At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead the global strategy for a circular economy in fashion and drive systemic change.
- Company: Ellen MacArthur Foundation, a leader in promoting sustainable practices.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, generous holiday allowance, and a supportive work culture.
- Other info: Diverse and inclusive workplace committed to creating lasting change.
- Why this job: Shape the future of fashion while making a real impact on sustainability.
- Qualifications: 15+ years in senior leadership within fashion and sustainability, with strong strategic skills.
The predicted salary is between 72000 - 108000 £ per year.
The Ellen MacArthur Foundation develops and promotes the idea of a circular economy — one that is restorative and regenerative by design. Through research, business collaboration and advocacy, the Foundation works to accelerate the global transition from a linear take-make-waste economy to one that designs out waste and pollution; keeps products and materials in use and regenerates natural systems.
After 15 years setting the ambition across the globe resulting in 75 countries with strategic circular economy roadmaps and 55% of businesses with a circular economy strategy, we are now entering a new phase around implementation and scale up of the circular economy in action in the Global South as well as the Global North. Fashion is a priority area for this new era, and we are seeking an exceptional leader to spearhead our work and drive systemic change at scale.
The Role
As Executive Lead for Fashion and Textiles, you will set and deliver the Foundation's global strategy for accelerating the transition to a circular economy for fashion. You will lead high-impact programmes, shape influential partnerships, and represent the Foundation at the highest levels across business and policy. This is a senior leadership role combining strategic vision, external influence, and operational excellence. You will work closely with executive colleagues across the Foundation and lead a multidisciplinary team to translate ambition into measurable impact.
Key responsibilities
- Set the strategic direction for the Foundation's fashion and textiles work, aligned with our mission and long-term goals.
- Lead and inspire a high-performing global team, fostering collaboration, innovation, and accountability.
- Build and manage senior-level relationships with brands, manufacturers, policymakers, NGOs, and other key stakeholders.
- Drive the design and delivery of programmes that enable systemic change across the fashion value chain.
- Act as a thought leader and spokesperson, shaping global narratives on circular economy and fashion.
- Ensure robust governance, impact measurement, and continuous learning across the portfolio.
- Represent the Foundation at events, conferences, and key meetings to enhance the Foundation's visibility, credibility, and influence.
- Secure the business, philanthropic, and other income required in collaboration with our Finance team and other colleagues.
About you
You will be a credible, values-driven leader with the ability to influence complex systems and mobilise diverse actors around a shared vision. You will bring strong commercial credibility across the entire value chain from strategy and design to sourcing, production, and global supply chain. It will be essential that you can demonstrate:
- 15+ years of significant senior leadership experience at an international level within the fashion and textiles sector coupled with a circular economy or sustainability and systems change background.
- Deep, demonstrable experience of working in the Global South.
- A strong strategic mindset, with a track record of turning vision into action and impact.
- Deep understanding of the fashion system and global textile flows and the related environmental, economic, commercial, political and social challenges.
- Exceptional stakeholder engagement and communication skills, including at executive and board level.
- Experience of leading and developing globally dispersed, diverse teams in dynamic, mission-driven environments.
Why join us
This is a rare opportunity to shape the future of one of the world's most influential sectors and contribute to a global transition towards a circular economy. You will work alongside passionate, expert colleagues and partners who are committed to creating lasting change in a collaborative and forward-thinking workplace culture.
Our commitment to you
We are keen to receive applications from people from underrepresented backgrounds, including (but not limited to) those of colour, people with disabilities, people who identify as LGBTQIA+, and people from other marginalised groups. It is important to us that our recruitment approach makes the opportunity as accessible as possible and ensures a diverse range of people can demonstrate their potential. We would be happy to provide any further support that you may require - please get in touch so that we can work together.
If you would like further information on our diversity and inclusion policy or any further assistance, please contact us at
Desired starting date: May/June 2026
Closing date: 6th March 2026
Remuneration package: competitive within the NGO sector at Executive level plus generous holiday allowance and benefits package.
Location: we are open to discuss location for this role.
To apply, please click on the green icon where you will be asked to upload a CV and covering letter outlining how your experience meets the core requirements of the role.
Executive Director: Circular Economy for Fashion in London employer: Ellen MacArthur Foundation
The Ellen Macarthur Foundation is an exceptional employer, dedicated to fostering a culture of innovation and sustainability in the heart of the City of Westminster. With a strong commitment to employee development, we offer extensive growth opportunities, a collaborative work environment, and a generous benefits package that includes 25 days of holiday and enhanced pension options, making it an ideal place for those passionate about driving change in the fashion industry.
Contact Details:
Ellen MacArthur Foundation Recruitment Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Executive Director: Circular Economy for Fashion in London
✨Get Involved Locally
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We think you need these skills to ace Executive Director: Circular Economy for Fashion in London
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Your Passion for the Cause:In the nonprofit sector, it's super important to demonstrate genuine passion for the mission of Ellen MacArthur Foundation. Use your cover letter to showcase any personal experiences or volunteer work that connects you to their social impact initiatives. This emotional connection can really help your application stand out.
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Tailor Your Documents to the Role:For a full-time role like Executive Director: Circular Economy for Fashion, ensure your CV and cover letter specifically address the responsibilities outlined in the job description. Use their language to describe your skills and experience, making it easy for the hiring team to see how you fit into their vision.
Emphasise Teamwork and Collaboration:Nonprofits thrive on teamwork, so make sure to emphasise your collaborative experiences. Whether you've worked in a team setting, partnered with community organisations, or facilitated group projects, highlight these experiences in your application. Show them you understand the importance of working alongside diverse individuals to achieve shared goals.
How to prepare for a job interview at Ellen MacArthur Foundation
✨Show Your Passion for Social Change
When we’re prepping for interviews in the nonprofit space, it's vital to demonstrate our genuine passion for social impact. Be ready to discuss not just your skills and experiences but also why you care about the mission of Ellen MacArthur Foundation. Sharing personal stories or insights can really make us stand out.
✨Highlight Project Experience
We should focus on specific projects we've worked on that align with the goals of social impact. Whether that’s a community initiative, volunteering, or a class project, having solid examples that showcase our role and the outcomes will resonate well with the interviewers.
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Let’s brush up on tools and methodologies commonly used in the nonprofit sector, like project management software or outcome measurement frameworks. Being able to speak fluently about these will show that we’re not just passionate but also knowledgeable and ready to hit the ground running.
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