Associate Director, Cocoa Sustainability

Job Description:

Job Purpose/Overview

the Associate Director, Cocoa Sustainability Thriving People sets the global social sustainability strategy for Mars Cocoa Enterprise and translates it into practical programs, partnerships and standards that strengthen supply chain resilience while improving outcomes for cocoa-farming households. The role leads strategy and technical direction across living income, human rights, ensuring investments are evidence-based, scalable and integrated with the broader cocoa business strategy.

• Set and evolve the global Cocoa Thriving People strategy, priorities and roadmap in service of People, Planet and Performance outcomes.
• Translate enterprise ambitions into clear choices, investment priorities, program models and decision frameworks for the cocoa business.
• Integrate social sustainability into sourcing strategy, supplier engagement, origin development and future cocoa supply models.

• Lead the design and continuous improvement of scalable programs focused on living income, human rights, gender equity and farmer household resilience.
• Establish program standards, theories of change, governance, operating models and performance expectations for global and regional delivery.
• Use evidence, implementation learning and independent evaluation to assess effectiveness, improve return on investment and recommend where to scale, adapt or stop.

• Provide strategic and technical leadership on human rights risks, with a focus on salient issues in cocoa.
• Partner with the functional and regional teams, suppliers and other relevant partners to ensure social requirements and due diligence approaches are practical, credible and aligned with Mars expectations.

• Shape and manage strategic partnerships with suppliers, NGOs, research organizations, industry platforms, and funders.
• Represent Mars in selected external forums and help influence industry approaches to living income, human rights.
• Build coalitions that improve scale, efficiency and shared accountability while protecting Mars decision rights and business interests.
• Provide strategic and technical leadership on human rights risks, with a focus on salient issues in cocoa, and with a strong understanding of evolving regulation in this space

• Own the global Thriving People portfolio, including annual planning, investment recommendations, partner performance and executive reporting.
• Create clear decision rights, governance routines and accountability across global, regional and origin teams.
• Partner closely with relevant functions to ensure disciplined contracting, budgeting, risk management and delivery

• Act as the global subject matter lead for human rights and social sustainability topics within cocoa, providing strategic counsel to senior leaders and teams.
• Build capability across the organization through practical tools, guidance, coaching and knowledge sharing.
• Lead through influence across a complex global matrix and foster a high-performance culture grounded in clarity, collaboration and accountability.

This is a global strategic leadership role within the Cocoa Sustainability team. The role operates across Mars Cocoa Enterprise, Mars Snacking and Corporate Sustainability, working with Commercial, Legal, Corporate Affairs, Communications, regional and origin teams, suppliers and external partners. Success requires the ability to move between long-term strategy and practical execution, simplify complex social and business challenges, make evidence-based trade-offs and influence senior leaders without relying on direct authority.

Cocoa-origin experience is valuable but not essential; the critical requirement is the ability to apply strong business judgment and international development expertise to complex agricultural supply chains.

• Bachelor’s degree in international development, economics, business, agriculture, public policy, social sciences or a related field.
• Advanced degree preferred.

• 10+ years of relevant experience spanning business, sustainability, international development, agriculture or responsible sourcing.
• Proven ability to set strategy, solve complex problems and translate analysis into clear decisions and…