Social & Environmental Responsibility Specialist

Main Purpose: The Social & Environmental Responsibility (SER) Specialist supports the Head of Sustainability, India in ensuring that Bata’s supply base upholds the Bata Supplier Code of Conduct and meets all applicable labour, health & safety, and environmental requirements. The role conducts on‑site and desktop assessments, drives corrective actions to closure, and builds supplier capability in partnership with Sourcing, Manufacturing, and Global Sustainability. A key expectation is to help suppliers advance from basic compliance toward a stronger due‑diligence model grounded in self‑verification, traceable evidence, and proactive risk management.

Core Accountabilities:

• Audit & Assessment
• Plan and conduct social and environmental responsibility assessments across Tier 1 and Tier 2 suppliers, verifying alignment with the Bata Supplier Code of Conduct, local regulations, and relevant industry standards (e.g., SLCP, Higg FSLM, SA8000).
• Carry out worker interviews, review contracts, time and pay records, age/ID documents, grievance logs, and EHS documentation, and complete comprehensive facility walkthroughs.
• Assess homeworker and subcontracting risks where applicable.
• Prepare clear assessment reports with ratings, supporting evidence, and prioritized non‑conformities (critical/major/minor).
• Support Bata’s shift toward a due‑diligence and self‑verification model by evaluating supplier readiness to maintain accurate, traceable compliance evidence.
• Corrective Actions & Continuous Improvement
• Co‑develop Corrective Action Plans (CAPs) with suppliers, establish realistic timelines, and verify closure through evidence reviews and on‑site or remote follow‑ups.
• Identify and track recurring systemic risks (e.g., overtime, wage compliance, freedom of association, contractor management, dormitory/canteen conditions) and escalate critical issues immediately.
• Strengthen supplier capability to adopt self‑assessment and due‑diligence practices that reduce reliance on external audits over time.
• Capability Building
• Deliver targeted training to suppliers and internal teams on working‑hours and wage management, grievance mechanisms, responsible recruitment, anti‑harassment/discipline, and foundational EHS topics.
• Support supplier onboarding and re‑qualification through risk screening, documentation review, and improvement roadmaps.
• Equip suppliers with the knowledge and tools required for credible self‑verification and data‑integrity management.
• Data, Reporting & Governance
• Maintain accurate assessment schedules, findings, CAP progress, and risk flags in the compliance system.
• Produce monthly dashboards and updates for India Leadership and Global Sustainability.
• Support external verifications and ensure consistent reporting aligned with global templates, governance cadence, and sustainability metrics.
• Guide suppliers in improving documentation quality, traceability, and record‑keeping aligned with due‑diligence requirements.
• Cross‑Functional Partnership
• Collaborate with Sourcing, Quality, and Manufacturing to sequence assessments efficiently and minimize disruption to production operations.
• Provide insights for vendor selection, consolidation, and capability‑building priorities.
• Coordinate with EHS teams where worker‑safety or environmental topics intersect with social‑compliance requirements.
• Reinforce due‑diligence and self‑verification expectations across cross‑functional teams to support long‑term supplier performance and risk reduction.

Resource Accountabilities

Financial (Direct and Indirect)

People (FTE – Direct and Indirect)

1-3 Field Staff

Other Measures (e.g. Revenue/Equipment/Property)

Key Relationships:

• Sourcing Teams
• Quality Teams
• External Vendors (Tier 1 & 2)
• Product Development Teams
• In‑House Manufacturing, Retail, Distribution Centres/Warehouses & Office Teams
• Other related Senior Management Roles

Desired Skills & Experience:

• 2 -4 years of experience in social compliance, environmental responsibility, EHS, or responsible sourcing, preferably within footwear, apparel, or manufacturing‑driven supply chains.
• Bachelor’s degree in Social Sciences, Business, Environmental Studies, or a related field.
• Experience conducting social compliance audits and familiarity with standards such as SLCP, Higg FSLM, SA8000, BSCI, or SMETA.
• Strong communication skills and the ability to build trust with suppliers and internal partners.
• Solid proficiency in MS Dynamics or Microsoft 365 tools (e.g., Teams, SharePoint, Power BI) for documentation, workflow management, and reporting.
• Ability to work independently while managing multiple supplier engagements, with up to 50% in‑field travel.
• Hands‑on, proactive, and detail‑oriented, with a strong sense of ownership.

Competencies:

• Integrity & Confidentiality- handles sensitive worker and supplier data with discretion.
• Attention to Detail & Judgement- weighs evidence, distinguishes symptoms vs. root causes, and prioritizes critical risks.
• Influence without Authority- guides suppliers toward sustainable improvements while balancing rigor with practicality.
• Problem Solving & Follow‑through- drives CAP closures on time; escalates blockers early.
• Cultural Awareness & Inclusion - builds trust across diverse supplier contexts.