Head of Sustainability (Cocoa) - Cote d'Ivoire

About Us

As a leading provider of high-quality food and beverage ingredients, we work with farming communities across the globe to grow, source and produce ingredients that are good for consumers, farmers, and the world around us.  We supply household food brands and manufacturers worldwide with cocoa, coffee, dairy, nuts and spices ingredients which are often grown on our own farms and estates and sourced from hundreds of thousands of farmers across ~50 countries. Along with our diverse manufacturing and innovation capabilities, this means we can provide ingredients for a range of products, from a plant-based latte mix to an almond based snack bar or a dairy-free ice cream.  Making a positive impact on people and planet is a core component of our Purpose, to be the change for good food and a healthy future. With a deep-rooted presence in the countries where our ingredients are grown, we are closer to farmers, enabling better quality, and more reliable, traceable, and transparent supply. And whoever we’re with, whatever we’re doing, we always make it real.

Product Information

Cocoa

We are a leading supplier of cocoa beans and cocoa ingredients, including cocoa powder, cocoa butter, and cocoa liquor, ranking among the top three processors worldwide. We are a cocoa supplier that provides great natural cocoa ingredients to customers all over the world, working with partners across the supply chain to create indulgent treats for consumers while helping to provide a positive future for cocoa. We work closely with our customers to inspire new concepts and solve for challenges they face in developing new cocoa products for their consumers, while delivering value to their business. Building on two decades of supporting farmers and cocoa-growing communities, around the world, we launched Cocoa Compass in October 2019, with the report published in 2024 winning Sustainability Report of the Year at the UK Green Business Awards! It sets challenging goals to tackle the key issues facing the cocoa supply chain by 2030, with interim milestones for action. We are proud to have already achieved, in 2020, 100% traceability and deforestation monitoring in our direct cocoa supply chain. We source from nine regions across Africa, South America and Asia and operate processing, milling, and refining facilities close to major consumption markets in Europe, the Americas, and Asia. Our cocoa brand portfolio includes deZaan, with over 100 years of excellence, Unicao, Joanes, Macao, Husyman, as well as Britannia specialty fats

JOB RESPONSIBILITIES

• Oversee Program implementation and deployment
• Ensure thorough and efficient planning, budgeting, execution and reporting of all customer programs and other sustainability initiatives (costs, quality, integrity, timing…)
• Managing the CDI Cocoa Sustainability Operations Lead and collaborating with the rest of the CDI Sustainability team to ensure efficient and effective program execution through appropriate activities planning and follow up.
• Managing all program budgets set up and execution, including negotiations and management of actuals against budget.
• Collaborate with procurement team for selection and evaluation of farmer groups and procurement strategy in the supply chains where the programs are deployed.
• Leading collaboration with procurement team to ensure cocoa volume delivery from the supply chains where programs are deployed.
• Ensure adequate reporting of activities to Customers and External stakeholders. As well as constant communication and reassurance on questions of implementation status of the programs 
• Maintain customer relationships to ensure that the development and implementation of the program is aligned with expectations and fully communicated.
• Managing all local external stakeholders involved in delivering sustainability initiatives (CCC, Ministry of Education, Ministry of Employment, Ministry of Health, UNICEF, USAID, NGO delivery partners…)
• Lead strategy set up and deployment of activities to comply with EUDR and other regulations applying to cocoa.   Traceability, human rights… in both direct and indirect supply chain,
• Establish, develop, and maintain network of stakeholders to ensure that ofi remains at the forefront of rules and regulations related to sustainability, ensuring that ofi perspective and interests are well communicated (CCC, WCF, ICI…).
• Manage relationship with local and international customer representatives.  Organize and lead regular customer updates and visits, operational and strategic reviews.
• Develop innovative program proposals with full financial evaluation, to fulfil ofi objectives and partner demands.

• Develop and lead an efficient organization (talent management). Ensure the team is correctly engaged and evaluated to deliver all objectives.  Managing (recruiting, appraising, structuring…) a team of more than 60 people (including 1 manager and several officers) to deliver each of the very complex programs listed above including coaching them to deliver customer service through on time execution and reporting.  Ensuring objectives are set, team is evaluated and engaged, and talents are developed and managed.
• Keep updated processes and procedures for implementation of sustainability programs and sustainable supply chains; and always ensure their application.
• Ensure continuous evaluation and review of sustainability activities, and implementation processes and procedures to keep them as relevant and efficient as possible.
• Support agroforestry and agronomy teams in delivering their objectives and initiatives.
• Ensure that all third party involved in ofi supply chain are verified and compliant.

JOB REQUIREMENTS

• Education / Degree: BAC + 4/5
• Specialization: Agro-economist or Rural Development economist, Business Administration or Project management
• Professional Experience: 10 to 15 years minimum in the sustainability area, large project management and team management
• Handle multiple activities concurrently.
• Strong quantitative / analytical and problem-solving skills
• Demonstrate passion for sustainability.
• Strong team leadership with multiple layers of reporting line
• Strong team player able to work effectively and flexibly in a team environment.
• Positive, highly motivated individual with strong leadership and management qualities
• Flexibility - ability to adjust to changes in process.
• Computer literate with independent use of Microsoft Office
• Attention to detail and organization.
• Ability to work independently with high-pressure situations and a constantly changing work environment.
• Overall, the ability to work under pressure, managing conflicting requirements whilst meeting.
• Excellent English oral and written communication skills are essential.

ofi is an equal opportunity employer and values diversity. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to racial or ethnic origin, color, age, religion or belief, sex, nationality, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, genetic information, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law. 

Applicants are requested to complete all required steps in the application process including providing a resume/CV in order to be considered for open roles.