Senior Director, Cocoa

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

• Management and Communication (20%)
  • Ensure effective commodity procurement functions and processes are developed, implemented and continuously improved
  • Publish key performance indicators including hedging performance relative to defined plan
  • Coordinate with senior managers in strategic evaluation of sourcing strategy, differential and cocoa product ratio risk, and bean differential coverage with goal to maximize profitability
  • Evaluate and recommend cocoa bean differential cover length taking into consideration current forward sales to customers, pressing profitability assumptions, current market structure (carry risk), internal differential coverage guidance and crop dynamics
  • Forecast working capital requirements on a rolling basis to management team
  • Represent company at international conferences and organizations
• Risk Management & Profitability (30%)
  • Evaluate market fluctuations based upon data and historical information
  • Report risks relating to the cocoa market and take actions to mitigate the risks
  • Report price coverage relative to sales booked for bean differentials
  • Lead pricing discussions for cocoa raw material based on the market situation to maximize PPV while securing sales
  • Support VP of Cocoa and the Sales teams as required on pricing negotiations with strategic customers
  • Ensure consistent compliance with customer standards, safety/OSHA and quality standards/HACCP and GMP standards for products sourced for Blommer
  • Manage differential, outright, spread positions to minimize risk and maximize profitability
  • Set market and counterparty limits in coordination with the risk team and ensure that positions are within the limits
• Cacao Bean Sourcing (30%)
  • Develop physical sourcing strategy that ensures the quantity and quality of cocoa at a competitive delivered plant cost; understand pricing dynamics and cost structure throughout cocoa supply chain (from farmer to plant); competitive sourcing dynamics and relative advantages; evaluate relative value of bean types to determine optimal bean blend; develop supply base to manage counter party risk
  • Lead physical bean procurement process; negotiate and implement cocoa contracts; ensure beans meet quality parameters for Blommer and quantity meets needs of the chocolate cocoa supply chain
  • Support R&D, Production and Sales team in development of new products and sales opportunities while also collaborating to secure greater bean blend flexibility
  • Ensure full tender of cocoa is received against contracts; oversee commodity traffic department activities ensuring appropriate bean inventory levels are maintained
  • Ensure proper negotiation of contract and coverage terms for marine insurance and manage any related insurance claims
  • Manage bank relationships and administrative activities for inventory financing; establish appropriate vendor terms; manage bank finance contracts for assigned categories; provide financing forecasts to financial group
  • Sustain competitive rates for logistics savings on warehousing, ocean freight handling, inbound plant freight etc.
  • Utilize exchange as a tool for sourcing cocoa beans if it makes sense
  • Increase number of reliable counterparty and approved suppliers to support a diversified supplier base
  • Source from suppliers to meet sustainability goals of Blommer and necessary compliance requirements
• Team Management (20%)
  • Lead the cocoa department
  • Set and align commodity department vision and strategy with Blommer’s overall business strategy and objectives
  • Supervise the cocoa team’s sourcing, negotiation, contracting, and hedging strategies on daily basis
  • Ensure strong cross-functional communication and collaboration with strong focus on sustainability activities
  • Coordinate and integrate team activities to support organizational strategic initiatives
  • Set the structure for the cocoa organization to maximize opportunities in the market
  • Participate in forums or committees to bring subject matter expertise and thought leadership in making recommendations to the senior management team on strategy, company standards, procedures, compliance and metrics
  • Operate within the Blommer core values of respect and care for others and be a team player

Physical Requirements

• General office environment with majority of time using computer; prolonged periods of sitting
• Travel required, approximately 20-30%

Safety, Quality and Hygiene Requirements

• Maintain compliance with all company policies, procedures, and code of conduct
• Comply with workplace uniform requirements and safety gear, when on the plant floor v. office

Note

• The employer reserves the right to change or assign other duties to this position
• This role is eligible for either a discretionary annual bonus (based on company, business unit and individual performance)