Employers

Ethical sourcing officers work for public and private sector companies in various industries. They work for a wide variety of businesses, both wholesale and retail, as well as for government agencies and supply chain companies. They work full time and they may also be hired as consultants for businesses that range from small stores to large global organizations. The Department of Labor does not yet provide data on ethical sourcing officers, but offers information on purchasing agents, managers, and buyers, who have similar job responsibilities. There are approximately 526,200 purchasing managers buyers, and agents working in the United States.

Starting Out

Ethical sourcing officers may get started in this profession through an internship while in college. They may also start in an entry-level position in the procurement or purchasing department of a company. They find employment opportunities through professional associations and by searching job postings on companies Web sites. They also find job listings on sites such as Indeed, LinkedIn, SimplyHired, among many others.

Ethical sourcing officers have several years of prior experience as assistants or junior ethical sourcing officers. After five or more years of experience as sourcing officers, they may advance to become managers or department heads. If they work for a small company, they may take a job in a larger company, with more responsibilities and a larger paycheck. They may get an advanced degree or certification in a specialization within their industry. They may become college professors. They may also advance by starting their own consulting firm.

Get an internship or part-time job in a company that has an ethical sourcing department. Ask your schools career services office for help with locating opportunities.

Learn more about ethical sourcing by reading the Fair Labor Associations "Principles of Fair Labor and Responsible Sourcing," https://www.fairlabor.org/our-work/principles.

Learn more about what companies are doing in terms of ethical sourcing by following them on social media sites such as Instagram, LinkedIn, and Twitter. Start with companies such as Patagonia, Starbucks, and H&M.

Look online for companies that focus on ethical and sustainable sourcing, such as Ben & Jerrys, Patagonia, and Starbucks, among many others. Visit their Web sites to learn more about the products and services they source and how they arrive at their decisions on suppliers.