Fashion for Good has established itself as the go-to platform for sustainable fashion innovation on a global level. We seek an Innovation Manager who will be responsible for overseeing Fashion for Good’s Innovation Platform validation activities in Footwear (incl. bio and recycled materials, manufacturing, leather processing / alternatives) and Packaging. They will be responsible for managing 1 direct report. The Innovation Manager will be part of the Fashion for Good innovation team reporting into the Innovation Director - Validation.
As part of this, the innovation manager is responsible for the following areas:
Innovator Due Diligence and Support
Manage all scouting and due diligence in Footwear including: assessing impact, capacity, technology, financial history and projections, liquidity / runway, business models, pricing for the respective innovations
Manage the team to provide relevant technical and strategic support for FFG alumni.
Innovation Intelligence
Manage all activities related to Innovation Intelligence in given focus areas, including landscape updates, working groups, workshops and deep dives
Continue to build Fashion for Good’s presence as a thought leader in given areas through events and publication contributions
Project and Stakeholder Management
Build relationships with brands and manufacturers to identify opportunities for projects and pilots
Be responsible for scoping the projects/pilots, budgeting, drafting and finalising all agreements, communications etc. with support from analysts / associates
Be responsible for managing relevant budgets, ensuring all invoicing is properly complete
Alongside the scaling team identify implementation opportunities for specific innovations
Identify next steps after projects/pilots are complete and scope potential next stage projects and pilots
Establish and manage relationships with key technology and research institutions around the world (e.g. academia, multi-stakeholder organisations, governments, incubators) as well as ecosystem contacts to support the work above
Where relevant, represent Fashion for Good at industry conferences
Current projects include, Closing the Footwear Loop and The Next Stride
Team leadership and milestone management Innovation platform
Manage direct reports, guide them in their activities, be responsible for their personal development
Support the Innovation Director with cross functional topics
Continually identify ways to improve existing cross functional processes and execute these improvements
Strategy
Set Fashion for Good's strategy regarding Footwear (bio materials, recycled materials, manufacturing, leather procesisng and alternatives etc.)
Demonstrate ability to think strategically and support key innovations with their roadmap to implementation (eg: identifying and connecting key suppliers, support with business models, impact, support with fundraising (reviewing investment decks, supporting external investors with due diligence etc.) working alongside scaling team
Demonstrate and track KPIs; advancing key impact and progress visualisations (e.g. funnel, metrics dashboard)
Build best-practices and toolbox to further drive implementation (e.g. off-take agreements, innovator deep dives on business models, project financing etc.)
Build Fashion for Good’s presence as a thought leader in the area of sustainable innovation through events and publication contributions
Support on business development and partner retention through Innovation Platform strategy and new idea generation and execution
The Innovation Manager plays a bridging function between the innovators, Fashion for Good’s partners (brands, retailers and manufacturers), investors/financiers, and NGOs. They are also responsible for building and maintaining an active innovator alumni network alongside the programme associate.
