Director, Human Rights

Reporting to the Vice President of Government Affairs & Corporate Responsibility, the Director of Human Rights will lead the development and implementation of a human rights strategy for the enterprise, centered around alignment with the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights. Additionally, this role will lead the development, implementation, monitoring and continuous improvement of the company’s responsible sourcing programs. The Director of Human Rights will serve as the point person in the company that will engage with and respond to industry, stakeholder and regulatory issues and opportunities related to human rights and responsible sourcing. The Director, Human Rights will help shape a long-term vision for human rights that aligns with and supports enterprise objectives, goals, and strategies. This individual will partner with leaders from Exclusive Brands (ExB), Procurement, Legal, Supply Chain, Communications and Environmental Affairs on the development of related business plans, ensuring a consistent POV across the business. This role will also develop strategic recommendations that enable company leadership to drive business value by optimizing the existing supply chain as well as identify new value-generating opportunities utilizing critical industry intelligence, trends, and stakeholder insights to make decisions.

International Human Rights Standard Alignment (50%)

• Lead the development, implementation, and management of an enterprise human rights policy and supplier coded of conduct, and the management system to ensure compliance
• Identify, investigate and resolve issues in the supply chain inconsistent with the company’s human rights policy or supplier code of conduct. Manage all third-party resources (e.g. audit firms)
• Actively manage a Human Rights Governance structure, including the development and maintenance of a Senior Executive Committee that guides the company’s approach to human rights, including the identification, recruitment and on-boarding of members
• Identify and address gaps in Best Buy programs, policies, and procedures vis-a-vis international human rights standards with which the company is seeking to align
• Coordinate the human rights programs across the enterprise by partnering with ExB, procurement, legal, vendor management, category, supply chain and other enterprise partners
• Produce annual reporting on conflict minerals

Responsible Sourcing Program Development, Planning and Execution (20%)

• Develop and implement a responsible sourcing strategy for all Best Buy procurement, international and domestic
• Oversee the due diligence process to assess vendor supply chain risk, communicate and raise potential risks and issues with relevant executives, design plans to mitigate risks, manage corrective action plans, collaborate, and support vendors to remediate gaps and develop programs
• Own, lead and manage compliance of Best Buy’s enterprise supplier standards
• Develop and maintain a risk-based approach that considers factors such as strategic business importance, past social and environmental performance, country of origin, product type, branding and supplier capabilities.
• Continually monitor, evaluate, and optimize supply chain sustainability programs through an analysis of program performance and the ability to meet company objectives
• Identify key performance indicators and design an approach to measure supplier’s social and environmental performance

Strategic Partnership Development (15%)

• Select and build collaborative relationships/membership (and ensuring value) in initiatives such as BSR, Retail Industry Leaders Association (RILA) and Responsible Business Alliance (RBA) to gain networked global knowledge, best practices, and protection etc.
• Represent Best Buy with supply chain focused organizations (e.g. RILA and RBA) and at supply chain focused conferences and events
• Participation on working groups and task forces
• Board of Director position in relevant organizations
• Conference speaker
• Communicate with relevant industry players and represent supply chain social and environmental responsibility strategy to new and existing partners - managing a range of strategic relationships and delivering value-creating partnerships supporting business strategies
• Identify, design, and coordinate collaborative initiatives with industry peers, suppliers, NGOs, academics and others
• Develop and implement an energy efficiency program with key suppliers to “green” the supply chain, reduce costs and protect Best Buy from the implementation of regulatory fees related to carbon emissions

Team Leadership and Cross-Functional Collaboration (15%)

• Manage the corporate responsibility team, including staff currently based in Shenzhen, China.
• Coordinate the supply chain program globally by partnering with ExB, procurement, legal, vendor management, and other enterprise partners
• Working cross-functionally, development, coordination, implementation, and enforcement of policies that protect Best Buy’s reputation and/or improve supply chain efficiency
• In partnership with PR, communications, and others, lead the development of a crisis management playbook that controls, contains, and diffuses high-profile incidents that present operational and reputational risks to the organization

Minimum Requirements:

• 8+ years experience in corporate responsibility/sustainability experience including strategy development, problem solving and risk mitigation, supply chain program development, managing strategic planning processes, understanding key operational and reputational value drivers, and developing strategic relationships
• 3+ years demonstrated ability leading high-functioning diverse teams
• 3+ years demonstrated ability to engage, educate and influence leaders at the highest level in the organization
• 3+ years demonstrated understanding of cross functional disciplines, such as sourcing, merchandising, retail operations, transportation, logistics, finance, environmental affairs and marketing
• 3+ years demonstrated ability to identify and form strategic relationships with NGOs, academics, and industry peers
• 3+ years ability to breakdown complex topics to develop an approach that protects the company and/or creates value
• 3+ years building cross cultural interactions and a willingness to learn how to best navigate in foreign cultures
• 3+ years expertise in obtaining, analyzing and synthesizing information
• Must be willing to travel to Asia

Preferred Qualifications:

• 5+ years’ experience developing and leveraging strategic professional networks inside and outside an organization to gain competitive intelligence and apply it to program development and execution
• 5+ years Commitment and track record of developing others – in and outside of the function
• 5+ years demonstrated champion of diversity
• Experience managing external vendors such as audit firms and other consultants
• Ability to navigate a highly decentralized, collaborative work environment is strongly desired.
• Retail and/or consumer electronic industry experience
• Highly respected and progressive leader who can balance social, environmental and economic objectives

To Apply

Please visit the Best Buy careers website.