Q: What are the main missions and responsibilities of this role?

The primary focus of this role is to act as a subject matter expert for the sustainability of agricultural raw materials, specifically cocoa and herbs. You will be responsible for translating high-level corporate commitments into actionable sourcing strategies that mitigate social and environmental risks. This includes overseeing human rights due diligence and environmental performance across a diverse global supplier base. Beyond risk management, you will lead the design and monitoring of remediation programs in sourcing regions. This involves working at the intersection of commercial interests and social impact, ensuring that supplier selection processes are fundamentally aligned with the company's ethical standards. You will also manage the data and reporting necessary for ESG disclosures and regulatory compliance.

Q: Key learning opportunities for this job

Candidates will gain extensive exposure to international due diligence frameworks and emerging regulations like the EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR) or Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (CSDDD). You will learn how to apply these complex legal requirements to real-world agricultural supply chains across multiple continents, from Europe to Africa and Asia. Additionally, there are significant opportunities to develop expertise in programmatic social impact . You will learn to design evidence-based interventions that address systemic issues such as farmer livelihoods and human rights. Working within the ABF Group network also provides access to widespread professional resources and cross-industry sustainability insights.

Q: Advice to stand out and make a successful application

To stand out, demonstrate a specific understanding of the socio-economic challenges associated with tea, cocoa, or herbal supply chains. Move beyond generic sustainability talk and showcase your experience in implementing actual remediation plans or farm-level practices. Highlighting your ability to bridge the gap between 'sustainability ideals' and 'commercial realities' will be very persuasive. Your application should also reflect an awareness of the Sourced with Care program. Tailor your resume to show how your previous work in due diligence or supplier capability building directly aligns with the goals of this specific initiative, emphasizing your familiarity with human rights frameworks.

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

This role is deeply embedded in the Social Impact & Sustainability department, meaning the primary focus is on the human and environmental footprint of agricultural products. You will likely spend a significant amount of time on human rights due diligence, protecting biodiversity in sourcing origins, and improving the livelihoods of smallholder farmers. Furthermore, the role addresses the governance aspect of ESG by ensuring that the supply chain is resilient and compliant with global standards. You will contribute to the transparency of the company's operations by providing the data and insights required for public ESG disclosures and customer-facing sustainability reports.

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

One of the main challenges is balancing commercial pressures with ambitious sustainability targets. Sourcing raw materials from complex, fragmented regions often involves navigating competing interests between price, quality, and ethical standards. You will need to be resilient and persuasive to ensure that sustainability remains a priority in every sourcing decision. Another challenge is the evolving regulatory landscape . Staying ahead of new laws regarding deforestation and human rights requires constant vigilance and the ability to adapt established supply chain processes quickly. Managing data from remote origins can also be difficult, requiring a rigorous approach to data integrity and supplier transparency.

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

A typical day might begin with a cross-functional meeting with the procurement team to discuss the sustainability performance of a current herb supplier. You might then transition into analyzing satellite data or audit reports to monitor environmental risks in specific cocoa-growing regions, followed by a call with an NGO partner to review progress on a local remediation program. In the afternoon, you might work on ESG reporting metrics or prepare a briefing for the Sustainability Transformation Lead. The day often concludes with supplier engagement, where you might be coaching a partner on how to improve their social management systems or prepare for an upcoming sustainability certification audit.

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

Growth in this role can lead to strategic leadership positions within the global sustainability team, such as a Sustainability Transformation Lead or Head of Responsible Sourcing. Given the company's membership in the wider Associated British Foods (ABF) group, there are also opportunities for horizontal movement and knowledge sharing across a massive portfolio of brands. Professional development is further supported through access to LinkedIn Learning and high-visibility projects that interact with executive leadership. As the regulatory requirements for supply chain transparency grow, your expertise in this niche will become increasingly critical, paving the way for specialized ESG advisory roles.

Q: The main stakeholders you might be interacting with

You will interact daily with the Procurement and Quality teams to ensure that sourcing strategies are both commercially viable and ethically sound. You also report directly to the Sustainability Transformation Lead and collaborate with regional teams located in places like Poland or Switzerland. Externally, your main stakeholders include strategic suppliers, agricultural certifiers, and NGOs . You will also represent the company in industry working groups and interact with customers to explain the brand's sustainability progress, making you a key ambassador for the company's social impact ambitions.

Question 1

What are the main missions and responsibilities of this role?

Accepted Answer

The primary focus of this role is to act as a subject matter expert for the sustainability of agricultural raw materials, specifically cocoa and herbs. You will be responsible for translating high-level corporate commitments into actionable sourcing strategies that mitigate social and environmental risks. This includes overseeing human rights due diligence and environmental performance across a diverse global supplier base. Beyond risk management, you will lead the design and monitoring of remediation programs in sourcing regions. This involves working at the intersection of commercial interests and social impact, ensuring that supplier selection processes are fundamentally aligned with the company's ethical standards. You will also manage the data and reporting necessary for ESG disclosures and regulatory compliance.

