Purpose To drive the execution of AAK’s strategic agenda in West Africa by leading high-impact projects and strategic initiatives across the Sourcing Trading and Sustainability functions in the region. Based in Malmö with frequent travel to West Africa, the role acts as the key link between AAK’s corporate strategy ambitions and on-the-ground execution in the region. The role is deliberately broad and varied in nature — one day consolidating strategic presentations for the Executive Committee, the next running a crop estimation exercise with the local sourcing team in the field. It requires an individual who is equally comfortable in a boardroom and on a farm track, and who thrives on the energy of switching contexts, solving unstructured problems, and making things happen across a fast-moving, multi-country environment. KEY RESPONSIBILITIES Lead and manage complex strategic projects in West Africa, spanning shea value chain development, local processing capacity, supply chain infrastructure, and sustainability programs including Kolo Nafaso and the WISH partnership. Drive structured execution of AAK’s strategic investment agenda in the region, coordinating delivery across functions and countries, tracking milestones, managing risks, and keeping senior leadership informed of progress. Develop strategic intelligence capabilities to assess crop size and market developments, develop crop forecasting methodologies, analyze export and import data and trade flows, and provide supply-and-demand insights that support business decisions. Conduct strategic analysis — including market assessments, investment appraisals, scenario modelling, and competitive intelligence — to inform decision-making on West Africa strategy. Develop and maintain structured project plans, governance frameworks, and reporting mechanisms for all major WAF strategic initiatives; proactively identify risks and dependencies. Serve as the coordination point between AAK’s Malmö-based leadership and the West Africa regional organization, ensuring coherence between group strategy and regional execution across Sourcing Trading, Sustainability, and sourcing programs. Evaluate M A, partnership, and investment opportunities in West Africa in collaboration with the M A team, assessing strategic fit, risk, and value creation potential. Prepare high-quality executive presentations, strategy papers, and decision documents for the Executive Committee and senior leadership on WAF strategy, progress, and recommendations. Collaborate cross-functionally with Sourcing Trading, Sustainability, Finance, CD I, and Operations to ensure WAF strategic projects are aligned with and supported by all relevant functions. Monitor and interpret developments in the West African shea and oils industry — including competitive, market, and regulatory dynamics — and translate them into timely strategic insight for leadership. SCOPE OF THE ROLE This is an individual contributor role based at AAK’s headquarters in Malmö, Sweden, reporting to the Head of Corporate Strategy with a dotted line to the Head of West Africa, who sets priorities and strategic direction for the role. The role has no direct reports and delivers impact through project leadership, strategic analysis, and cross-functional coordination. West Africa is one of AAK’s most strategically significant regions, encompassing a large and complex shea sourcing and trading operation across multiple countries (Ghana, Burkina Faso, Benin, Nigeria, Ivory Coast, Mali, and others), major sustainability programs including Kolo Nafaso (275,000+ women shea collectors), and a substantial multi-year investment agenda. No two days in this role look the same: the work ranges from ExCom-level strategy and investment analysis to hands-on coordination of field programs with regional teams. The Strategy Project Manager must be comfortable operating across this full spectrum.