Product Integrity and Stewardship Manager

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* Portland Preferred - A few in office days/week required for this role. We are open to assistance with relocation *

OUTGROWN YOUR OWN BACKYARD? COME PLAY IN OURS.

At Columbia, we're as passionate about the outdoors as you are. And while our gear is available worldwide, we're proud to be based in the Pacific Northwest, where natural wonders are our playground.

Every product we make and every task we undertake is inspired by the famous words of our founder Gert Boyle: "It's perfect. Now make it better." As pioneers of relentless improvement, we are constantly evolving.

We believe the outdoors is ours to protect and strive to keep our planet healthy. We believe in empowering people to experience the outdoors to the fullest.

And we believe in you.

ABOUT THE POSITION

The Columbia Sportswear Legal Department protects company interests across the globe, advancing company strategy through high quality guidance, and support to all brands and regions. Our aim is to safeguard our most valuable assets, and assist in the creation of a competitive industry advantage while managing risk, and ensuring compliance with global laws and regulations.

As Columbia Sportswear's Product Integrity & Stewardship Manager you will partner with cross functional teams to develop and implement initiatives focused on product integrity, improving chemicals management throughout the supply chain, and implementation of preferred chemistry.

Your deliverables will include the implementation of programs, standards, procedures, and systems to support organizational objectives in areas of chemicals management best practices, the adoption of preferred chemistry and product integrity. As a subject matter expert you will provide guidance to inform product performance and claim decisions, identifying and implementing necessary process and technical improvements and developing robust functional partnerships with cross functional teams, the supply base, and other outside agencies.

HOW YOU'LL MAKE A DIFFERENCE

• Collaborate with team members to develop corporate policy and programs with the goal to meet customer requirements and reduce/eliminate risk to consumers, the environment, the company and brands while strengthening consensus, ownership and accountability across stakeholders
• Work with cross-functional product creation teams to implement initiatives to advance continuous improvement and progress toward product integrity and stewardship goals. Here you'll partner with Materials Research, Innovation, Product Development, Quality Assurance, and Merchandising to ensure product claims are accurate and substantiated through commercialization, production, distribution, and sale in market
• Identify concerns during product development and commercialization. Support implementation of product integrity programs to ensure our products meet or exceed both consumer expectations and industry standards
• Support management of product stewardship programs to increase adoption of preferred chemistry, removal of priority chemistry and drive chemicals management best practice improvements within our supply chain.
• Partner with global Product Compliance team and Manufacturing to implement bluesign System Partnership and Leather Working Group Membership with brands and HQ manufacturing teams
• Establish, monitor and report on corporate Product Integrity standards across brands. Work with brands to develop additional standards as necessary. Support process development and provide technical training to relevant business partners
• Work closely with business partners to resolve issues and drive improvements. Investigate in market / customer-facing issues; establish root cause and corrective action plan
• Network with industry groups on topics related to chemicals management, adoption of preferred chemistry, and product standards that impact apparel, footwear and outdoor equipment industry

YOU ARE

• A critical thinker, adept at managing and resolving complex business problems
• An excellent communicator, skilled at communicating detailed, technical information to both technical and non-technical audiences
• At ease working with team members and vendors from different countries and cultures
• Capable of building relationships to maintain rapport and influence relationships with cross-functional partners

YOU HAVE

• Bachelors Degree in Political Science, Public Administration, Business, Chemical Engineering, Textile/Material Science, or related field
• 8+ years of experience in consumer product stewardship, program management, environmental health and safety, or related field
• In-depth understanding of global consumer product standards related to the apparel and footwear industry
• Broad understanding of apparel and footwear product process, manufacturing operations, materials management, as well as supply chain issues related environmental sustainability and occupational health and safety
• Program implementation and project management knowledge and experience, including developing and maintaining project plans, providing regular communication, coordination, and problem resolution
• Applied understanding of quality and safety management systems
• Strong investigational skills and ability to analyze complex technical information

To learn more about our hiring process during COVID-19, click here .

#LI-BH1

Columbia Sportswear Company and our portfolio of brands, including Columbia, SOREL, Mountain Hardwear and prAna, know a thing or two about adventures. After all, we've been on one since 1938, working to perfect the art of enjoying the outdoors. Behind everything we make is an employee who's found that the greatest adventure starts with joining a company that strives to do the right thing.

This job description is not meant to be an all-inclusive list of duties and responsibilities, but constitutes a general definition of the position's scope and function in the company.

At Columbia Sportswear Company (CSC), we are committed to providing an environment of mutual respect where equal employment opportunities are available to all applicants and teammates without regard to race, color, religion, sex, pregnancy (including childbirth, lactation and related medical conditions), national origin, age, physical and mental disability, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, military and veteran status, and any other characteristic protected by applicable law. CSC believes that diversity and inclusion among our teammates is critical to our success as a global company, and we seek to recruit, develop and retain the most talented people from a diverse candidate pool. All employment is decided on the basis of qualifications, merit, and business need.