Responsible Sourcing Specialist, senior – SCTC

About us

SCTC, based in Lausanne, an affiliate company of Starbucks Coffee Company, is responsible for all of Starbucks green coffee purchasing functions and continues an unwavering commitment to sourcing, roasting and delivering only the highest quality Arabica coffees

Job Summary and Mission

Starbucks mission to inspire and nurture the human spirit extends well beyond our customers, partners and cafes. We take pride in conducting business responsibly and supporting communities where we do business, from bean to cup. As a company that buys three percent of the world’s coffee, sourced from more than 400,000 farmers in more than 30 countries, Starbucks understands our future is inextricably tied to the future of farmers and their families.  The cornerstone of our ethical sourcing approach to buying coffee is Coffee and Farmer Equity (C.A.F.E.) Practices, which was one of the coffee industry’s first set of ethical sourcing standards when it launched in 2004.

This unique position is responsible for management of the Starbucks C.A.F.E. Practices program. This is a critical leadership position in a fast paced and exciting time for the sustainability team. We are looking for an experienced sustainability professional, who is particularly familiar with best practice in creating and implementing voluntary sustainability standards. The role will require flexibility, willingness to take on and learn new tasks as needed, and the ability to manage upwards to prioritize in a cross-functional and international business environment.

Hybrid work policies allow up to two days of working from home. Please talk to us during the recruitment process about what flexibility could look like for you!

Responsibilities and essential job functions include but are not limited to the following:

• Set goals and priorities for an overall working team, while focusing on developing organizational capability and modeling how we work together. Identify and communicate key responsibilities to individual partners.


• Manage direct report(s), coaching and supporting their growth and development.


• Oversee and continuously optimize the large-scale, complex, and highly visible responsible coffee sourcing  program, and project strategies, distilling data and insights from the business, stakeholders, and providing subject matter expertise.


• Influence and lead high performing cross-functional teams and engage team members in projects and programs, while providing a clear direction of strategy from a credibility point of view.  


• Prepare, communicate, and educate client groups and team on changes in responsible sourcing policies and practices within the organization. 


• Prepare and analyze annual program budgets (e.g. expenditures and cash management) to ensure operations are within budget and strategic growth is supported


• Build and present rigorous, quantitative analysis to support business and functional leaders in translating strategies into actionable and quantitative plans to support the decision-making process.


• Inform, monitor and evaluate technology vendors; to improve reliability and controls of information in the sustainability database by contributing to the development and implementation of new functionalities.


• Monitor and advise on potential impacts of changes in international laws and regulations to the coffee sustainability program.

Basic Qualifications

• Excellent verbal and written communication skills in English and Spanish are essential. Brazilian Portuguese a plus.


• 10+ years of progressive experience in responsible sourcing, voluntary standard development and/or supply within an international procurement industry setting (ideally in the agricultural commodities industries).


• 5+ years in a strategy management position in a fast-paced and dynamic environment. Ideally the candidate will also have demonstrated ability to work in a cross-functional and international business environment.


• 5+ years of experience leading teams


• 5+ years of experience managing two or more budgets


• Strong project leadership skills in a cross-functional environment, with an ability to prioritize, providing senior leadership with a robust logic.


• Ability to work well independently as well as part of a global team.  Fine interpersonal, networking and teamwork skills are essential.


• Strong attention to detail combined with demonstrated organizational, problem-solving and time management skills.  Flexibility to adjust to a changing workload to ensure timely results while respecting deadlines.


• Ability to lead multiple global projects and working groups while creating a welcoming and collaborative spirit.


• Communicate efficiently, clearly and concisely to a wide range of internal and external stakeholders.


• Computer skills: Advanced Microsoft Office, proficiency in Excel and PowerPoint, and general database management.


• Detailed knowledge of sustainability standards and the relevant regulatory environment, with an ability to engage stakeholder effectively in finding credible, cost effective and speedy responses to upcoming changes.


• Willing to travel in general and specially to developing countries at 1 month a year.


• Education: Bachelor’s Degree / Apprenticeship


• Years of experience: 10+ yr

Summary of Experience

• Work experience in developing countries and agricultural communities, with a deep-seated understanding of the realities on the ground with regard to compliance and standards implementation.


• Skills in managing and influencing constructive interactions with pertinent functions and external stakeholders across multiple cultures in a dynamic matrix environment.


• Relevant experience in developing and implementing voluntary standards as well as experience in leading strategic plan implementations.


• Ease to identify inefficiencies and gaps in an analytical manner to generate fair and prompt resolution of problems and mitigate any potential risks.

We offer

• A family and sustainable working atmosphere


• Numerous opportunities for internal development, including for retraining workers


• Flexible working time arrangements with fair remuneration


• Various benefits, such as weekly coffee, promotions and discounts for employees


• Bean Stock Program

We are looking forward to receiving your resume and motivation letter by e-mail to

E-Mail schreiben

Closing date 31st of May 2024.

We will follow up only on applications that correspond to summary of key responsibilities.