Innovation Manager Validation - Footwear

Fashion for Good is looking for an Innovation Manager (Validation) focused on Footwear to join the team.

About the job

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, including bio and recycled materials, manufacturing, leather processing and alternatives, as well as Packaging. They will be responsible for managing 1 direct report and 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, and 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 the 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 the 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 projects and pilots, budgeting, drafting and finalising all agreements and communications, with support from analysts and associates.
• Be responsible for managing relevant budgets and ensuring all invoicing is properly completed.
• Alongside the scaling team, identify implementation opportunities for specific innovations.
• Identify next steps after projects and pilots are complete and scope potential next-stage projects and pilots.
• Establish and manage relationships with key technology and research institutions around the world, such as academia, multi-stakeholder organisations, governments, incubators, and 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, and 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, including bio materials, recycled materials, manufacturing, leather processing, and alternatives.
• Demonstrate the ability to think strategically and support key innovations with their roadmap to implementation, for example by identifying and connecting key suppliers, supporting business models and impact, and supporting fundraising by reviewing investment decks and supporting external investors with due diligence alongside the scaling team.
• Demonstrate and track KPIs, advancing key impact and progress visualisations such as funnel and metrics dashboards.
• Build best practices and toolboxes to further drive implementation, such as off-take agreements, innovator deep dives on business models, and project financing.
• Build Fashion for Good’s presence as a thought leader in the area of sustainable innovation through events and publication contributions.
• Support business development and partner retention through Innovation Platform strategy, new idea generation, and execution.

The Innovation Manager plays a bridging function between innovators, Fashion for Good’s partners including 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.

About you

Qualifications

The ideal candidate has a relevant track record and combines strong interpersonal skills with a self-starting, proactive attitude. The following qualifications are essential:

• Disciplined and demonstrated project management, documentation, and execution.
• Demonstrated capacity to think multiple steps ahead with regard to project management.
• Proactively identify opportunities for partner engagement in specific projects and pilots.
• Strong analytical and research skills and ability to scope detailed projects.
• Capacity to adapt to different settings, easily navigating different cultures and organisational settings.
• Strong interpersonal and relationship management skills.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to build strong interpersonal relationships and negotiate where needed.
• Creative thinking with the ability for sound judgement and accountability.
• Positivity, proactiveness, enthusiasm, can-do attitude, and comfort in dealing with uncertainty.
• Demonstrated experience managing individuals or a team.
• Relevant work experience (4+ years) in areas such as innovation, management consulting, sustainability, material science, product development, or the apparel or footwear industry, preferably with a supply chain connection and in an entrepreneurial or start-up setting.

Education

Academic degree (Bachelor (HBO), MBA or Masters) preferably within material science, chemistry, business, textile engineering, or chemical engineering. A Masters is preferred.

Languages

Proficiency in English is required.