Certification Officer - Coffee

Louis Dreyfus Company is a leading merchant and processor of agricultural goods. Our activities span the entire value chain from farm to fork, across a broad range of business lines, we leverage our global reach and extensive asset network to serve our customers and consumers around the world.

Structured as a matrix organization of six geographical regions and ten platforms, Louis Dreyfus Company is active in over 100 countries and employs approximately 18,000 people globally.

Overall Purpose:

The coffee platform requires a Middle-Office role based in Europe for the management of LDC Switzerland and LDC North America’s Sustainability Certifications (e.g., 4C, Rainforest Alliance, Fairtrade, organic.), which includes the preparation and management of certification audits, sales announcements, quarterly reporting, quality assurance and internal coordination with marketing, origination and execution teams, as well as external coordination with the certification schemes.

In addition, this position will support the Coffee Platform in the definition and implementation of processes and procedures to meet LDC’s sustainability due diligence obligations, particularly in relation to the new EU regulation on deforestation-free products.

Main Responsibilities

Management of certification and verification programs (~80%)

• Ensure the management and renewal of LDC Suisse and North America’s various certification licenses (Rainforest Alliance, Fairtrade, Fair Trade Organic…), including the coordination with certification bodies, the preparation of documentation, as well as the management and follow-up of audits.
• Manage the various certifications’ traceability and reporting portals, ensuring that sales announcements and quarterly reporting obligations are fulfilled in an efficient and timely manner.
• Become an expert of the sustainability certification rules for trading houses and coordinate knowledge management and training on these certifications across the platform.
• Take ownership of LDC’s internal SOPs for third-party certifications as well as LDC’s in-house Responsible Sourcing Program, to ensure a seamless execution of the various programs by the marketing, origination, execution and sustainability teams.
• Ensure the efficient record-keeping and organization of all the documentation necessary for the management of each certification.
• Conduct quality assurance checks to flag and mitigate possible errors or missing data in contracts, commercial documentation and reports.  
• Liaise with LDC Traders, Contract Desk, Coffee Sustainability Team, Coffee Origins and Execution for required support to the administration of the sustainability certificates.
• Coordinate with origination teams the quarterly reports requested by various clients and other verification schemes.
• Provide regular reporting and KPIs to the management of the platform on the execution of certified/verified sales.

Support to other global sustainability workstreams (~20%)

• Provide support to the Sustainability and Execution teams for the development, implementation and monitoring of processes and procedures to meet LDC’s regulatory obligations, particularly those generated by the EU regulation on deforestation-free products (EUDR).
• Provide advice and support to improve the management of sustainability data.
• Other relevant requests related to the implementation of LDC’s Coffee Sustainability Strategy.

Requirements - Knowledge and Experience:

• Experience in the management of third-party certifications, particularly at trader/importer level (standards, audits, sales management and reporting)
• At least 3 years of experience in international commodity trade or sustainability. A first exposure to sustainable coffee value chains is a plus.
• Proficiency in Office and strong data management skills.
• Effective communication skills, both written and oral in English – Additional languages would be a plus.
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Technical/ Functional skills:

• Effective analytical skills and problem solving
• Capacity to handle, verify and structure large amounts of data
• Effective communication skills, both written and oral
• Expertise in coffee sustainability certifications and audits
• Operational expertise in international coffee trading (desired)

Other skills and competencies:

• Strong organizational skills and attention to detail
• Good interpersonal skills to coordinate work with multiple stakeholders.
• Ability to manage multiple tasks and prioritize workload to meet deadlines under pressure
• Appetite for continuous improvement and learning
• Proactivity and entrepreneurial mindset

Additional Information for the job

What We Offer

We provide a dynamic and stimulating international environment, which will stretch and develop your abilities and channel your skills and expertise with outstanding career development opportunities in one of the largest and most solid private companies in the world.

Our Benefits

• Competitive salary and benefits​​​​​​
• Hybrid work available (not applicable to all roles)
• Pension contributions
• Access to Training and Development 
• Access to Concierge Partnerships

Diversity & Inclusion

LDC is driven by a set of shared values and high ethical standards, with diversity and inclusion being part of our DNA. LDC is an equal opportunity employer committed to providing a working environment that embraces and values diversity, equity and inclusion.

LDC encourages diversity, supports local communities and environmental initiatives. We encourage people of all backgrounds to apply.

Sustainability

Sustainable value is at the heart of our purpose as a company.

We are passionate about creating fair and sustainable value, both for our business and for other value chain stakeholders: our people, our business partners, the communities we touch and the environment around us