Ethical Compliance Coordinator - #2084208

Ethical Compliance Coordinator

SDA’s / Homewares

Manchester – Office Based

Up to £40,000 plus excellent benefits

Our client, a well established supplier to retailer now has an exciting opportunity for an Ethical Compliance Coordinator to join their team in Manchester.

Candidates will ideally come from a supplier background, with knowledge of hardgoods.

Purpose of role:

The Ethical Compliance Advisor plays a key role in supporting and maintaining ethical trade compliance across the Group’s global supply chain, with a particular focus on factories in China. The role is primarily responsible for ethical sourcing, audit management, factory compliance and remediation, providing expert advice to internal teams and suppliers to ensure alignment with recognised ethical standards and responsible sourcing requirements. Over time, the role may offer the opportunity to develop into wider sustainability responsibilities, supporting the evolution of the company’s ESG and sustainability agenda.

Key Responsibilities:

Ethical Compliance & Factory Auditing

• Act as the day-to-day advisor on ethical trade and labour standards across the supply chain.
• Coordinate and support the ethical audit programme, with a strong emphasis on factories in China.
• Review, analyse and interpret third-party audit reports, ensuring findings are clearly understood and appropriately actioned.
• Support suppliers and factories in developing Corrective Action Plans (CAPs) and monitor progress to closure.
• Maintain accurate and up-to-date ethical compliance records, including audit outcomes, ratings, suspensions and approvals.
• Support the factory onboarding and approval process, ensuring ethical compliance requirements are met prior to production.
• Assist with responsible exit processes where required, in line with ACT and other ethical trade protocols.

Supplier Engagement & Advisory Support

• Act as a key point of contact for suppliers on ethical compliance matters, offering practical guidance and clarification of requirements.
• Work collaboratively with suppliers in China to improve understanding of labour standards, working conditions and ethical expectations.
• Provide cultural and regulatory insight to internal teams when working with Chinese manufacturers.
• Support communication between internal stakeholders and external audit providers, ensuring clarity and consistency.

Internal Support & Awareness

• Provide ongoing ethical trade guidance to internal teams including QA, Buying and Product.
• Support internal training and awareness on ethical sourcing standards and factory compliance requirements.
• Assist in updating internal policies, procedures and guidance related to ethical sourcing.

Skills Required:

• Minimum 2 years’ experience in an ethical trade, compliance, CSR or similar supply chain-focused role.
• Hands-on experience working with factory audits, particularly in China (remote or on-site).
• Strong understanding of ethical trade standards, such as SMETA, BSCI, SA8000 or equivalent frameworks.
• Experience supporting or managing Corrective Action Plans and ongoing factory compliance.
• Confident communicator, able to advise and challenge appropriately while maintaining strong supplier relationships.
• High attention to detail with strong organisational and record-keeping skills.

Desirable

• Experience working with suppliers in China.
• Exposure to sustainability topics such as responsible sourcing, FSC, packaging or materials compliance.
• Relevant certification or training in ethical auditing, CSR or sustainability (or working towards).

Apply online or for further information contact one of our specialist consultants quoting reference number: NJR16759