Sustainability and Quality Manager

Do you take pride in your technical and analytical skills in the development of products? Are you passionate about quality, vendor compliance and ESG (environmental, Social and Governance)? About nurturing an engaging and collaborative work environment for team members?

Come and Join Us – a Company that CARES about our team! At Edwards, we care about our associates and our community. We know that our associates are the heartbeat of our company and we foster an environment that is fun, healthy and safe. Edwards is a family-friendly company that values a work-life balance for our associates and have a goal to create long-term employment by matching your talent to our opportunities.

What you can expect at Edwards - Edwards is a premier brand of quality apparel. We have 50 years of successfully serving the uniform market with a collaborative work environment as the driver to reach it.

Job Description

The position of Sustainability and Quality Manager manages the team, equipment and workload of Sustainability, Product Integrity & Quality teams to meet customer expectations, as well as leads and executes the Company’s sustainability strategy.

Here’s what you can expect in the way of specific job responsibilities as well as time allocation estimates:

Leadership & Strategic Oversight (40%)

• Develops and executes a comprehensive quality and sustainability strategy aligned with corporate goals.
• Leads, researches and resolves customer issues and concerns.
• Establishes clear KPIs for quality and sustainability, tracking performance and implementing continuous improvement initiatives.
• Mentors, trains, and cross-trains staff to ensure team readiness and adherence to best practices in quality control and sustainability.
• Leads a culture of ownership and accountability, ensuring all team members meet expectations and drive process efficiencies.
• Evaluates staff performance and provides constructive feedback for professional growth.
  
  

Technical & Compliance Management (20%)

• Oversees the quality management system (QMS) to ensure compliance with industry regulations, customer expectations, and internal standards.
• Reviews audit reports for accuracy, communicates findings to vendors, and ensures corrective actions are implemented.
• Manages chargebacks with precision, ensuring documentation is thorough and aligned with company policies.
• Leads sustainability initiatives, including compliance with the Sustainable Apparel Coalition (SAC) and other industry frameworks.
• Collaborates with R&D and sourcing teams to integrate sustainable materials and innovations into product development.
• Ensures all products meet established measurement specifications, packaging requirements, and safety standards.
  
  

Problem Solving & Process Optimization (20%)

• Conducts root cause analysis (RCA) and implements corrective/preventative actions (CAPA) to mitigate product quality risks.
• Develops and maintains a supplier performance scorecard to ensure continuous improvements and accountability.
• Works cross-functionally with operations, logistics, and inventory teams to minimize waste and reduce environmental impact.
• Troubleshoots internal and external quality issues, coordinating with relevant teams to resolve customer returns, obsolete stock, and vendor inconsistencies.
• Engages with third-party auditors and sustainability organizations to implement best practices within the company.
  
  

Communication & Stakeholder Engagement (20%)

• Develops and delivers data-driven reports to executive leadership, highlighting trends, risk assessments, and strategic recommendations.
• Leads supplier training programs to drive compliance with quality and sustainability standards.
• Acts as a liaison between product development, compliance, and operations teams to ensure alignment on sustainability initiatives.
• Ensures timely and transparent communication with vendors, internal teams, and external partners to drive quality improvements and sustainability compliance.
• Provides regular updates and insights on quality and sustainability performance, ensuring all stakeholders are informed and engaged.
  
  

To be successful in this role, you need to have the requisite knowledge, skills and abilities:

• Minimum of 7 years in quality assurance, sustainability management, or product integrity within the apparel or manufacturing industry.
• Strong leadership experience with a proven ability to develop teams, drive accountability, and implement strategic initiatives
• Expertise in quality management systems (QMS), sustainability frameworks, and global compliance regulations.
• Proficiency in root cause analysis (RCA), corrective/preventative actions (CAPA), and supplier performance management.
• Experience working with third-party auditors, vendors, and regulatory agencies.
• Strong analytical skills with the ability to interpret audit reports, performance data, and sustainability metrics.
• Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills, with the ability to influence at all levels of the organization.
• Performance management and coaching
• Teamwork and collaboration
• Respect for confidentiality practices
• Appreciation for and ability to respond to cultural differences
  
  

Our ideal Sustainability and Quality Manager would carry out their responsibilities while displaying the following key behavioral competencies:

• Precision Result Focused – Focused on achieving accurate quality procedures and outcomes to ensure customer expectations are sustained. Ensures all tasks are completed on time and without error utilizing established procedures.
• Technical Problem Solver – Promptly, effectively and accurately problem solve sustainability, product integrity and quality issues that will affect operations and/or customers.
• Clear Communicator – Communication is based on tasks that need to be accomplished and serving customer and employee needs in a friendly, clear, concise and factual way. Promptly provides information to stakeholders related to sustainability, product integrity and quality issues that will affect operations and/or customer service issues.
• Organizational Development – Commitment to attract and develop top talent.
• Change Leadership – Manage innovative improvements and changes. Support and encourage change(s) that impact the ongoing culture evolution at Edwards.
  
  

Perks and Benefits at Edwards

• Annual Manager Bonus Plan
• Great Paid Time Off package
• Excellent medical plan with options that best fit the associate and the associate’s family
• Dental (including orthodontia) and Vision Plan at NO COST to associates
• 401k (with company match of up to 5% - no vesting schedule)
• $5250 tuition reimbursement a year
• Company paid general membership Costco or Sam’s Club
• We like to celebrate! – Celebrations (both Company-wide and departmental) take place throughout the year for achieving milestones and goal
  
  

Read more about us at www.edwardsgarment.com under “Careers”