This role coordinates the project portfolio behind Barry Callebaut’s sourcing and sustainability programs in Brazil. The manager will shape shared project methods, track delivery and budgets, and help teams keep programs aligned across traditional and emerging cocoa regions. The work combines portfolio oversight with regular field visits, which account for about half of the travel schedule.
Its impact lies in connecting sourcing standards and program delivery with conditions in cocoa-growing communities. Through project monitoring, eligibility checks and engagement with farmers and service providers, the role can help make sustainability commitments more consistent across the supply chain. The company describes its broader aim as securing cocoa’s future and improving farmer livelihoods, while supporting the Cocoa Horizons Foundation.
This suits someone with project leadership experience and a background in agriculture, forestry, environmental science or sustainability, who is comfortable working in rural settings, coordinating varied partners and using data to guide decisions.
Job FAQs
What are the main missions and responsibilities of this role?
The role manages a portfolio of sourcing and sustainability projects, setting common planning methods, standards and tools with the team. It tracks project milestones, budgets, resources, risks and KPIs, while supporting project managers and checking that delivery follows program requirements.
It also oversees recruitment and eligibility verification, prepares progress reports, and coordinates communication among internal teams, clients, service providers, external partners and farmers. The wider goal is to keep initiatives aligned with sourcing and sustainability targets across cocoa regions in Brazil.
Key learning opportunities for this job
The position could build practical expertise in project portfolio management, monitoring and evaluation, budget control, risk management and program audits. Working across traditional and non-traditional cocoa regions may also deepen understanding of agricultural sourcing and the realities of rural field programs.
Regular contact with farmers, partners and internal teams could develop skills in stakeholder coordination and program implementation. The posting mentions training and workshops for colleagues, but does not specify formal qualifications, certifications or a structured learning program.
How does the ideal candidate look like (experience, skills)?
The posting asks for a bachelor’s degree in environmental science, forestry, agriculture, sustainability or a related field, with a master’s degree preferred. Solid project management experience, technical leadership, analytical ability and familiarity with change management are relevant to the portfolio and PMO focus.
The work also calls for clear communication, organization and collaborative leadership, alongside comfort with rural settings and frequent travel. Advanced English is required; Spanish is noted as an advantage. The source does not specify a minimum number of years of experience or particular professional certifications.
Advice to stand out and make a successful application
Show how you have managed several projects at once, especially where budgets, delivery standards, field teams and external partners had to stay aligned. Use specific examples of planning systems, KPIs, audits or risk controls, and explain what changed as a result.
For interviews, connect your experience to cocoa sourcing in Bahia: discuss how you would validate program data in the field, work respectfully with farmers and respond when local conditions disrupt a plan. Be direct about your English level, rural fieldwork experience and ability to travel about 50%.
What aspects of the company's sustainability is this role likely to focus on?
The role is likely to focus on how sourcing and sustainability programs are designed, monitored and delivered across cocoa-growing regions. Its standards, eligibility checks and field data could support consistent program implementation and provide visibility into progress toward sourcing and sustainability targets.
The company states that it aims to secure the future of cocoa and improve farmer livelihoods, and supports the Cocoa Horizons Foundation. The posting does not identify specific environmental targets or projects, so the precise balance between farmer outcomes, agricultural practices and other sustainability priorities is unclear.
What are the main challenges someone in this role might face?
A central challenge could be coordinating a diverse project portfolio across regions with different field conditions, while keeping timelines, budgets and standards consistent. Reliable monitoring may depend on timely data from project teams and partners, as well as careful validation during field visits.
The role also balances portfolio-level planning with practical support to project managers, farmers and service providers. Frequent travel, changing resource demands and the need to maintain program requirements could make prioritization and communication demanding.
How could a typical day look like for someone in this position?
A day might begin with reviewing project status, budgets, risks and KPI updates, then agreeing priorities with the sourcing and sustainability team. The manager could spend time advising project leads, checking program documentation or preparing a management report.
On other days, the schedule may involve a field visit in a cocoa-growing area, meetings with farmers or service providers, and follow-up to validate data or discuss an audit. The posting indicates about 50% travel, so the balance between office coordination and fieldwork is likely to vary.
What are the opportunities for professional growth and development in this role?
The role could deepen experience in project portfolio governance, monitoring and evaluation, agricultural sourcing and sustainability program delivery. Leading shared methods and coaching project managers may also develop broader leadership and change-management skills.
With experience, possible next steps could include greater responsibility for regional or global sourcing programs, portfolio leadership or a broader sustainability management position. These are potential paths inferred from the scope; the posting does not describe a formal promotion framework.
The main stakeholders you might be interacting with
The role reports to the Sourcing and Sustainability Director and works closely with the sourcing and sustainability team, project managers and other internal functions. It also interacts with clients, service providers, external partners and farmers across cocoa-growing regions.
Those relationships could involve setting expectations, coordinating resources, reviewing program progress, validating data and addressing audit findings. Field visits are a significant part of the work, making direct engagement with rural stakeholders central to the position.
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