Published on Monday, February 23, 2026
By the A.M. Costa Rica staff

Duracell Inc., a Chicago-based manufacturer of alkaline batteries, specialty cells and rechargeable products, announced the opening of operations in San José, Costa Rica.

The company said its new Global Business Service Center, located at the Escazú Village Business Center, marks a key milestone in its global services strategy. The facility is designed to strengthen Duracell’s ability to deliver efficient, scalable support to its worldwide operations, which include two manufacturing plants in the United States and four additional plants in Belgium and China.

Costa Rica was selected following a comprehensive site-selection process. The company cited the country’s strong professional talent pool, operational efficiency and established reputation as a hub for high-value global services.

 

“Establishing our Global Service Center in Costa Rica is a strategic step in building scalable hubs that support Duracell’s global operations,” Chief Operating Officer Lisa McCarthy said. “The country offers the talent, stability and capabilities needed to deliver high-quality solutions efficiently and at scale.”

The new center will centralize key business processes, with finance-related services accounting for nearly 70% of roles. Additional functions will include human resources, talent acquisition, information technology and other business support services.

From Costa Rica, Duracell will support internal teams across North America, Latin America and other global markets to ensure consistent and efficient service delivery.

The company is actively hiring and expects the operation to grow to more than 130 employees in 2026, creating new professional opportunities as the service center expands its scope.

Duracell said it is seeking process-oriented professionals with a global mindset who are interested in working in a multinational environment and have a minimum English proficiency level of B2. Interested candidates can apply through the company’s careers website.

Duracell is among several U.S. companies expanding operations in Costa Rica. Massachusetts-based medical technology company Insulet Corporation announced last week, plans to invest more than $200 million to build a new production facility in Heredia province.

Despite continued foreign investment, employment challenges persist. According to Costa Rica’s National Employment Survey conducted by the National Institute of Statistics and Census (INEC), the unemployment rate stood at 6.6% between October and December 2025, leaving more than 147,000 people without jobs. Men accounted for about 59% of the total, or roughly 87,000 individuals.

Costa Rica’s exports reached a new record of more than $22.8 billion in 2025, marking a 14% increase compared with 2024. The medical equipment industry continued to be the main driver of export growth, generating more than $10.9 billion, a 25% increase from the previous year.

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