Senior Chemical Compliance and Leather Specialist - ECCO HQ, Tønder

Strengthen ECCO’s global chemical standards and ensure that our leather production remains safe, compliant and future ready. In this role, you will play a key part in safeguarding the materials and processes behind one of the world’s most recognized footwear brands.

As our new Senior Chemical Compliance and Leather Specialist, you will work across regions, production sites and technical functions to shape chemical compliance at group level. You will help ECCO meet international regulations, customer expectations and our own high standards as you translate complex chemical requirements into practical, actionable guidelines that support responsible leather manufacturing worldwide.

Drive safe and responsible leather manufacturing worldwide
Your main responsibility is to secure group level chemical compliance with a special focus on leather production, ensuring that ECCO continuously improves safety, quality and environmental performance.

You will:

• Monitor global chemical regulations, customer requirements and industry best practices that influence ECCO’s chemical strategy and leather production.
• Define and maintain ECCO’s chemical standards, including Material Restricted Substances Lists and related procedures, ensuring consistent compliance across manufacturing units and supplier assessments, in respect of ZDHC requirements.
• Lead chemical approval processes and oversee chemical inventory management to ensure controlled and compliant use of chemicals globally
• Support management and technical teams in identifying chemical risks, evaluating safer alternatives and building compliance awareness through training and guidance.
• Oversee chemical testing for leather, and participate in the certifications and audits, including Leather Working Group, in close collaboration with sustainability and technical teams.
• Maintain accurate and accessible compliance documentation for audits, authorities, external customers and internal reporting.
• Investigate nonconformance cases, report findings and coordinate corrective actions and continuous improvement initiatives to reduce chemical risks and pollution.

Your background and skills
We are looking for a candidate who thrives in both independent work and in collaboration with cross‑functional, international teams. You bring strong communication and training skills, enabling you to engage effectively with both internal and external stakeholders.

Furthermore, we imagine that you bring:

• A degree in chemistry, chemical engineering or environmental science.
• At least 5 years of experience in chemical compliance or chemical management, including regulatory analysis, audits and implementation of compliance programmes at group level.
• Solid experience with wet‑process manufacturing and chemical handling in multi-site context, with background in leather, textiles, or footwear, considered a strong advantage.
• Experience with Leather Working Group audits and/or ZDHC.
• Strong organisational and analytical abilities with high attention to detail.

Join a working environment that supports trust, autonomy and work life balance
You will become part of Group Responsibility and Sustainability, working closely with the Director of Product Compliance and EHS Performance as well as colleagues across product compliance, EHS, leather technical development and chemical management. The work location for this position is in Tonder, Denmark.

This role allows you to contribute directly to ECCO’s commitment to safe, responsible and high-quality leather production. You will be part of a global team that values openness, collaboration and continuous improvement, reflecting ECCO’s grounded and international culture.

Are you ready for your next challenge?
We review applications on an ongoing basis, so please apply as soon as possible.

For questions about the role, you are welcome to reach out to Alexandra Morge Rochette, Group Director, Product Compliance and EHS Performance, on alroc@ecco.com.

Imagining yourself at ECCO? Get a glimpse of what your new exciting career entails on https://enter.ecco.com.

CREATE THE FOOTPRINTS OF TOMORROW 

Join us and you become part of a meaningful, developing and multicultural workplace with colleagues who are proud to create the footprints of tomorrow. Our offices and facilities around the world have an informal culture and relaxed dress code – our shoe code is slightly stricter.

Are you curious, passionate and ready to make an impact? Then you’ll fit right in.