Traceability Manager

Starting Date: ASAP

Contract type: Full-time and open-ended

Salary: if hired in London – 60,644 GBP, if in Netherlands 70,000 Euros

Location: London, Netherlands

Application closing date: 24th December 2025

About The Job

Better Cotton is the world’s largest cotton sustainability programme. We exist to make global cotton production better for the people who produce it, the environment it grows in, and the sector’s future. We work with farmers, ginners, traders, brands, and retailers to deliver traceable, sustainable cotton at scale. The credible uptake of Better Cotton is key to meeting our ambitious 2030 strategy, and is essential for contributing to farmer capacity building through member funding derived from retailer and brand sourcing of Better Cotton.

The Traceability Manager ensures a seamless and valuable user experience for Better Cotton’s traceability platform. By leading on functional requirements gathering, platform enhancements and scoping new traceability innovations, the role directly contributes to the organisation’s mission of improving transparency and accountability in the cotton supply chain. This position drives innovation, user satisfaction, and operational efficiency through strategic planning, stakeholder engagement, collaborative consultation and technical oversight.

The Challenge

Looking ahead to 2030, we are targeting reducing GHG emissions from cotton production by half, big cuts in synthetic pesticide use, improve soil health across our network, improve farm income and support women’s empowerment among farmers and farm workers.

Responsibilities

The Traceability Manager will :

• Lead on the development and implementation of platform improvements to enhance ease of use and value experienced by retailers and suppliers using the traceability system.
• Obtain, analyse and report on user feedback of platform features and functionality, identifying solutions for key issues.
• Lead internal and external workshops and consultations to define and document new requirements, to improve platform performance and user satisfaction.
• Plan, budget and prioritise implementation of roadmap or new requirements working with the BCI IT team and external technology partners to deliver new features or system changes.
• Coordinate with training and communications to launch new features or system changes and ensure successful user adoption
• Manage the assessment, selection, testing and implementation of emerging traceability technologies to support the organisation’s strategic goals
• Conduct market scans and technology horizon-scanning to identify innovative solutions to enhance our traceability offering.
• Maintain strong relationships with vendors and provide ongoing support during onboarding and implementation
  
  

Experience

the following skills, knowledge, and experience:

Essential

• University degree (or equivalent experience) in a relevant field such as supply chain management, information systems, sustainability, or agricultural sciences
• Demonstrated experience in textile or agricultural supply chains, with a strong grasp of how traceability systems operate in practice
• Product management experience including product strategy, requirements gathering, road mapping and testing will be highly regarded
• Proven ability to work with or design digital traceability tools and platforms that support data capture, integrity, and reporting.
• Familiarity with chain of custody models and assurance practices (e.g., physical segregation, mass balance, book and claim)
• Proven line management experience with responsibility for mentoring, performance management, and supporting the professional growth of team members
• Skilled at planning, delivering, and reviewing projects independently, ensuring timelines, budgets, and quality standards are met
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to explain complex systems and concepts to both technical and non-technical audiences
• Fluency in English required
  
  

Desirable

• Experience working in international, multicultural, or mission-driven environments is an asset.
• Fluency in Portugues will be highly regarded
• French, Spanish, Hindi, Urdu and/or Mandarin is valued
  
  

What We Offer

• Competitive salary
• Hybrid working/Remote – location dependant
• The opportunity to work from anywhere in the world for up to one month per year
• Flexible working, with core hours from 10 am to 4 pm local time
• Continuous learning and development
• Pension scheme
• Annual leave, plus Bank Holidays and a further 3 days off over the end of year period
• Enhanced parental benefits
• A warm, positive working environment where everyone is valued
• The opportunity to make your mark and make a difference
  
  

Working arrangements

The position is full-time (40 hours per week) and will be based either in London or the Netherla nds. Better Cotton Initiative offers flexible working, with core hours being 10 am – 4 pm. The position will require limited travel

Apply now

Send us your CV (2 pages maximum) and a brief cover letter (1-page maximum) by or before 24.12.2025 via the application link.

In your cover letter, please include an explanation of why your experience is specifically relevant to this role at Better Cotton Initiative. We want to see your personal style – what makes you tick and why you think your next opportunity is here with us.

Better Cotton Initiative does not use artificial intelligence or automated screening tools in its hiring process. Every application is reviewed by our People & Culture team and relevant hiring managers to ensure a fair and human-led assessment experience.

Our hiring process

Initial Screening

Applicant screening is a crucial step in our recruitment process. This stage may involve a brief phone interview or video call to evaluate your suitability for the position. During this screening, we review resumes and cover letters, and may conduct initial background checks to narrow down the pool of applicant. Internal candidates are encouraged to inform their line manager about their application to promote transparency and help facilitate a smooth transition if selected.

Interviews

If you successfully pass the initial screening, you will be invited for interviews. The interview process at Better Cotton Initiative may include one or more rounds of interviews with various stakeholders, such as the hiring manager, team members, and potentially senior management. As an internal candidate, you may have discussions regarding your current responsibilities and how they will transition to the new position.

Assessment And Testing

Depending on the role, you might be required to complete assessments, technical tests, or skills evaluations to gauge your competency and suitability for the position. Internal candidates may have the option to demonstrate their existing skills through current job performance or past project outcomes.

Reference Checks

Once you progress further in the process, reference checks are conducted to validate your work history, skills, and qualifications, and for some roles, your education and criminal history. Internal candidates may be asked for references from current or previous supervisors within Better Cotton Initiative to provide insights into their performance and capabilities.

Offer Stage

After completing interviews, assessments, and reference checks, the hiring team evaluates your performance and fit for the role. If you are selected and your references are relevant and satisfactory, you will receive a formal job offer letter outlining the terms of employment, compensation, benefits, and any other relevant details. For internal candidates, the offer process may include a discussion about how your transition to the new role will be managed and any support needed for a smooth handover.

About Better Cotton Initiative

Better Cotton Initiative is a global not-for-profit organisation supporting the production of more equitable and sustainable cotton at farm level. We exist to catalyse the cotton farming community with partners, governments and others to continuously drive positive impact by setting standards and facilitating the supply and demand of more sustainable cotton from farm to brand. In just 15 years we have aligned more than a fifth of the world’s cotton with our standard and helped farmers and farming communities thrive. Join us in building a better, more sustainable future for cotton worldwide.

About Our Values

The post holder will be expected to operate in line with our workplace values which are:

• Trustworthy (including honest, transparent, credible)
• As having Integrity (including responsible, authentic)
• Positive (including problem-solving, pragmatic)
• Engaging (including adaptable, inclusive, holistic)
• Daring (including courageous, innovative, game-changing)
  
  

Being you @ Better Cotton Initiative

Better Cotton Initiative is committed to creating a diverse environment and is proud to be an equal opportunity employer with a strong commitment to good practice and transparency in the management of natural, human, and financial resources.

We have a zero-tolerance approach to any attitudes or behaviours that put children or adults at risk of harm. Safeguarding incidents are acts of serious misconduct and are grounds for disciplinary action, up to and including, dismissal and referral to relevant authorities for criminal prosecution. Therefore, all offers of employment are subject to satisfactory references and appropriate screening checks.