Food Security Project Specialist

Main Responsibilities

• Provide overall technical oversight and guidance for all food security and livelihoods projects implemented by ADRA Lebanon.
• Lead the day-to-day management, coordination, and implementation follow-up of assigned food security or other projects, ensuring activities are delivered on time, within budget, according to donor requirements, and in line with ADRA policies and quality standards.
• Support project teams to prepare and update workplans, implementation tools, procurement plans, distribution plans, referral pathways, risk registers, and reporting timelines.
• Review project progress and identify bottlenecks, compliance risks, quality gaps, and corrective actions in coordination with relevant departments.
• Lead the mapping of food security funding opportunities and maintain a live funding pipeline, including donor priorities, deadlines, eligibility criteria, and required actions.
• Develop and/or review concept notes, project proposals, technical narratives, logical frameworks, budgets, needs assessments, and donor-facing documents related to food security.
• Ensure food security interventions integrate accountability, safeguarding, gender, protection mainstreaming, community participation, disability inclusion, and conflict sensitivity.
• Coordinate closely with MEAL to ensure strong monitoring systems, data collection tools, beneficiary feedback mechanisms, post-distribution monitoring, and learning processes.
• Represent ADRA Lebanon in food security, livelihoods, cash assistance, resilience, and related coordination meetings and maintain relationships with donors, partners, municipalities, UN agencies, NGOs, and local stakeholders.
• Provide technical input to donor reports, monthly updates, success stories, dashboards, and management briefings related to the food security portfolio.
• Work with Finance and project teams to monitor budgets, forecasts, expenditure rates, budget-versus-actual reports, and donor compliance requirements.
• Support recruitment, onboarding, performance follow-up, mentoring, and capacity building of staff involved in food security projects, in coordination with line managers and HR.
• Ensure proper filing, documentation, evidence collection, and institutional learning across food security projects.
• Immediately report safeguarding, security, fraud, conflict of interest, or serious complaint issues through the appropriate ADRA channels.
• Perform any other relevant duties assigned by the supervisor within the scope of the position.

 

Coordination and Reporting

• The Specialist reports to the Program Coordinator, as assigned, and provides regular updates on portfolio progress, funding opportunities, risks, and decisions required.
• The Specialist works functionally with project managers and technical leads to strengthen implementation quality and directly manages assigned food security or related projects when formally assigned, ensuring day-to-day implementation follow-up and coordination.
• The Specialist coordinates with MEAL, Finance, HR, Logistics/Procurement, Communications, Safeguarding, and Security to ensure integrated and compliant programming.
• The Specialist represents ADRA Lebanon externally when delegated by management and must ensure consistent messaging, professionalism, and follow-up.

Required Profile

• University degree in Food Security, Agriculture, Nutrition, Development Studies, Economics, Project Management, Social Sciences, or a related field; advanced degree is an asset.
• At least 5 years of relevant experience in humanitarian/development programming, including significant experience in food security and livelihoods.
• Proven experience in proposal development, donor engagement, project management, reporting, budgeting, coordination, and team support.
• Strong understanding of Lebanon's humanitarian and development context, food security needs, community-based programming, and coordination systems.
• Strong written and spoken English and Arabic; French is an asset.
• Excellent planning, coordination, leadership, analytical, communication, and problem-solving skills.

General Conduct and Compliance

• Uphold ADRA Lebanon's mission, values, humanitarian principles, safeguarding standards, code of conduct, and confidentiality requirements.
• Maintain professional, neutral, respectful, and non-discriminatory behavior with staff, beneficiaries, partners, donors, and community members.
• Report work-related challenges, risks, incidents, safeguarding concerns, and conflicts of interest in a timely manner.
• Respect deadlines, documentation requirements, and reasonable requests from management.