Louis Dreyfus Company (LDC) is one of the world’s leading merchants and processors of agricultural goods. With a presence in over 100 countries and approximately 18,000 employees globally, the company operates across the entire value chain — from farm to fork — encompassing origination, processing, storage, and distribution of a diverse range of agricultural commodities.
Structured into six geographical regions and ten business platforms, LDC’s operations are built on a legacy of innovation, sustainability, and ethical business practices. The company’s mission revolves around creating fair and sustainable value for farmers, customers, and communities, while promoting environmentally responsible and inclusive growth.
As part of its continued investment in sustainable agriculture and responsible sourcing, Louis Dreyfus Company is seeking a Sustainability Country Manager for its Kenya operations. This role will play a pivotal part in shaping and implementing sustainability strategies within LDC’s supply chains, starting with the coffee sector and gradually expanding to include carbon offsetting and sustainability initiatives in other crops such as maize and pulses.
Job Overview
The Sustainability Country Manager will lead the design, execution, and monitoring of sustainability programs across Kenya. The incumbent will oversee responsible sourcing initiatives, manage sustainability projects, supervise implementation partners, and engage with donors, clients, and other stakeholders. This role requires strategic leadership, strong project management skills, and the ability to navigate complex sustainability frameworks while ensuring alignment with LDC’s global sustainability strategy.
The position demands a balance between strategic oversight and hands-on engagement, including time spent in the field with farmers and partners. The Country Manager will report directly to the Regional Sustainability Manager and collaborate closely with the Country Head, commercial teams, and global sustainability functions.
Key Responsibilities
1. Responsible Sourcing – Coffee Sector
The Sustainability Country Manager will be responsible for defining and delivering the Responsible Sourcing Strategy for Kenya’s coffee operations. This includes ensuring compliance with third-party certification standards, driving traceability, and promoting responsible sourcing practices that align with both business goals and sustainability targets.
Specific duties include:
- Designing and executing the country-level Responsible Sourcing Strategy in line with LDC’s Coffee Responsible Sourcing approach and Kenya’s local context.
- Managing delivery of responsible sourcing targets, budgets, and annual work plans.
- Overseeing the development of certified or verified supply chains under recognized standards such as Rainforest Alliance, 4C, Fairtrade, and Organic.
- Ensuring compliance with LDC’s Responsible Sourcing Program (RSP) and regulations related to deforestation, human rights, and sustainability reporting.
- Coordinating implementation with local suppliers, their field teams, and external partners.
- Monitoring and addressing compliance issues, ensuring continuous improvement and adherence to supplier codes of conduct.
- Supervising annual supplier mapping to assess sourcing risks related to deforestation and human rights.
- Organizing training and engagement activities for suppliers to build capacity on responsible sourcing standards and codes of conduct.
- Reporting regularly to the Regional Sustainability Manager and Country Head on strategy implementation, performance metrics, and budget adherence.
- Ensuring cross-departmental coordination, particularly with procurement, quality, execution, and safety teams, to integrate responsible sourcing principles throughout LDC’s operations.
- Building internal capacity among LDC staff to understand and implement responsible sourcing standards and certification requirements.
2. Stronger Coffee Initiative (SCI)
The Country Manager will also oversee the implementation of the Stronger Coffee Initiative (SCI) in Kenya, a key component of LDC’s global sustainability portfolio. The role will focus on maximizing the impact of SCI investments within existing and emerging supply chains.
Responsibilities under this program include:
- Developing a localized implementation strategy for SCI in line with LDC’s global framework and the Kenyan coffee sector context.
- Identifying opportunities to enhance the effectiveness of SCI investments within the Responsible Sourcing Program.
- Coordinating target setting, budget planning, and work plan execution with the Regional Sustainability Manager and Global SCI Manager.
- Supervising the rollout of SCI projects to ensure quality, timeliness, and compliance with budget and performance indicators.
- Managing relationships with key stakeholders, including implementing partners, suppliers, and internal teams.
- Promoting continuous learning through monitoring, evaluation, and data-driven decision-making to refine program delivery and impact assessment.
- Leading and strengthening LDC’s Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning (MEL) framework to enhance project effectiveness and transparency.
3. Stakeholder Engagement and Fundraising
A major aspect of this role involves building and maintaining partnerships that support the growth and sustainability of LDC’s programs. The incumbent will take an active role in stakeholder relations, program financing, and proposal development.
Responsibilities include:
- Mapping and engaging relevant local and international stakeholders such as donors, development agencies, certification bodies, and private-sector partners.
