Sustainability Manager, Côte d'Ivoire

About The RoleBarry Callebaut, the world’s largest cocoa and chocolate producer, is seeking a Sustainability Manager in Côte d’Ivoire, whose primary objective is to lead on the implementation of our sustainability strategy (Forever Chocolate) in the country.Forever Chocolate Is Our Ambition To Make Sustainable Chocolate The Norm. We Have Committed To Four Bold Targets That Address The Biggest Sustainability Challenges In The Chocolate Supply ChainBy 2025, 500,000 cocoa farmers in our supply chain will have been lifted out of poverty. By 2030, we will have mobilized key stakeholders around a transformative cocoa farming model generating living income.By 2025, our entire supply chain will be covered by Human Rights Due Diligence, remediating all child labor cases identified. By 2030, the farming communities we source from are empowered to protect child rights.By 2025, we will be forest positive. By 2030, we will have decarbonized our footprint in line with global efforts to cap global warming at 1.5 degrees Celsius. By 2050, we will be a net zero company.By 2030, we will have 100% certified or verified cocoa and ingredients in all our products, traceable to farm level.We are looking for an experienced and passionate Sustainability Manager to drive these sustainability goals within Côte d’Ivoire.This role will lead Barry Callebaut’s sustainability efforts in-country and ensure alignment with our Global Sustainability Strategy. The position is based in SACO Barry Callebaut in Côte d’Ivoire, Abidjan, reporting directly to the Deputy Managing Director. As a leader in our organization, you will manage the implementation of our sustainability initiatives and oversee operations, people, budgets, and stakeholder engagement. This includes full P&L responsibility, people & performance management, clients and stakeholders’ relationship management, M&E and any other tasks related. In this role, you will be a key player in making sustainable chocolate the norm by empowering cocoa farming communities, advancing environmental goals, and fostering responsible practices in the cocoa sector.Key Responsabilities IncludeThe Sustainability Manager will be responsible for:Strategy implementation and P&L managementProgram delivery: lead and execute field programs, including certification and sustainability initiatives, ensuring high-quality and timely outcomesBudget & cost efficiency: manage budget planning and cost optimization for all sustainability operations to ensure the best value/impact for moneyOperations excellence: maintain efficient and effective operations, aligning activities with corporate standardsPeople & performance managementLeadership: champion Barry Callebaut’s values and lead by examplePerformance catalyst: build, mentor, and empower a diverse team and foster an inclusive, high-performance cultureCapacity building: support training and development to build a resilient, skilled, and a self-sustaining teamPeople management: set and evaluate clear performance targets, promoting professional growth and learning opportunities, thereby aligning roles with organizational goals and individual aspirationsCustomers & (internal/external) stakeholders managementProgram design: contribute to customers’ proposals and programs design in line with global and regional teamsCustomers’ engagement: facilitate customer visits and communicate the impact of our field activities to enhance engagement and supportExternal representation: act as Barry Callebaut’s representative in sustainability discussions and maintain open communication with all stakeholders, ensuring transparency and mutual understandingCollaboration: collaborate with both internal and external stakeholders, including Sourcing, M&E, customers, partners, government entities, and local authorities, to advance our sustainability objectivesStakeholders’ engagement: be the contact point for engagement with relevant local authorities, civil society, partners, government and other research organizations regularly (CCC, relevant Ministries, e.g. MINEF) towards objective of Forever Chocolate pillarsMonitoring, evaluation, reporting and knowledge sharingM&E: establish efficient and robust Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) Systems to track program outcomes and share results with internal and external partnersData management: Ensure the accuracy of data and regular reporting to stakeholdersLearning & knowledge sharing: contribute to a learning culture by actively sharing insights across Barry Callebaut’s regional and global teamsInnovation and Continuous Improvement (Barry Callebaut Excellence)Continuous improvement: identify opportunities for improvement and innovation within our sustainability programsStrategy & program design: leverage “field insights” to assess the effectiveness of program design and adapt approaches as needed, challenge strategy on feasibility and relevance in line with regional and global teamsInnovation: champion projects that drive sustainable innovation and impact in the cocoa sectorAbout You Master’s degree in relevant field such as agronomy, development economics, environmental scienceExceptional project management skills and demonstrate the ability to coordinate interrelated activity streams spanning large groups8 to 10 years’ experience with demonstrated experience in:agronomy, agriculture and sustainability topicsprogram management, budgeting and cost leadership in program executioncocoa certifications schemes and related topics, and global and local regulationcommunity development facilitation workcountry cocoa industry dynamics and culturefarm services delivery modelsteam management and experience in leading and developing field teamsreporting and client relationship managementExperience in running field level activities in the rural environmentTravel Requirements: Willingness to travel to rural areas for up to 50% of timeCommunication Skills:Excellent verbal and written skills for clear, engaging communication with a broad range of stakeholders8+ managerial or team management experienceTechnical / Environmental backgroungStrategic thinker, skilled in risk management, with the ability to communicate complex information in accessible termsStrong analytical skills, able to translate complex technical information into actionable insights for non-technical audiencesAbility to work effectively in multicultural, multidisciplinary team and build strong relationshipsDemonstrated ability to lead with empathy, build trust, and foster an open environment for feedback and growthEntrepreneurial minded with a strong sense of service to farmers and farming communities and demonstrated aptitude in business developmentStrong leadership skills with a leadership style that is inclusive, supportive, and committed to team empowerment and capacity buildingIntegrity, strong work ethic, and a proactive, solution-oriented mindsetOpen mind, proactive and good communication skills to engage diverse audiencesExcellent organization skills, ability to work independently as well as in a team environment, assess priorities and multi-task with strong attention to detailAt Barry Callebaut, we are committed to Diversity & Inclusion. United by our strong values, we thrive on the diversity of who we are, where we come from, what we’ve experienced and how we think. We are committed to nurturing an inclusive environment where people can truly be themselves, grow to their full potential and feel they belong. #oneBC - Diverse People, Sustainable Growth.