Question 2

Key learning opportunities for this job

Accepted Answer

Candidates will gain extensive exposure to international due diligence frameworks and emerging regulations like the EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR) or Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (CSDDD). You will learn how to apply these complex legal requirements to real-world agricultural supply chains across multiple continents, from Europe to Africa and Asia. Additionally, there are significant opportunities to develop expertise in programmatic social impact. You will learn to design evidence-based interventions that address systemic issues such as farmer livelihoods and human rights. Working within the ABF Group network also provides access to widespread professional resources and cross-industry sustainability insights.

Question 3

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

Accepted Answer

The ideal candidate brings a blend of technical sustainability knowledge and commercial acumen. You should have a degree in a relevant field like international development or agriculture, paired with significant experience in ethical trade or responsible sourcing within an FMCG context. Proficiency in managing complex data sets and sustainability certifications is essential for success in this role. Soft skills are equally important, as you must be able to influence internal procurement teams and external suppliers alike. Fluency in additional languages such as French, German, or Turkish is highly valued, as it facilitates more effective communication and deeper engagement with stakeholders in key sourcing origins.

Question 4

Advice to stand out and make a successful application

Accepted Answer

To stand out, demonstrate a specific understanding of the socio-economic challenges associated with tea, cocoa, or herbal supply chains. Move beyond generic sustainability talk and showcase your experience in implementing actual remediation plans or farm-level practices. Highlighting your ability to bridge the gap between 'sustainability ideals' and 'commercial realities' will be very persuasive. Your application should also reflect an awareness of the Sourced with Care program. Tailor your resume to show how your previous work in due diligence or supplier capability building directly aligns with the goals of this specific initiative, emphasizing your familiarity with human rights frameworks.

Question 5

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

Accepted Answer

This role is deeply embedded in the Social Impact & Sustainability department, meaning the primary focus is on the human and environmental footprint of agricultural products. You will likely spend a significant amount of time on human rights due diligence, protecting biodiversity in sourcing origins, and improving the livelihoods of smallholder farmers. Furthermore, the role addresses the governance aspect of ESG by ensuring that the supply chain is resilient and compliant with global standards. You will contribute to the transparency of the company's operations by providing the data and insights required for public ESG disclosures and customer-facing sustainability reports.

Question 6

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

Accepted Answer

One of the main challenges is balancing commercial pressures with ambitious sustainability targets. Sourcing raw materials from complex, fragmented regions often involves navigating competing interests between price, quality, and ethical standards. You will need to be resilient and persuasive to ensure that sustainability remains a priority in every sourcing decision. Another challenge is the evolving regulatory landscape. Staying ahead of new laws regarding deforestation and human rights requires constant vigilance and the ability to adapt established supply chain processes quickly. Managing data from remote origins can also be difficult, requiring a rigorous approach to data integrity and supplier transparency.

Question 7

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

Accepted Answer

A typical day might begin with a cross-functional meeting with the procurement team to discuss the sustainability performance of a current herb supplier. You might then transition into analyzing satellite data or audit reports to monitor environmental risks in specific cocoa-growing regions, followed by a call with an NGO partner to review progress on a local remediation program. In the afternoon, you might work on ESG reporting metrics or prepare a briefing for the Sustainability Transformation Lead. The day often concludes with supplier engagement, where you might be coaching a partner on how to improve their social management systems or prepare for an upcoming sustainability certification audit.

Question 8

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

Accepted Answer

Growth in this role can lead to strategic leadership positions within the global sustainability team, such as a Sustainability Transformation Lead or Head of Responsible Sourcing. Given the company's membership in the wider Associated British Foods (ABF) group, there are also opportunities for horizontal movement and knowledge sharing across a massive portfolio of brands. Professional development is further supported through access to LinkedIn Learning and high-visibility projects that interact with executive leadership. As the regulatory requirements for supply chain transparency grow, your expertise in this niche will become increasingly critical, paving the way for specialized ESG advisory roles.

Question 9

The main stakeholders you might be interacting with

Accepted Answer

You will interact daily with the Procurement and Quality teams to ensure that sourcing strategies are both commercially viable and ethically sound. You also report directly to the Sustainability Transformation Lead and collaborate with regional teams located in places like Poland or Switzerland. Externally, your main stakeholders include strategic suppliers, agricultural certifiers, and NGOs. You will also represent the company in industry working groups and interact with customers to explain the brand's sustainability progress, making you a key ambassador for the company's social impact ambitions.

Sustainable Raw Materials Specialist

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