Retail Lead: Programme Delivery Full Time Cowes, Isle of Wight / UK Working at the intersection of strategy, delivery, and influence, you will be accountable for translating our Retail Mission strategy into a dynamic portfolio of high-impact programmes and projects. Working with our Mission Leads, you will bring retail sector expertise to ensure programmes and projects resonate with the target audience. Your initial focus will be on the current portfolio of projects across Fashion and Food but will rapidly expand into designing and delivering a coherent portfolio of new Retail-specific programmes and projects (across regions) that arise as the mission strategy matures. Accountable for the design and delivery of scalable, retail-driven solutions that remove systemic barriers to a circular economy you will represent the Foundation and the Retail Mission on global stages, in the media and with senior industry leaders. Partnering with leading retailers, brands, and policymakers and relevant stakeholders, you will align on joint direction, mobilise collaborative business action, and influence enabling policy as it relates to accelerating the transition to a circular economy within retail. You will lead a high-performing team of programme managers ensuring world-class delivery and measurable impact. Role Responsibilities include: Strategic Planning Accountable for turning the Retail Mission strategy into actionable programmes that drive measurable change in the sector and ensure that delivery plans reflect the realities of retail markets and emerging retail trends. Work with network retail partners and stakeholders to ensure programmes contribute to the delivery of EMF Strategy 2030. Understand and oversee the resourcing and budgetary requirements for each programme area and ensure coordination of financial and human resources between programmes of delivery work. Engage and work with Leads across the Foundation (Missions, Regions and enabling functions) to ensure programme delivery is anchored in overall EMF approach and available resources. Drive Implementation Accountable for the delivery of existing Fashion and Food Programmes, while designing and delivering a new Retail portfolio of high impact implementation programmes and projects that activate business and policy to overcome systemic barriers. Delivery solutions must be activated locally, regionally and globally, collaborating with EMF Regional teams. Contribute to the strategy, vision and research for the Retail Mission. Represent the Foundation at key events and with the media to consistently promote the circular economy and its relevance for the retail sector and stakeholders. Produce catalytic outputs, from market-leading insights to live demonstration projects. Stakeholder Management Build and manage strong relationships with internal and external stakeholders to support the delivery of the Retail Mission’s ambitions. Strengthen and develop the Foundation's reach and influence in the retail sector Build, engage and inspire the relevant networks of the Foundation. This includes lead responsibility for the Food and Fashion Advisory Boards as well as any future Advisory Board established to support the Mission. Team Management Motivate and develop the team in a fast-paced environment. Contribute to overall talent discussions to support the recruitment and retention of talent across the organisation. Budget Support Mission Executive Lead to meet Retail Mission revenue targets by contributing to fundraising and managing the Mission delivery budget. Work closely with the Philanthropy and Business Development teams to develop proposals for income and ensure Mission delivery budget secured matches Mission delivery budgeted spend. Ensure sound allocation of funding and contribute to the reporting for the mission. Your profile: Professional qualifications in a relevant field (e.g. Fashion or textiles, or other retail-relevant area) Evidence of continued professional development in leadership, team management, or subject-matter expertise. 7 years of relevant professional experience, with at least 2–3 years in a leadership, coordination, or senior contributor role working in or with the retail sector. Proven track record of leading sizeable programmes and teams with extensive external and internal stakeholder management. Experience of managing multi-million-pound budgets including raising funds to support project delivery Experience managing a team including workflow coordination, planning, and performance management. Strong experience working cross-functionally with stakeholders at different levels, with the ability to translate strategy into delivery. Strong subject-matter expertise in one or more retail sectors. Proficient in using digital tools to support workflow and communication (e.g., Microsoft 365, Google Workspace, project management software and AI tools). International travel will be required for this role. Why Join the Ellen MacArthur Foundation? Mission-Driven Work: Be part of an organisation working on some of the most pressing challenges of our time: circular economy and systemic change. Collaborative Culture: Work in a dynamic, diverse, and collaborative environment where every team member is valued and empowered to contribute. Growth and Impact: Play a key role in shaping an organisation that is influencing global systems and driving positive environmental change Work-Life Balance: We believe in creating a healthy, balanced work environment. The Ellen MacArthur Foundation offers flexible working options to support the well-being of our employees. Apply by clicking the green icon where you will be asked to upload a CV and covering letter. We receive a high volume of applications for our vacancies and we may close the link early if we have a strong shortlist. Desired starting date: as soon as possible. Closing date: 9th September, 2025 Location : This role may be remote in the UK or based in our offices in Cowes, Isle of Wight. Salary package: circa £70k depending on experience level plus generous holiday allowance, 25 days plus UK Bank Holidays plus discretionary organisational extra days leave at Christmas and Easter, generous parental leave; enhanced pension options/private health scheme after 6 months; wellbeing programme. Location: This role may be remote in the UK or based in our offices in Cowes, Isle of Wight. Benefits package: generous holiday allowance (25 days plus UK bank holidays and discretionary extra days leave) generous parental leave; enhanced pension options/private health scheme after 6 months; wellbeing programme. Application process: Initial zoom meeting with our Talent team and prospective Line manager to start the process (we will send you the outline of the interview so you know what to expect). A work-related assignment to complete at home or as part of the interview process so we know you will be comfortable with the type of work you would do here. Interview with our People Team, Team Lead and prospective manager. This may be based in our offices on the beautiful Isle of Wight, even if the role isn’t based here. We think it’s important you see where we started and meet the team! Alternatively, this will be via Zoom as we recognise this isn’t always possible, especially for our international candidates. For more senior roles we will conduct a presentation interview too. What we do: The Ellen MacArthur Foundation develops and promotes the idea of a circular economy. We work with, and inspire, business, academia, policymakers, and institutions to mobilise systems solutions at scale, globally. Our mission is to accelerate the transition to a circular economy. Our vision is a new economic system that delivers better outcomes for people and the environment. Business models, products, and materials are designed to increase use and reuse, replicating the balance of the natural world, where nothing becomes waste, and everything has value. A circular economy, increasingly built on renewable energy and materials, is distributed, diverse, and inclusive. 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 are able to 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 [email protected] .