Q: Key learning opportunities for this job

You would deepen expertise in SBTi FLAG, GHG Protocol Land Sector and Removals Guidance, WCF accounting and the Accountability Framework , applying them to a live agricultural supply chain rather than a theoretical case. There is also hands-on exposure to GIS platforms, LCA tools such as SimaPro and Cool Farm Tool, and MRV architectures that connect farm boundaries to corporate disclosures. Because the role sits at the interface of global strategy, regional sourcing and external vendors, you would build strong program management, supplier governance and cross-cultural negotiation skills. Working across Latin America and possibly West Africa would sharpen Spanish and, ideally, French, while Mars University and internal Healthy Planet networks could support further development.

Q: Advice to stand out and make a successful application

Make your application concrete about cocoa, climate-smart agriculture and verifiable data . Instead of listing generic sustainability experience, quantify multi-country PMO work: number of suppliers, hectares, farmer groups, GHG or FLAG inventories, GIS validation rules, audit outcomes. If you have worked with WCF, AFi, SBTi FLAG or Scope 3 land-sector accounting, name the protocols and the decisions they informed. In your cover letter, connect your motivation to Mars's Five Principles and the Sustainable in a Generation plan, but avoid repeating the job description. Show that you understand the tension between global reporting standards and farm-level realities in Latin America or West Africa. For interviews, prepare examples of supplier governance, data assurance, deforestation-free traceability and how you handled incomplete or messy field data. Spanish-language examples will be a strong plus.

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

This role is squarely focused on the climate and nature dimensions of cocoa sourcing . It supports regenerative agriculture practices such as diversified agroforestry, soil health restoration, biochar, low-carbon fertilizer and shade-canopy management, while tracking carbon sequestration, biodiversity and water resilience. The data side feeds Mars's Scope 3 FLAG inventory, climate target tracking and sustainability disclosures. It also intersects with deforestation-free assurance, farm boundary traceability and farmer living income. By linking supplier programs to MRV and corporate reporting, the position helps Mars demonstrate that its Net Zero and Sustainable in a Generation commitments are not just pledges but auditable changes in key origins.

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

A core challenge is the dual technical and programmatic mandate : the same person must drive supplier rollout across countries and maintain rigorous GHG, GIS and LCA data. Cocoa supply chains are complex, with smallholder fragmentation, inconsistent polygon data, varying supplier capacity and seasonal field realities that can frustrate global reporting timelines. Another challenge is matrixed influence. The role operates with high autonomy but depends on regional teams, M&E, sourcing, science and external vendors. Aligning them around shared metrics and assurance standards requires patience and strong stakeholder management. Travel up to 20%, language demands and the need to balance scope, risk and multiple issues could also be demanding. Finally, proving biodiversity and social co-benefits alongside carbon is methodologically harder than counting emissions alone.

Q: The main stakeholders you might be interacting with

Internally, the manager would work daily with the Mars Cocoa Enterprise Monitoring and Evaluation team, Healthy Planet, Regional Sourcing and Supplier Development, and Science & Technology . Corporate reporting, finance, legal and sustainability disclosure teams are likely partners during GHG data submissions and assurance. These interactions are collaborative but often deadline-driven, requiring clear data requests and diplomatic follow-up. Externally, key stakeholders include cocoa suppliers, technology and MRV vendors, NGO partners and possibly farmer cooperatives or service providers in origin countries. The nature of those relationships ranges from contractual program management to technical co-development and field-level troubleshooting. Where programs are implemented, the role may also engage industry bodies and certification or assurance partners, always balancing global standards with local cultural and operational realities.

Question 1

What are the main missions and responsibilities of this role?

Accepted Answer

This role carries a dual mandate: it runs the program management office for Mars Cocoa's Climate-Smart Agriculture work while also leading global nature and climate data analytics. In practice, that means translating regenerative agriculture commitments into supplier-level plans, milestones, risk registers and reviews across key cocoa origins, then ensuring the resulting farm-level data is strong enough for corporate reporting. A large part of the job is data-to-impact assurance: GIS polygon validation, deforestation-free checks, Scope 3 and FLAG emissions accounting, LCA modelling and MRV. The manager also helps design farmer-centric incentives so agroforestry, soil health, biochar and shade management are adopted at scale. The overarching goal is to make Mars's cocoa supply chain verifiably lower-carbon and nature-positive, while protecting farmer livelihoods and meeting the company's Net Zero and Sustainable in a Generation commitments.

Question 2

Key learning opportunities for this job

Accepted Answer

You would deepen expertise in SBTi FLAG, GHG Protocol Land Sector and Removals Guidance, WCF accounting and the Accountability Framework, applying them to a live agricultural supply chain rather than a theoretical case. There is also hands-on exposure to GIS platforms, LCA tools such as SimaPro and Cool Farm Tool, and MRV architectures that connect farm boundaries to corporate disclosures. Because the role sits at the interface of global strategy, regional sourcing and external vendors, you would build strong program management, supplier governance and cross-cultural negotiation skills. Working across Latin America and possibly West Africa would sharpen Spanish and, ideally, French, while Mars University and internal Healthy Planet networks could support further development.

