Cacao Quality & Sustainability Officer

COMPANY OVERVIEW:

At Marou, our mission is to connect the world with award-winning Vietnamese Chocolate. We are a vertically - integrated chocolate company dedicated to crafting the finest artisanal chocolates using only the highest quality ingredients. With a commitment to exceptional taste, sustainability, creativity, and design, we aim to provide a unique and indulgent chocolate experience to our customers. Our products are distributed worldwide, and we pride ourselves on maintaining a high level of customer satisfaction.

JOB OVERVIEW:

This role supports cacao bean quality assurance and sustainability management across Marou's cacao supply operations, from sourcing areas to the factory. The role covers quality assessment, sensory evaluation, fermentation improvement, standard development, compliance monitoring, audit support, and corrective-action follow-up.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:

Bean Quality Control & Sensory Evaluation

• Support cacao bean quality standards, sampling, inspections, and acceptance criteria under the Cacao Quality Specialist's guidance.
• Conduct assigned physical and sensory assessments across sourcing, fermenting, warehouse, and factory areas.
• Prepare samples, record results, flag abnormalities, escalate quality risks, and support incoming-bean and factory quality verification.

Quality Standards, Procedures & Implementation

• Support SOPs, forms, checklists, and guidance for quality, fermentation, drying, storage, sampling, and sensory evaluation.
• Help ensure approved procedures are applied consistently across field, warehouse, sourcing, and factory operations.
• Support training, coaching, sensory calibration, and feedback to improve quality implementation.

Fermentation & Post-Harvest Improvement Projects

• Execute approved fermentation trials and post-harvest projects under Cacao Quality Specialist guidance.
• Evaluate trial beans, maintain records, and support pilot fermentation.
• Coordinate with Sourcing, Project & TA, R&D, and other teams on quality-improvement actions.

Sustainability Standard Establishment & Improvement

• Coordinate Marou's Sustainability Standard development, review, and revision against relevant frameworks, certifications, regulations, and responsible sourcing practices.
• Coordinate stakeholders to define sustainability criteria, evidence, assessment methods, and supporting tools; support piloting, validation, training, and communication of new or revised requirements.
• Maintain controlled standard documents and recommend improvements from audits, operations, regulatory changes, and emerging risks.

Sustainability Compliance Monitoring

• Conduct sustainability compliance checks across farms, fermenters, suppliers, sourcing areas, and cacao operations.
• Review practices, records, traceability data, and evidence to identify gaps, nonconformities, and risks.
• Support audits, supplier assessments, certification, CAPA closure, audit-ready evidence, and escalation of significant or repeated issues.

Reporting & Data Management

• Collect, consolidate, and verify quality and sustainability data for reporting.
• Prepare reports, dashboards, and updates on quality, fermentation, compliance, audits, and CAPA status.
• Analyze trends, flag risks and improvement opportunities, and maintain records for reviews and audits.

ROLE REQUIREMENTS:

Key requirements:

• Bachelor's degree in Food Technology, Food Science, Biotechnology, Agriculture, Agronomy, Environmental Science, or another relevant field.
• 1–3 years experience in food/agricultural QA, sustainability compliance, responsible sourcing, agricultural production, or related fields.
• Willing to travel regularly to sourcing areas and work in field conditions.
• Good analytical, reporting, coordination, and problem-solving skills.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office, especially Excel and reporting tools.
• Proficiency in English (both spoken and written).

Preferable Requirements:

• Experience in cacao, coffee, food ingredients, or agricultural commodities.
• Experience in sensory tasting or analysis.
• Experience in field inspections, audits, supplier assessments, or compliance checks.
• Familiarity with sustainability standards, EUDR, certification, traceability, or ESG.
• Experience working with farmers.
• Proactive, collaborative, adaptable, and eager to learn.

Working time: Monday - Friday

Working location: Binh Chieu Industrial Park, Thu Duc City, HCMC.

MAROU WORKPLACE COMMITMENT

At Marou, we foster a transparent, diverse, and inclusive workplace where all recruitment and career development decisions are based on qualifications, skills, and experience. We are committed to providing equal opportunities for learning and growth, ensuring fair compensation and safe working conditions, and maintaining a respectful workplace free from harassment and discrimination.

PERSONAL DATA PROCESSING NOTICE

In accordance with the laws on personal data protection, we shall apply the Personal Data Processing Notice to all candidates. By submitting your application to Marou Chocolate, you confirm that you have read and understood the Personal Data Processing Notice available at the following link: Marou-Privacy Notice to Candidates & Employees-EN.pdf, and consent to our processing of your personal data for the purpose of assessing your suitability for the position and preparing for your potential employment with us.