- Identifying and pursuing new funding opportunities to expand sustainability initiatives.
- Supporting proposal development and grant applications, including drafting narratives, preparing budgets, and developing supporting documentation.
- Representing LDC externally at industry events, conferences, and stakeholder meetings to enhance visibility and promote sustainability achievements.
4. Carbon Offsetting and Other Crops
Beyond coffee, the role will extend to overseeing sustainability and carbon-related projects across other commodities, such as maize and pulses. The incumbent will collaborate closely with LDC’s global carbon team and external partners to ensure that all initiatives meet quality, compliance, and reporting standards.
Key duties include:
- Managing implementation of carbon offsetting projects and related sustainability programs.
- Ensuring project quality, timeliness, and adherence to allocated budgets.
- Coordinating closely with the Carbon team to align project activities with global strategies and emerging market trends.
- Maintaining engagement with partners and staying informed about evolving voluntary carbon market regulations and methodologies.
- Promoting the adoption of innovative technologies and methodologies to enhance carbon performance and environmental benefits.
5. Communication and Visibility
Effective communication will be essential in promoting LDC’s sustainability agenda both internally and externally. The Country Manager will ensure consistent messaging, transparency, and alignment with corporate communication standards.
Responsibilities include:
- Liaising with the Coffee Platform stakeholders to derive commercial and reputational benefits from sustainability activities.
- Coordinating with global and regional sustainability teams to share knowledge, learnings, and best practices.
- Representing LDC in sustainability-related fairs, exhibitions, and industry events.
- Maintaining relationships with third-party stakeholders, including foundations, governmental organizations, and certification agencies.
- Producing engaging and informative materials that highlight sustainability achievements and communicate program outcomes to clients, donors, and internal teams.
6. Leadership and Team Management
The Sustainability Country Manager will provide strong leadership to the Kenya sustainability team, ensuring a collaborative and high-performance culture.
Primary leadership responsibilities include:
- Building and leading a diverse, motivated, and results-driven team.
- Promoting a culture of accountability, feedback, and professional growth.
- Providing mentorship and guidance to staff, ensuring effective knowledge transfer and succession planning.
- Coordinating team resources efficiently to deliver high-quality outcomes within defined timelines and budgets.
- Supporting the continuous professional development of team members through training and exposure to global sustainability best practices.
Experience and Competencies
The ideal candidate will bring extensive experience in sustainability management, particularly within agricultural or commodity supply chains. Essential attributes include:
- Proven track record in managing country-level sustainability programs with a focus on responsible sourcing, certification, and community development.
- Demonstrated experience in donor engagement, fundraising, and proposal writing.
- Strong understanding of smallholder agriculture dynamics, sustainability certifications, and monitoring frameworks.
- Excellent analytical, communication, and leadership skills.
- Ability to work effectively in multicultural environments and to navigate complex stakeholder landscapes.
- Capacity to deliver organized, methodical, and results-oriented outcomes.
- Commitment to sustainability, ethical business practices, and inclusive growth.
Desirable competencies include experience in the coffee sector, familiarity with remote-sensing and GIS tools, and expertise in forestry, agroforestry, or nature-based carbon offset projects. Knowledge of international carbon standards such as Verra, Gold Standard, and Plan Vivo will be an added advantage.
Additional Information
Diversity and Inclusion:
Louis Dreyfus Company is committed to fostering a diverse, equitable, and inclusive workplace. The company values individuals from all backgrounds and encourages applications from qualified professionals who share its vision of building sustainable value for communities and the environment.
Sustainability Commitment:
Sustainability lies at the core of LDC’s operations. The company strives to create positive impact across the agricultural value chain by empowering farmers, supporting local communities, and implementing environmentally responsible practices that preserve natural resources for future generations.
What LDC Offers:
- A dynamic international work environment with opportunities for professional growth.
- Competitive compensation and benefits package.
- Hybrid work arrangements (where applicable).
- Private pension contributions and medical insurance.
- Access to professional training and career development programs.
- Life insurance and 21 days of annual leave.
- Additional benefits such as transport and meal provisions for asset-based employees.
Application Details
Interested candidates are encouraged to apply for the Sustainability Country Manager – Kenya position by submitting their application through the official LDC recruitment portal.
Sustainability Country Manager – Kenya
Location: Nairobi, Kenya
Job Reference: JR0091335
Professional Area: Sustainability
Function: Operations, Engineering, and Maintenance
Contract Type: Permanent
Years of Work Experience: 5 – 8
Start Date: 1 December 2025
