You know all about our high street roots and bricks and mortar stores. Now, we're looking to the future. Since 2021, we've embraced some changes. Debenhams hasn’t made a comeback—we’ve been here since 1778, evolving and adapting to the times. This is Debenhams today - Britain’s Leading Online Department Store.
We are more than a department store—we are an institution. From creating the blueprint for designer collaborations with Designers at Debenhams, to launching countless brands and inventing the beauty counter, we’ve consistently shaped the retail landscape.
We don’t underestimate the power of our brand or the place we hold in people’s hearts. This is only the beginning of the next chapter for Debenhams.
Britain needs Debenhams.....Debenhams needs you!
The role:
We are looking for a confident and personable Ethical Compliance Auditor who is passionate about speaking to and helping people of all backgrounds, to join our Ethical Trade team. The role will play a critical part in that by working in partnership with our suppliers in supporting their workers.
Your team:
Responsible Sourcing is reimagining how the Group works globally. We cover Sustainability, Sourcing, Ethical Trade, Product Quality and Operational Efficiency. We turn challenges into opportunities so we can be as commercially and operationally effective as possible while still being ethical and sustainable!
Responsibilities:
- Develop and Deliver regular training sessions to China based suppliers on policies, processes, code of conduct, continuous improvement
- Establish and maintain strong relationships with suppliers - regular 1:1 calls with key suppliers to drive continuous improvement
- Maintain accurate and comprehensive records of compliance activities, audits, investigations, and training sessions.
- Stay informed about changes in Chinese laws and regulations, as well as international compliance standards.
- Collaborate with cross-functional teams to share best practices, align goals, and drive collective ethical impact
- Monitor and report on global audit gradings for China supply base
- Onboarding of new suppliers & factories - work hand in hand with UK ethical compliance team (review audits, for China based suppliers)
- Support with mapping full global supply chain China based suppliers
- To strengthen ethical compliance across our China supply base by building strong, trust-based relationships with suppliers, driving continuous improvement in labour and trade standards, and ensuring accurate monitoring and reporting of supplier performance.
- The role will blend administrative precision with field insight, supporting the delivery of our global ethical trade strategy at a local level.
- Build and maintain professional, solution-oriented relationships with key supplier contacts through regular 1:1 calls, emails, and occasional site visits
- Act as the first point of contact for suppliers on ethical trade requirements, audit preparation, and compliance expectations.
- Encourage suppliers to go beyond minimum compliance toward best practice in worker welfare and factory management
- Review and interpret audit findings to create tailored CAPs in collaboration with suppliers.
- Tack CAP progress, ensure actions are implemented on time, and escalate delays or non-compliance where necessary
- Support suppliers in understanding root causes of non-compliances and developing sustainable fixes rather than temporary solutions.
- Maintain a central database of supplier audits, including grading results, expiry dates, and follow-up actions.
- Analyse audit trends to identify systemic issues and recommend targeted interventions.
- Liaise with approved third-party auditors to coordinate re-audits or verification checks.
- Prepare accurate monthly and quarterly reports on audit outcomes, CAP closure rates, and supplier performance metrics
- Support the ethical trade team with data entry, document control, and compliance record maintenance.
- Ensure audit records and supplier profiles are always up to date in the compliance management system.
- Collaboration & Continuous Improvement
- Share best-practice examples with suppliers and connect them to relevant training resources.
- Provide feedback to the global ethical trade team on local challenges, emerging risks, and supplier capability needs.
- Support special projects such as supplier workshops, industry roundtables, or NGO collaborations in China
Working with us:
To succeed here, you have to love working at pace. It’s relentless, but we love it. Change is a certainty – you need to adapt and be agile. We want you to challenge the status quo, innovate and be open to trying new things. We’re always pushing boundaries. We empower our people, giving them freedom and autonomy to learn and grow in their roles. We’re passionate, agile, creative and one team.
Why join us:
Our mission is to create a workplace where everyone is respected, their individual differences are valued, and they can be themselves at work without exception. We get it done!
Core hours enable you to flex your working times around your needs on an ad hoc basis
Benefits that support your health and wellbeing
There’s up to 40% discount off our all of our brands
Our social calendar? Next level
With HQs in Manchester and London and offices across the globe (some are dog friendly!), we offer a buzzing atmosphere and the Debenhams group culture wherever you work
