Country Sustainability Manager

About the role

Barry Callebaut, the world’s largest cocoa and chocolate producer, is seeking a Country Sustainability Manager in Ghana, 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 chain:

• By 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 of our products, traceable to farm level.

We are looking for an experienced and passionate Country Sustainability Manager – Ghana to drive these sustainability goals within Ghana. This role will lead Barry Callebaut’s sustainability efforts in-country and ensure alignment with our Global Sustainability Strategy. The position is based in Barry Callebaut’s Licensed Buying Company in Ghana, Nyonkopa Cocoa Buying Ltd, reporting directly to the 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 Responsibilities

1. Strategy implementation and P&L management

• Program delivery: lead and execute field programs, including certification and sustainability initiatives, ensuring high-quality and timely outcomes
• Budget & cost efficiency: manage budget planning and cost optimization for all sustainability operations to ensure the best value/impact for money
• Operations excellence: maintain efficient and effective operations, aligning activities with corporate standards

2. People & performance management

• Leadership: champion Barry Callebaut’s values and lead by example
• Performance catalyst: build, mentor, and empower a diverse team and foster an inclusive, high-performance culture
• Capacity building: support training and development to build a resilient, skilled, and a self-sustaining team
• People management: set and evaluate clear performance targets, promoting professional growth and learning opportunities, thereby aligning roles with organizational goals and individual aspirations

3. Customers & (internal/external) stakeholders management

• Program design: contribute to customers’ proposals and programs design in line with global and regional teams
• Customers’ engagement: facilitate customer visits and communicate the impact of our field activities to enhance engagement and support
• External representation: act as Barry Callebaut’s/Nyonkopa’s representative in sustainability discussions and maintain open communication with all stakeholders, ensuring transparency and mutual understanding
• Collaboration: collaborate with both internal and external stakeholders, including Sourcing, M&E, customers, partners, government entities, and local authorities, to advance our sustainability objectives
• Stakeholders’ engagement: be the contact point for engagement with relevant local authorities, civil society, partners, government and other research organizations (COCOBOD, Forestry Commission, Forest Research Institute of Ghana, Cocoa Research Institute of Ghana) towards objective of Forever Chocolate pillars

4. Monitoring, evaluation, reporting and knowledge sharing

• M&E: establish efficient and robust Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) Systems to track program outcomes and share results with internal and external partners
• Data management: Ensure the accuracy of data and regular reporting to stakeholders
• Learning & knowledge sharing: contribute to a learning culture by actively sharing insights across Barry Callebaut’s regional and global teams

5. Innovation and Continuous Improvement (Barry Callebaut Excellence)

• Continuous improvement: identify opportunities for improvement and innovation within our sustainability programs
• Strategy & 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 teams
• Innovation: champion projects that drive sustainable innovation and impact in the cocoa sector

All other tasks required for the proper conduct of his/her mission

About You

• Master degree in relevant field such as agronomy, development economics, environmental science
• Exceptional project management skills and the ability to coordinate interrelated activity streams spanning large groups
• 8 to 10 years’ managerial or team management with demonstrated experience in: 
  • agronomy, agriculture and sustainability topics
  • program management, budgeting and cost leadership in program execution
  • cocoa certifications schemes and related topics, and global and local regulation
  • community development facilitation work
  • country cocoa industry dynamics and culture
  • farm services delivery models
  • leading and developing field teams
  • reporting and client relationship management
• Experience in running field level activities in the rural environment
• Strategic thinker, skilled in risk management, with the ability to communicate complex information in accessible terms
• Strong analytical skills, able to translate complex technical information into actionable insights for non-technical audiences
• Excellent verbal and written skills for clear, engaging communication with a broad range of stakeholders
• Ability to work effectively in multicultural, multidisciplinary team and build strong relationships
• Ability to lead with empathy, build trust, and foster an open environment for feedback and growth
• Entrepreneurial minded with a strong sense of service to farmers and farming communities and demonstrated aptitude in business development
• Strong leadership skills with a leadership style that is inclusive, supportive, and committed to team empowerment and capacity building
• Proficiency in MS Office applications – Word, Power Point and Excel to a competent standard
• Willing to travel to rural areas for up to 50% of time