Team Lead Manager - Fashion & Textiles

Scope of Work - Cleaning & Recycling/Upcycling Cohort Lead (Pilot Recycling Program)

Engagement Type: Independent Contractor

Duration: Pilot phase (1-3 months, with potential extension)

Time Commitment: Full-time 

Reports To: Executive Director (with day-to-day coordination with Program Manager)

About ReRoot

ReRoot Collaborative (“ReRoot”) is piloting a community-based textile recovery and recycling initiative in

Kumasi. The pilot employs local workers to collect, sort, clean, and process post-consumer textiles, while

generating operational and social learning to inform future scale-up. The pilot will focus on collecting post-consumer textile waste from markets in Ash Town and Adum using a buy-back model that provides income to waste pickers and market actors while diverting textiles from environmentally harmful disposal methods.

In Kumasi, there are few organizations currently focused specifically on addressing textile waste at scale,

leaving most discarded clothing and fabric to be burned openly or dumped in informal sites, gutters, and

drains. These practices contribute to air pollution, flooding, and the spread of disease, particularly during

the rainy season.

Collected textiles will be sorted, cleaned, and processed. Usable materials will then be repurposed into new products through upcycling processes, supporting local livelihoods and demonstrating a practical, circular approach to textile waste management.

The pilot is designed to test operational feasibility, environmental impact, and market demand, while

laying the foundation for a scalable, community-based textile recycling model in Kumasi.

Role Summary

The Cleaning & Recycling/Upcycling Cohort Lead provides hands-on technical leadership and coordination for two operational cohorts focused on cleaning and repurposing of textiles during the pilot phase. This role requires someone who has seamstress/tailor/design experience and focuses on quality control, worker guidance, safety, and adherence to pilot processes - not organizational management. 

Qualifications & Responsibilities

• Experience with sewing, tailoring, design, or a related field 
• Operates with high-levels of integrity and excellence
• Ability to serve as a model worker for the Cleaning & Recycling/Upcycling Cohort general staff
• Commitment to safety protocols, PPE usage, and quality control
• Interest in ReRoot’s mission and vision
• Management and/or leadership experience is a plus
• English speaking ability preferred

Out of Scope

• Hiring or firing decisions
• Financial approvals or procurement
• Independent program design changes
• External partnerships or representation without approval

Deliverables

• Consistent supervision of cohorts and feedback to management team as needed
• Adherence to pilot policies, goals, and safety standards
• Arrival to and from work locations on time

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