Senior Vice President, Investigations and University Engagement

ABOUT FAIR LABOR ASSOCIATION

The Fair Labor Association (FLA) promotes human rights at work. We are an international network of companies, universities, and labor and civil society organizations collaborating to ensure that millions of people working at the world’s factories and farms are paid fairly and protected from risks to their health, safety, and well-being. 

FLA has offices in the U.S., Switzerland, Türkiye, and Côte d’Ivoire, with members based in 21 countries and staff based in 16 countries. For more information, visit www.fairlabor.org.

This is a Level 7 position that can be performed remotely from any location in the U.S. Travel is 25% of the time to include internal and external meetings and conferences. The salary range for this position is $155-175K depending on experience.

POSITION SUMMARY 

Reporting to the President and CEO and serving as a member of FLA’s Senior Leadership Team, the Senior Vice President, Investigations and University Engagement oversees Fair Labor Investigations (FLI), which plays an essential role in ensuring that FLA’s standards are implemented in member companies’ and university licensees’ supply chains, workers have access to remedy, and all parties can obtain an impartial, authoritative resolution where there are allegations of significant and persistent noncompliance. FLIs offer the opportunity to engage stakeholders proactively and effectively on issues that are important to them and may relate to systemic and entrenched concerns that are not amenable to resolution using narrowly-focused approaches.

They also lead the FLI and Collegiate Programs teams, working on all facets of the programs, including providing oversight and management of pending investigations; being a key contact for member companies and licensees on new and ongoing investigatins; and managing engagement with workers, unions, and civil society organizations regarding investigations and allegations submitted for potential investigation. 

Further, the SVP, Investigations and University Engagement provides strategic guidance, supervision, and support for FLA’s Collegiate Programs and management of the University Caucus. The University Caucus comprises nearly 140 colleges and universities and plays an essential role in FLA’s model and governance, and approximately 2,500 companies participate in the Collegiate Licensee Program, advancing human rights in each of their supply chains.

      KEY AREAS OF RESPONSIBILITY

      Fair Labor Investigations

• Evaluate Third-Party Complaints (TPCs) against FLA standards and determine whether to initiate an investigation. 
• Facilitate informal conflict resolution where possible and appropriate. 
• Manage and oversee all elements of investigations from initiation through implementation of corrective action/remediation. 
• Lead engagement with the Business Caucus and individual companies regarding TPCs and brand-commissioned investigations. 
• Coordinate engagement with the Labor and CSO Caucus to foster expanded outreach and engagement with unions and civil society organizations in key sourcing countries regarding FLI. 
• Lead and/or contribute to additional strategic initiatives as needed. 

        Collegiate Programs

• Provide strategic direction and supervision of the Collegiate Programs and staff, working closely with the Director, Collegiate Programs, ensuring alignment across workstreams within the program and coordination with other FLA programs. 
• Drawing on the FLA’s strategic plan, supervise and support the Director, Collegiate Programs in developing annual strategy, priorites, and workplan. 
• With the Director, Collegiate Programs leading, regularly engage with University Caucus members of the FLA Board of Directors on policy, priority setting, and program execution.
• Oversee content development for learning and training material for licensees and universities. 

      QUALIFICATIONS AND REQUIREMENTS

• JD with at least 15 years of relevant legal or labor relations work experience ideally in mission-driven organizations and/or supply chain management. 
• Strong commitment to FLA’s mission.
• Deep technical knowledge of, and experience in, international labor standards and human rights in supply chains. 
• Ability to synthesize large amounts of information quickly and accurately with a keen eye for details. 
• High-level communication skills, both oral and written; proven ability to deal with confidential and sensitive matters. 

The FLA is an equal employment opportunity employer and considers all applicants for employment regardless of race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression and any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws.