement with the Textile Exchange network.
2. Deep understanding of the challenges and opportunities brands and retailers face in achieving beneficial climate and nature impacts and change management.
3. Highly developed engagement, networking, and change management skills with strong communication skills.
4. Proven ability to achieve outcomes through collaboration and partnership across a wide range of people and departments at all levels within an organization.
5. Demonstrated experience in successfully designing and delivering strategic engagement plans.
6. Proven experience managing large teams across multiple areas of work.
7. Experience in delivering engaging learning and networking experiences.
8. Strong commitment to working collaboratively.
9. Strong public speaking experience.
10. Experience managing teams and budgets, along with strategic planning.
11. Must be prepared to travel as required for the role.

Employment Package

• Reports to: Engagement and Partnerships Senior Director
• Full Time Position, 40 Hours a Week
• Location: Virtual/Remote
• Annual Salary Range: $128,000-$160,000 USD
• To be filled as soon as possible (start date to be agreed between both parties).
• Our offers for salary and benefits are dependent on the region of the final candidate. We post most positions based on a US-based Team member, but final offers are made in alignment with the final candidate's permanent residence and in line with Textile Exchange's regional employment package.

How to Apply

Please submit here:

• Resume
• Cover Letter

Applications will be considered on a rolling basis as they are submitted. Early application submission is strongly encouraged.

If you have any pressing questions after completing your application, and meet the qualifications, please contact

Textile Exchange is committed to creating a diverse environment. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, genetics, disability, age, or veteran status.