The pathway
How you actually get there, here
How you become one varies far more by country than what one does. This is the UK route. Most people take one of these ways in; the right one depends on where you're starting from.
- 1
Head of Ethical Sourcing / Senior Manager, Human Rights
3-5 years at that levelSkills to master
- At this stage, you'd have been managing significant programmes, leading smaller teams, and regularly engaging with senior management. You'd have mastered the operational intricacies of due diligence and remediation, and started to develop a strategic perspective.
You're ready to move on when
- Successfully delivered a major human rights programme (e.g., a new worker voice initiative or a complex remediation project).
- Consistently presented compelling business cases for ethical investments to senior leadership.
- Mentored and developed at least 2-3 direct reports into more senior roles.
- Represented the company effectively in external forums or with key NGOs.
- 2
Director of Sustainability (with a human rights focus)
2-4 years at that levelSkills to master
- You'd have already been operating at a Director level, but perhaps with a broader remit across all ESG pillars. To transition, you'd need to deepen your specialisation in human rights and demonstrate the ability to drive change specifically in this complex area.
You're ready to move on when
- Owned and delivered significant sections of a corporate sustainability strategy.
- Successfully integrated human rights considerations into broader ESG reporting and investor engagement.
- Demonstrated strong leadership across diverse ESG teams and initiatives.
- Proven ability to influence C-suite decisions on sustainability matters.
- 3
Senior Legal Counsel (ESG/Compliance)
4-6 years at that levelSkills to master
- Coming from a legal background, you'd have deep expertise in regulatory compliance and risk. To move into this Director role, you'd need to demonstrate a more operational and strategic understanding of supply chain management, stakeholder engagement, and programme leadership, beyond just legal interpretation.
You're ready to move on when
- Successfully advised on complex international human rights legislation and its practical implications.
- Led internal investigations related to ethical or human rights breaches.
- Developed and implemented robust compliance frameworks for new regulations.
- Demonstrated an ability to translate legal requirements into actionable business strategies.