Integral project leader - global

ofi; Amsterdam; On-site; EUR 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

ofi Cocoa in Amsterdam is seeking an Integral Project Leader to transform innovation opportunities into commercial cocoa ingredients and processing technologies from concept to market.

You will connect R&D, Manufacturing, Commercial and Leadership teams across the globe, guiding cross-functional project teams and delivering lasting value for customers and the business, while reporting to the IEC Head of ofi Cocoa. The role is global, part-time PMO involvement, and requires up to 20% travel.

Qualifications

• MSc degree in Industrial Engineering and Management, Food Technology or Chemical Engineering.
• Business/commercial mindset; MBA or similar is advantageous.
• Min. 5 years’ experience as a project manager in B2B food, specialty chemical or pharmaceutical industries.
• Ability to travel up to 20%.
• Excellent communication in English, both written and spoken.

Responsibilities

• Lead innovation projects for new products or processing tech improvements.
• Define scope, deliverables, timelines, and milestones for projects.
• Identify risks, develop mitigation strategies, and monitor issues.
• Maintain clear communication with stakeholders, teams and customers for validation.
• Lead and inspire cross-functional teams, clarify roles and responsibilities.

Skills

Project management

Leadership

Communication

Risk assessment

Strategic thinking

Education

MSc in Industrial Engineering & Management

MBA or equivalent

Tools

ERP systems

CRM

PM software

Job description

About Us

As a leading provider of high-quality food and beverage ingredients, we work with farming communities across the globe to grow, source and produce ingredients that are good for consumers, farmers, and the world around us. We supply household food brands and manufacturers worldwide with cocoa, coffee, dairy, nuts and spices ingredients which are often grown on our own farms and estates and sourced from hundreds of thousands of farmers across :50 countries. Along with our diverse manufacturing and innovation capabilities, this means we can provide ingredients for a range of products, from a plant-based latte mix to an almond based snack bar or a dairy-free ice cream. Making a positive impact on people and planet is a core component of our Purpose, to be the change for good food and a healthy future. With a deep-rooted presence in the countries where our ingredients are grown, we are closer to farmers, enabling better quality, and more reliable, traceable, and transparent supply. And whoever we’re with, whatever we’re doing, we always make it real.

Cocoa

We are a leading supplier of cocoa beans and cocoa ingredients, including cocoa powder, cocoa butter, and cocoa liquor, ranking among the top three processors worldwide. We are a cocoa supplier that provides great natural cocoa ingredients to customers all over the world, working with partners across the supply chain to create indulgent treats for consumers while helping to provide a positive future for cocoa. We work closely with our customers to inspire new concepts and solve for challenges they face in developing new cocoa products for their consumers, while delivering value to their business. Building on two decades of supporting farmers and cocoa-growing communities, around the world, we launched Cocoa Compass in October 2019, with the report published in 2024 winning Sustainability Report of the Year at the UK Green Business Awards! It sets challenging goals to tackle the key issues facing the cocoa supply chain by 2030, with interim milestones for action. We are proud to have already achieved, in 2020, 100% traceability and deforestation monitoring in our direct cocoa supply chain. We source from nine regions across Africa, South America and Asia and operate processing, milling, and refining facilities close to major consumption markets in Europe, the Americas, and Asia. Our cocoa brand portfolio includes deZaan, with over 100 years of excellence, Unicao, Joanes, Macao, Husyman, as well as Britannia specialty fats

The role

At ofi Cocoa, innovation is at the heart of how we create value for customers and drive sustainable growth. As Integral Project Leader, you will play a key role in transforming innovation opportunities into successful commercial solutions, driving strategic projects that bring innovative cocoa ingredients and processing technologies from concept to market.

This is a high-impact global role where you will connect R&D, Manufacturing, Commercial and Leadership teams, ensuring innovation projects deliver lasting value impact for our customers and our business. You will work closely with senior stakeholders while leading cross-functional teams through the complexities of product and technology development.

What You'll Do

• Lead innovation projects regarding new product launches or improvements in processing technology. Integral project teams are typically composed of subproject leaders representing IEC (R&D), Manufacturing, and Commercial functions.
• Define project scope, objectives, and deliverables, develop project plans, and establish timelines and milestones
• Identify potential risks, developing mitigation strategies, and monitoring potential issues.
• Building and Maintaining clear and consistent communication with stakeholders, team members, and management including customers for validation.
• Leading and inspiring project teams, fostering collaboration, and ensuring team members understand their roles and responsibilities
• Tracking project progress, identifying deviations from the plan, and taking corrective actions as needed
• Ensuring that the project deliverables meet the defined quality standards, managing project budgets, tracking expenses, and ensuring the project stays within financial constraints
• Act as a key connector between technical and business teams, translating requirements and ensuring alignment throughout the project lifecycle
• Reporting on project status to global Cocoa steering committee and functional reporting line to global IEC (R&D) Head of ofi Cocoa
• The role will also be part-time, leading the evolving PMO function
• Competence development of the IEC and global PL’s
• Advancing project management working methods and tooling
• Being the trusted partner for the IEC and Global Program Manager (preparing project steering committees and improving way of working)

Requirements

• A MSc degree in Industrial Engineering and Management, Food Technology or Chemical Engineering.
• A business and commercial attitude and drive is important. An additional MBA or equivalent commercial education is advantageous
• Proven capability as project manager in the B2B food-, specialty chemical or pharmaceutical industry, with a minimum of 5 years’ experience
• Confident and resilient professional, able to act as a credible sparring partner for ofi Cocoa Senior Management
• Innovation management skills including dealing with uncertainty in projects and decision-making
• Ability to plan, prioritize, and manage multiple tasks and deadlines effectively
• Ability to identify, assess, and mitigate potential risks.
• Proven leadership skills in project management to translate the company's growth aspirations into tangible actions and KPIs
• Understanding product development from customer inspiration to winning projects.
• Passion for cocoa ingredients, food applications, processing technologies, and creating business value through innovation
• Entrepreneurial spirit with the ability to inspire the team, combining intelligence, agility, creativity, and a proactive mindset.
• Able to identify and resolve issues, make informed decisions, and adapt to changing circumstances.
• Integrity, inclusiveness, and respect for internal and external stakeholders.
• Excellent communication and social skills, with proficiency in spoken and written English
• Basic level understanding of ERP, CRM and Project Management software and IP management
• Willingness to travel (20%)

ofi is an equal opportunity employer and values diversity. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to racial or ethnic origin, color, age, religion or belief, sex, nationality, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, genetic information, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law.