Question 3

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

Accepted Answer

The ideal candidate likely has at least seven years spanning agribusiness sustainability, regenerative agriculture or sustainable sourcing, plus quantitative environmental analysis. A Bachelor's degree is essential, with a Master's in agronomy, agroforestry, environmental management, GIS or remote sensing preferred. They should be fluent in GHG accounting, LCA, Scope 3/FLAG and MRV, and comfortable with Power BI, Python or R, Excel, SimaPro and GIS tools like ArcGIS or Google Earth Engine. Equally important is PMO leadership in multi-country agricultural projects: managing milestones, risks, suppliers and governance across cultures. Professional Spanish is required, French is a plus. The person needs to balance technical rigour with practical empathy for smallholder realities, and to communicate complex data to strategy, sourcing and external partners.

Question 4

Advice to stand out and make a successful application

Accepted Answer

Make your application concrete about cocoa, climate-smart agriculture and verifiable data. Instead of listing generic sustainability experience, quantify multi-country PMO work: number of suppliers, hectares, farmer groups, GHG or FLAG inventories, GIS validation rules, audit outcomes. If you have worked with WCF, AFi, SBTi FLAG or Scope 3 land-sector accounting, name the protocols and the decisions they informed. In your cover letter, connect your motivation to Mars's Five Principles and the Sustainable in a Generation plan, but avoid repeating the job description. Show that you understand the tension between global reporting standards and farm-level realities in Latin America or West Africa. For interviews, prepare examples of supplier governance, data assurance, deforestation-free traceability and how you handled incomplete or messy field data. Spanish-language examples will be a strong plus.

Question 5

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

Accepted Answer

This role is squarely focused on the climate and nature dimensions of cocoa sourcing. It supports regenerative agriculture practices such as diversified agroforestry, soil health restoration, biochar, low-carbon fertilizer and shade-canopy management, while tracking carbon sequestration, biodiversity and water resilience. The data side feeds Mars's Scope 3 FLAG inventory, climate target tracking and sustainability disclosures. It also intersects with deforestation-free assurance, farm boundary traceability and farmer living income. By linking supplier programs to MRV and corporate reporting, the position helps Mars demonstrate that its Net Zero and Sustainable in a Generation commitments are not just pledges but auditable changes in key origins.

Question 6

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

Accepted Answer

A core challenge is the dual technical and programmatic mandate: the same person must drive supplier rollout across countries and maintain rigorous GHG, GIS and LCA data. Cocoa supply chains are complex, with smallholder fragmentation, inconsistent polygon data, varying supplier capacity and seasonal field realities that can frustrate global reporting timelines. Another challenge is matrixed influence. The role operates with high autonomy but depends on regional teams, M&E, sourcing, science and external vendors. Aligning them around shared metrics and assurance standards requires patience and strong stakeholder management. Travel up to 20%, language demands and the need to balance scope, risk and multiple issues could also be demanding. Finally, proving biodiversity and social co-benefits alongside carbon is methodologically harder than counting emissions alone.

Question 7

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

Accepted Answer

A typical day might begin with a regional call on supplier progress, reviewing milestones, risks and data gaps for Climate-Smart Agriculture rollout. Mid-morning could involve GIS polygon validation with the M&E team or troubleshooting farm boundary and deforestation-free checks. Later, there may be LCA or FLAG modelling work, updating emissions factors, abatement cost curves or corporate reporting inputs.

Afternoons often bring supplier or vendor meetings, internal alignment with Healthy Planet, sourcing or science teams, and preparation for governance reviews. During reporting cycles, the balance shifts toward data quality, assurance and submissions. Travel days would be spent on farm assessments, supplier reviews or industry conferences, so the role is rarely monotonous.

Question 8

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

Accepted Answer

This position offers a visible platform in one of Mars's most material sustainability programs, which can accelerate progression toward senior climate, nature or sustainable sourcing leadership. Success could lead to broader global program ownership, ESG reporting or strategy roles, or deeper technical tracks in carbon accounting and MRV. The dual PMO and analytics scope is unusual and builds a rare profile. Mars is large enough for lateral moves across Healthy Planet, sourcing, science and technology or regional sustainability teams. Mars University and exposure to senior stakeholders across a matrixed organisation could further support development. The role also strengthens external marketability in regenerative agriculture, Scope 3 FLAG accounting and nature-based supply chain transformation.

Question 9

The main stakeholders you might be interacting with

Accepted Answer

Internally, the manager would work daily with the Mars Cocoa Enterprise Monitoring and Evaluation team, Healthy Planet, Regional Sourcing and Supplier Development, and Science & Technology. Corporate reporting, finance, legal and sustainability disclosure teams are likely partners during GHG data submissions and assurance. These interactions are collaborative but often deadline-driven, requiring clear data requests and diplomatic follow-up. Externally, key stakeholders include cocoa suppliers, technology and MRV vendors, NGO partners and possibly farmer cooperatives or service providers in origin countries. The nature of those relationships ranges from contractual program management to technical co-development and field-level troubleshooting. Where programs are implemented, the role may also engage industry bodies and certification or assurance partners, always balancing global standards with local cultural and operational realities.

Cocoa Nature Sustainability Manager

Job FAQs

What are the main missions and responsibilities of this role?

Key learning opportunities for this job

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

Advice to stand out and make a successful application

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

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

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

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

The main stakeholders you might be interacting with

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