Sustainable Materials and Environmental Manager

Permanent employee, Full-time · China

About Fairphone
Fairphone is more than just a company - we are a global leader in sustainable, modular electronics, on a mission to change the electronics industry from the inside out. Built on strong social and environmental values, we are a diverse and inclusive team from all walks of life creating market consumer electronics that make a real impact.
At Fairphone, you will find a supportive and safe space where everyone can be themselves, collaborate openly, and have the freedom to learn and grow - because that’s how we innovate and drive change together! 
So… are you a proactive, self-motivated team player who loves taking initiative and bringing positive energy? Do you thrive in a fast-moving start-up or scale-up environment? Are you a great communicator who values collaboration and embraces different perspectives? And most importantly, do you feel a strong connection to Fairphone’s mission and values? If you're nodding along and thinking, “Yes, that’s me!”, then check out our vacancy below! 

Please know that we acknowledge that we are living in a time where the use of AI can bring many efficiencies and support. However, we want to know the real YOU. Please try to limit the use of AI tools to generate answers to the application; we value authenticity and encourage you to use your creativity!
  • Location: China-based position with frequent travel to suppliers, especially in the South and Eastern China Regions. Could also be Taiwan-based.
  • Hours: 40 hours per week
  • Start: ideally 01. 05. 2026
  • Deadline to apply: We review applications on a rolling basis. Please apply as soon as possible, latest by 25.03.2026.
About your role
As the Sustainable Materials and Environmental Manager at Fairphone, you are part of the Impact Innovation team. You ensure the integration of recycled materials and support Fairphone’s (sub-)supplier factories with improving their environmental practices (e.g. around circularity, waste and water management, energy savings, pollution). 
The role involves close engagement with Fairphone’s (sub-)suppliers, including document collection, capacity building and visits to their factories. In this role, you will work closely with and support the Circular Supply Chain Manager, the Supplier Sustainability and EHS Manager, and the Chemical Compliance & Supplier Data Manager. Your work directly contributes to Fairphone’s mission of creating a fairer and more sustainable electronics industry.
Key Responsibilities & Objectives
Key Objectives
  • Fair and recycled materials integration - 60%
Drive the end-to-end operational integration of fair and recycled materials by managing ODM relationships, onboarding suppliers, and owning the entire data lifecycle on fair and recycled materials for impact reporting - from collecting chain of custody evidence to verifying KPI accuracy. Serving as the execution partner to the Circular Supply Chain Manager, you will translate strategic roadmaps and innovative material pilots into scalable, audited supply chain operations across Fairphone’s expanding product portfolio.
  • Environmental improvements at supplier factories - 30%
Support (sub-)supplier engagement, document collection and review of evidence of improvements for Fair Factories and Climate Action agendas. Guide hotspot (sub-)suppliers in assessing their circular and environmental practices, and in devising and implementing improvement plans on topics such as energy efficiency, renewable energy, water use, reuse and discharge, waste management or pollution. 
  • Supply chain due diligence and innovation - 10%
Support the impact strategy by researching local environmental data and credit schemes, providing feasibility analysis for new fair or recycled material integration and monitoring industry trends and certifications. Support supply chain due diligence and supplier selection processes when requested. 

Your Key Responsibilities 
1. End-to-end material integration & ODM engagement
  • Execute the integration of fair and recycled materials across Fairphone’s expanding product portfolio. Closely collaborate with the Circular Supply Chain Manager and other internal teams, including engineering and procurement. Ensure that long-term strategic goals from the Fair Materials 2030 Roadmap are translated into day-to-day supply chain operations.
  • Engage with ODMs and Tier-1 suppliers, and onboard new suppliers onto Fairphone’s impact standards and protocols, ensuring fair material requirements are met from the product development stage through mass production.
2. Fair material chain of custody and reporting 
  • Own the fair material data lifecycle, ensuring 100% accuracy and integrity of Chain of Custody (CoC) documentation for all priority materials.
  • Establish and maintain a systematic "Evidence Bank" (certificates, transaction records, invoices) to validate the Company's sustainability claims for internal and external audits.
  • Conduct and document visits and audits at key (material) suppliers to verify material flow and compliance, and to identify opportunities for improvement.
  • Drive the collection and analysis of Fair Materials KPIs, providing the necessary data foundation like supporting FMD (full material declaration) verification, for the Company's annual Impact Report and public communications.
3. Environmental improvements at supplier factories
  • Support supplier engagement: support the Supplier Sustainability & EHS Manager to track program deadlines, follow-up with suppliers to ensure on-time collection of documentation, surveys and data, and evidence of both environmental and social improvements programs part of Fair Factories and Climate Action agendas.  
  • Assess the environmental management and performance of hotspot (sub-) suppliers and advise on concrete actions that suppliers can implement to lower their environmental impact, for example in energy efficiency, renewable energy use, water use, reuse and discharge, waste management, chemical management and/ or pollution. 
  • Support the further development and roll-out of environmental assessment tools and surveys. 
4. Supply chain due diligence & innovation
  • Support supply chain due diligence processes and supplier selection processes, when requested.
  • Research local sources of sustainability data, in line with Science Based Targets Network (SBTN) guidelines, and research and coordinate local offset and credit schemes, when requested. 
  • Provide operational feedback and feasibility analysis to the innovation team during the scouting phase of new materials or recycling technologies.
  • Monitor trends in the industry and certification schemes (e.g., GRS, RCS, ISCC+) to help ensure Fairphone’s standards and ambitions remain industry-leading.  
Your Skills & Experience
  • Relevant Bachelor’s or Master’s degree,
  • Minimum 5 years of experience in recycled materials integration, circularity, and/or environmental management, preferably in the electronics industry,
  • You are a native Mandarin speaker and have good communication skills in English, 
  • You are self-driven and have a problem solving attitude,
  • You have experience engaging and communicating with suppliers, or working at manufacturers in the global electronics industry. Onsite technical experience at electronics manufacturers is desirable,
  • You have experience with recycled content integration and/or managing material flows in manufacturing,
  • You have experience performing environmental assessments and advising improvements related to energy efficiency, renewable energy, water use, reuse and discharge and/ or waste management,
  • You can collaborate well with different internal and external stakeholders,
  • Familiarity with relevant organisations, certifications and standards like Responsible Business Alliance, SBTN, AWS Standard, GRS, RCS, ICSS+, ISO14001 and/ or ISO50001 and similar is a plus,
  • Familiarity working with macOS, Google Workspace, and Basecamp is a plus.
What Fairphone can offer you?
  • The opportunity to create an impact on the electronics industry around the world.
  • A diverse work environment full of international, passionate, warm-hearted team members.
  • Competitive salary aligned with market standards.
  • Statutory paid annual leave, public holidays, and rest days in accordance with the PRC labour law.
  • Social benefits & contributions made by both employer and employee as required under Chinese law.
  • Professional development opportunities for training, skill development, and career advancement.
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About us
DEI @Fairphone

At Fairphone, we care about people, planet and you. It’s natural that we see diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) as an essential part of how we work together and do business.
We support and further strengthen our inclusive work environment and culture by more formally implementing various DEI efforts to ensure all Fairphoners feel included, respected, and supported. 
We are looking forward to hearing from you!
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