Senior Cocoa Sustainability Manager – Global Program Operations (100%)

Lindt & Sprüngli (International) AG Online since : 05 / 11 / 2024 Reference number : 5816 Lindt & Sprüngli International is looking for a Senior Cocoa Sustainability Manager Global Program Operations to join the Group Sustainability team in the company’s headquarters in Kilchberg, Switzerland.

This new role will be part of Lindt & Sprüngli’s global cocoa sustainability team and report to the Head of Cocoa Sustainability.

The Senior Cocoa Sustainability Manager will lead Program operations and oversee the Farming Program contracting and implementation with cocoa suppliers and third parties in the different cocoa origins.

This includes closely collaborating with all the different stakeholders involved, proposal development and implementation oversight, supplier management, financial management, project management, etc.

This role will have the responsibility to manage and build the Lindt & Sprüngli origin teams. Furthermore, the person will operate as the cocoa agronomy and sustainable farming lead and define our requirements and approaches regarding cocoa farming (coaching, pruning and other farm services, etc.).

This exciting position will play a key role in bringing the Farming Program implementation to the next level and ensuring farm services are delivered efficiently and effectively.

IN THIS ROLE, YOUR MAIN TASKS WILL BE TO :

• Consolidate the Farming Program implementation strategy . Support the development of program requirements / specifications and templates used in operations
• Line manage and build Lindt & Sprüngli origin teams
• Coordinate proposal development and lead negotiation and contracting with cocoa suppliers and third parties
• Closely collaborate with the HQ team's internal experts (climate & biodiversity, MEL, social impact & human rights) to understand and set priorities, translate priorities into requirements for suppliers, and ensure coherent implementation of the different strategies in the field
• Oversee Program execution and ensure efficient and effective implementation through collaboration, alignment between HQ and field teams and regular field visits.

Supplier annual target setting and reporting oversight

Manage supplier performance and relationships, be involved in key supplier meetings to share learnings, assure quality and ensure alignment between suppliers and Lindt & Sprüngli teams, from field to HQ.

Serve as an escalation line for origin teams

Financial management and transparency. Contract administration, support budget planning, and oversee payment of invoices in line with cocoa volumes.

Develop and manage a financial supplier auditing program

Topic lead agronomy and sustainable farming : define strategies and approaches to activities related to agronomy topics, including training & coaching, pruning and other farms services and productivity-related interventions.

Collaborate closely with suppliers and experts, facilitate sharing of learnings across suppliers and lead annual reporting and verification of progress against action plans

Collaborate with external parties to work and exchange on pre-competitive topics : Participate as an expert in technical working groups related to cocoa productivity topics (e.g. ISCOs, etc.)

YOUR PROFILE :

• Master’s degree in agronomy or business preferred
• 10+ years experience in program operations management, ideally with a corporate background. Experiences in working with NGOs and Academia is a strong plus
• Experience in food & agriculture or consumer goods and supplier management preferred
• Strong commitment to and passion for advancing environmental topics in global value chains, and in-depth knowledge of smallholder-based commodities
• Negotiation skills and ability to lead discussions with suppliers and service providers. Solid experience with cost benchmarking, financial planning, and budgeting for contract development
• Strong people management and communication skills, ability to work collaboratively to make decisions while managing program execution with the field team and suppliers.

Experience working with groups across several nationalities and cultures. Demonstrated ability to collaborate with key stakeholders

• Awareness of challenges of sustainability data monitoring, verification, and reporting of sustainability in large programs and challenging contexts is a plus
• Excellent project management and planning skills. Strong analytical skills, a flair for data and indicators as well as strategic thinking capabilities while keeping attention to detail
• Sense of ownership, entrepreneurial mindset, and independent working behaviour
• Down-to-earth work attitude and hands-on mentality. Experience working in a dynamic environment with the ability to prioritise and focus under pressure
• Fluent spoken and written English and French. German, and / or Spanish of advantage
• Readiness to travel to cocoa origins globally (up to 40% of your time). Experience (having lived and worked) in West Africa or Latin America is a strong plus

Lindt & Sprüngli offers a challenging and entrepreneurial position in an international and dynamic environment. If you are interested and have the relevant skill set, please submit your cover letter and CV online to Lindt & Sprüngli, Sophie Hippe, Group HR.

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