Requirements: English
Company: TN Switzerland
Region: Kilchberg , Zurich
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Senior Cocoa Sustainability Manager Global Program Operations (100%), Kilchberg
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Job Category:
Other
Job Reference:
de5479b8ad90
Job Views:
3
Posted:
17.04.2025
Expiry Date:
01.06.2025
Job Description:
Lindt & Sprngli (International) AG is looking for a Senior Cocoa Sustainability Manager Global Program Operations to join the Group Sustainability team in the companys headquarters in Kilchberg, Switzerland. This new role will be part of Lindt & Sprnglis 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 & Sprngli 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 & Sprngli 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 & Sprngli 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 farm 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:
- Masters 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 thin