Director, Sugar Sourcing

Director, Sugar Sourcing

Location:

Chicago, US, 60654

At Barry Callebaut, we are on a journey to transform the cocoa and chocolate industry. As the world’s leading manufacturer of high-quality chocolate and cocoa products, our actions truly shape the future of our industry. We are a business-to-business company, serving the entire food sector, from the cocoa bean to the finest chocolate product. We are a company with a purpose, we believe in doing well by doing good and reinvesting in the communities we operate. We have a long-standing commitment to sustainability and our goal is to shape a sustainable cocoa and chocolate future. We are headquartered in Zurich, and have more than 12,000 passionate Employees working in more than 40 countries worldwide. We are very proud of who we are and what we do. And of course, we are always looking for talented people to help us have a positive impact on our industry and beyond!

About the Role

The Director of Sugar Sourcing is responsible for leading all sugar sourcing activities for Barry Callebaut plants across the Americas and managing the region’s overall sugar risk position. This role holds full EBIT responsibility for sugar sourcing and trading activities, driving productivity, cost savings, margin enhancement, and sustainable supply strategies. Working closely with commercial, finance, operations, planning, and executive leadership teams, the Director serves as the regional sugar subject matter expert and leads the sugar sourcing team across North America.

Key Responsibilities Include

• Lead the strategic sourcing and supply of sugar for all Barry Callebaut factories across the Americas region.
• Manage the regional sugar risk position within Group controls, utilizing futures and hedging instruments to mitigate risk and optimize commercial outcomes.
• Own trading P&L and physical sugar positions while maximizing profitability through effective supply and sales management.
• Partner with cross-functional stakeholders to provide market insights and support key business decisions.
• Drive productivity, cost optimization, and margin improvement through supplier negotiations, risk management, and continuous improvement initiatives.
• Identify and execute commercial opportunities that support profitable growth within the sugar category.
• Manage working capital and inventory levels in line with Group targets and business requirements.
• Lead sustainability initiatives across the sugar supply base and support Group sustainability objectives.
• Collaborate with global and multi-regional teams to develop and benchmark sourcing and market strategies.
• Represent Barry Callebaut within industry associations, sugar committees, and external supplier networks.
• Lead, develop, and coach a team of 5–7 employees located throughout North America.

About You

• Bachelor’s degree in Business, Economics, Supply Chain, Food Science, or a related field is required; a Master’s degree is strongly preferred.
• 5–10 years of experience as a soft commodities trader specializing in sugar markets across the Americas.
• 5–10 years of experience in commodity risk management, including assessing and approving trade transactions.
• At least 5 years of people leadership experience.
• Deep knowledge of sugar markets, trade flows, market fundamentals, government policies, and hedging strategies across the Americas.
• Strong commercial acumen with proven strategic sourcing, negotiation, purchasing, and trading capabilities.
• Excellent analytical, organizational, communication, and stakeholder management skills, with the ability to thrive in a fast-paced environment.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office, Power BI, and SAP; experience working within a matrix organization is preferred.
• Professional working proficiency in Spanish is preferred but not required.
• Ability to travel up to 30%.

What you can expect from Barry Callebaut

• Salary Range of $170,000-$200,000, depending on factors such as experience and location, plus annual bonus and our comprehensive benefits package
• MyFlex PTO (unlimited!) and Paid Holidays
• Environment that welcomes workplace flexibility and hybrid environment
• An atmosphere where diversity is embraced, and inclusivity is second nature. We call it #OneBC!
• Just ask our champions with the Americas Women’s Forum and the Racial Equality Forum!
• Ability to grow personally and professionally within an organization that values development and internal career growth

We are committed to building a diverse and inclusive team and encourage all qualified candidates to apply. Be part of our mission in making sustainability the norm through Forever Chocolate with priorities centered around prospering farmers, zero child labor, carbon and forest positive, and creating 100% sustainable ingredients in all our products

At Barry Callebaut, we are committed to Diversity & Inclusion. United by our strong values, we thrive on the diversity of who we are, where we come from, what we’ve experienced and how we think. We are committed to nurturing an inclusive environment where people can truly be themselves, grow to their full potential and feel they belong. #oneBC - Diverse People, Sustainable Growth.

If you want to learn more about Barry Callebaut, please find further information here.

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