– NOW CLOSED –
Flexible working arrangements are available – both in terms of time and location.
The NBF is based in Skipton in North Yorkshire but this post is not dependent on a regular presence in the office and will involve getting out and about visiting our 80 or so members across the country, inc. Northern Ireland and Republic of Ireland.
This is a new position within the NBF team – a role that is being created to deliver the NBF’s industry leadership and support role concerning the broad agenda of sustainability across its membership base. This is an exciting opportunity to be instrumental in an industry-wide transformational process that’s good for business and good for the planet.
Sustainability has become one of the key issues that most businesses need to embrace over the coming few years. To this effect, the NBF recently published its Principles of Ecodesign for Mattresses and has been developing a practical assessment toolkit based on them. The NBF is also introducing its ‘Pledge for our Planet’ and will be encouraging all members sign up and to show their commitment to becoming a more sustainable business, reducing their global warming impact, reducing waste, reducing their products’ impact on the environment and taking responsibility for their actions.
The NBF has also been instrumental in facilitating the development of the Register of Approved Mattress Recyclers, a third party audited scheme designed to support reputable recyclers in the sector.
We are now looking for the person who understands and supports our sustainability vision and has the technical know-how to guide and support our members to achieve theirs.
This is a practical, hands-on role with plenty of variety that requires practical operations/ compliance/ technical experience in manufacturing as well as experience and understanding of environmental management and implementation.
A furniture/beds background would be desirable.
Your main duties would be:-
NBF Pledge for our Planet
- Introducing and explaining the NBF Pledge for our Planet to all members and encouraging companies to sign up.
- Providing practical support for companies to set up systems for measuring, monitoring and reporting progress against the objectives of the Pledge.
- Developing and implementing a system of verification that the core, advance and progressive targets are being addressed (and met) in accordance with the Pledge requirements.
Ecodesign
- Introducing and explaining the NBF ecodesign principles and assessment toolkit and encouraging companies to use them.
- Providing practical, technical support and advice for members conducting ecodesign assessments using the NBF ecodesign assessment tool.
- Assessing and verifying companies’ self-assessed ecodesign credentials.
- Preparing companies for third party verification of products’ ecodesign credentials.
Other
- Playing a key role on the NBF’s Circular economy committee and any relevant Working Groups.
- Overseeing (and potentially proposing) relevant projects to do with our sustainability agenda and working with committee members and any third party consultants/researchers etc on practical and technical details.
- Identifying, evaluating and recommending third party schemes and partnerships that can facilitate our members’ environmental challenges, from Life Cycle Assessments to carbon reduction and in particular the industry’s own Furniture Industry Sustainability Programme (FISP).
- Helping member companies prepare for independent audits such as FISP or ISO 14001 audits.
- Keeping up to date with and informing members about changes in environmental regulations or legislation, environmental accreditation marks etc.
- Preparing and presenting webinars and training course on relevant subjects.
- Encouraging and facilitating collaboration and sharing of best practice between members.
- Participating in the NBF’s work on preparing for (Extended Producer Responsibility) EPR scheme.
- Providing technical support and guidance for RAMR members and RAMR audits.
- Generally advising and supporting the Executive Director on all things environmental – eg providing executive summaries of consultation documents.
Package
Competitive Salary and Benefits Package available.
A full, clean driving licence and own car is fairly essential (business mileage reimbursed)
About the NBF:-
The National Bed Federation was founded in 1912 and is the only trade association for UK and Irish manufacturers of mattresses and beds and their suppliers (UK or international). It currently (2022) has c.80 members – 50 manufacturers, 30 suppliers. All the top brands are represented. Our members range in size from micro, employing 10-25 people with under £1m turnovers, to large companies with 500+ staff and £50m+ turnovers. The majority are SMEs. We estimate our membership represents c. 70% of the UK industry by turnover – perhaps 50% by volume (there are an estimated 120-150 manufactures in the UK alone.)
All manufacturing members must undergo an independent audit to ensure compliance with the NBF Code of Practice, which aims to provide reassurance that members have the processes in place to ensure their product are Safe Clean and Honest. Retailers are not eligible to be NBF members (unless they have in house manufacturing capability as in the case of Dreams and Bensons or, on a smaller scale Beevers of Whitby) but we maintain links with retailers through our Retail Champions scheme and newly formed Retail Advisory Forum for national retailers.
The NBF organises the annual Bed Show and Bed Industry Awards and holds a member’s conference annually (the Spring Forum). It promotes its Approved members to the trade and to consumers mainly via its social media activities and two websites, bedfed.org.uk and bedadvice.co.uk
Send your letter or application and cv to Jessica Alexander, Executive Director, NBF – jessica@bedfed.org.uk
