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Sustainability Coordinator

COFCO International Brazil Added on Jul 24, 2026
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As the bridge between global sustainability mandates and local execution in Brazil, you will own the localized rollout of COFCO International’s environmental and social strategies. This role is primarily focused on the cotton and grain supply chains, where you will manage certification programs, oversee supplier due diligence, and ensure that local operations align with evolving international regulations. You will spend your time translating complex corporate goals into actionable projects that resonate with commercial teams and agricultural partners.

This position is vital because Brazil represents a critical origin point for global food security and biodiversity. By driving traceability and responsible sourcing in commodities like cotton, you directly influence the deforestation-free commitments of a global agri-giant. Your work ensures that the link between South American farmers and the global market is defined by transparency and adherence to rigorous standards like the EUDR.

This suits someone who possesses a deep understanding of the Brazilian agribusiness landscape and thrives in a high-stakes, multi-stakeholder environment where commercial interests must meet strict environmental compliance.

Job FAQs

What are the main missions and responsibilities of this role?

The primary mission is to implement the global sustainability strategy within the Brazilian market, specifically focusing on the cotton and G&O (Grains and Oilseeds) sectors. You will lead the execution of local sustainability projects and manage Key Performance Indicators to track regional progress against global targets. You will be responsible for traceability and certification programs, ensuring that supply chains are transparent and compliant with international standards. This involves overseeing audits, performing due diligence on human rights, and managing the risk profiles of various suppliers in the region. Additionally, you must integrate sustainability into commercial decisions by acting as the main point of contact for traders and supply chain partners. This includes contribution to global reporting frameworks such as CSRD and EUDR to maintain market access and investor confidence.

Key learning opportunities for this job

In this role, you will gain deep expertise in global regulatory frameworks like the EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR) and the Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (CSDDD), which are currently reshaping global trade. Understanding how these European laws impact South American agriculture is a highly sought-after skill. You will also develop technical proficiency in traceability systems and agricultural certification standards within the commodities sector. This includes hands-on experience with how large-scale agri-businesses map their supply chains from farm to port. Exposure to multi-stakeholder governance will be a significant part of your growth. You will learn how to navigate the differing priorities of NGOs, government bodies, and commercial trading desks, sharpening your ability to facilitate complex cross-sector negotiations.

How does the ideal candidate look like (experience, skills)?

The ideal candidate holds a degree in Agronomy, Environmental Science, or International Relations and brings a solid track record in responsible sourcing within the commodities or agribusiness sector. You should have a firm grasp of the specific environmental and social risks inherent in Brazilian agriculture. Fluency in both Portuguese and English is essential, as you will be communicating technical sustainability requirements to local farmers while reporting progress to a global headquarters in Switzerland. Strong communication skills are a must to influence internal commercial teams. Technical knowledge of sustainability standards and certification schemes (such as BCI for cotton or RTRS for soy) will make you stand out. You should be comfortable using data to drive decision-making and have the resilience to work in a fast-paced, global trading environment.

Advice to stand out and make a successful application

To stand out, demonstrate your technical understanding of the EUDR and how it specifically affects Brazilian commodity exports. Show that you don't just know the theory but understand the operational challenges of implementing these rules on the ground with local producers. Highlight any experience where you successfully bridged the gap between commercial and sustainability goals. COFCO is a trading business; showing that you understand the commercial reality and can propose sustainability as a value-add rather than just a cost will be highly persuasive. Tailor your application by referencing COFCO International’s latest sustainability report. Mentioning specific projects they are currently running in Brazil shows you have done your homework and are genuinely interested in their specific supply chain footprint.

What aspects of the company's sustainability is this role likely to focus on?

The role focuses heavily on supply chain traceability and deforestation-free sourcing. Given Brazil's importance in global agriculture, ensuring that products are not linked to illegal land conversion is a top priority for this position. You will also focus on social responsibility and human rights within the supply chain. This means monitoring labor conditions and ensuring that suppliers adhere to international standards regarding fair treatment and community engagement. Another key focus area is climate resilience and carbon reporting. You will likely contribute data from local operations to help the company meet its global decarbonization targets and fulfill disclosure requirements for shareholders and green finance lenders.

What are the main challenges someone in this role might face?

One of the toughest challenges will be managing the tension between commercial speed and sustainability compliance. In a commodity trading environment, decisions move fast, and ensuring sustainability due diligence keeps pace without being seen as a bottleneck requires high diplomatic skill. Another challenge is the complexity of the supply chain in Brazil. Tracking indirect suppliers and ensuring consistent data quality across a vast network of producers involves significant technical and logistical hurdles. You may also face rapidly changing global regulations. Staying ahead of new requirements from the EU and other markets while ensuring that local teams and farmers are prepared for these changes can be an intense and demanding task.

How could a typical day look like for someone in this position?

A typical day might begin with a coordination meeting with the Global Sustainability team in Geneva to discuss progress on annual disclosures and regional KPIs. This ensures local activities in Brazil remain aligned with the overarching corporate vision. Your afternoon might be spent meeting with the commercial trading desk in São Paulo to review supplier audits or discuss how a specific certification program could provide a competitive advantage for an upcoming cotton contract. You might end the day analyzing traceability data or preparing a presentation for an industry forum. The role is a mix of high-level strategic alignment and very granular, data-driven supply chain management.

What are the opportunities for professional growth and development in this role?

This role offers a clear path toward regional or global sustainability leadership roles within the agri-business sector. Because Brazil is such a critical market, success here is highly visible to the company’s executive leadership. There are also opportunities for lateral movement into commercial or supply chain management roles. Having a deep understanding of sustainability is increasingly becoming a requirement for general management roles in global commodities. You will have high exposure to external platforms like the Better Cotton Initiative or the Tropical Forest Alliance, allowing you to build a powerful professional network within the global ESG community.

The main stakeholders you might be interacting with

Internal stakeholders include the LatAm Sustainability Manager, to whom you report, as well as traders, commercial leads, and local operational teams who rely on your sustainability expertise to mitigate risk. External stakeholders are diverse, ranging from agricultural producers and suppliers on the ground to international NGOs and industry associations. You will need to build trust with these groups to drive adoption of sustainable practices. You will also interact with regulatory bodies and certification auditors, ensuring that COFCO’s operations meet all necessary legal and voluntary standards to maintain the company’s license to operate in global markets.

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