Climate Resilience & Food Security Specialist

The Climate Resilience and Food Security Technical Specialist is an integral member of the Programs team and plays a vital role in executing ADRA Canada’s vision to increase environmentally sustainable, climate-smart programming across its agriculture and livelihoods, nutrition, and biodiversity initiatives. Reporting to the Development Program Director/Designate, this role will work closely with implementing Project Managers/Designate and the ADRA Canada technical compliance team (Monitoring, Evaluation Accountability and Learning (MEAL); Finance; Gender; Nutrition, Agriculture, and Livelihoods) to support project development, implementation, monitoring, and evaluation. Demonstrating ADRA’s values of being connected, courageous and compassionate, the Climate Resilience and Food Security Technical Specialist provides technical guidance and management support to field partners and ADRA Canada staff throughout the project process to facilitate the achievement of concrete and sustainable results.

Reporting to: Development Programs Director/Designate

Appointed by: ADCOM

Location: ADRA Canada Headquarters preferred, but may also be based abroad

Employment Type: Independent Contractor, 1-year part-time (60%) with the possibility of extension

Travel: National/International required, up to approximately 60 days per year

ADRA CANADA DESCRIPTION & PURPOSE STATEMENT
ADRA Canada (the Adventist Development and Relief Agency Canada) is the Canadian relief and development agency of the Seventh-day Adventist Church. ADRA Canada’s purpose is to serve humanity so all may live as God intended.

ADRA Canada and all its employees are engaged in supporting the vision of the Seventh-day Adventist Church in Canada (SDACC) which is Proclaiming Christ, Nurturing Believers, and Serving Humanity. The ministry of ADRA Canada is an important part of the Christian mission of the Seventh-day Adventist Church and is done in harmony with its religious beliefs and practices.

Therefore, being employed by ADRA Canada requires personal commitment to its mission and lifestyle. The holder of this position will reflect in their personal and professional life the Christian values as taught by the Seventh-day Adventist Church, as referenced in the employment contract. The employee acknowledges and agrees that this position is one of ministry within the Seventh-day Adventist Church and that membership in the Seventh-day Adventist Church and adherence to the fundamental faith and religious beliefs and practices of the Seventh-day Adventist Church is essential to the proper performance of the duties of the position. The employee must conduct him/herself, both on and off duty, in accordance with the religious beliefs and teachings of the Seventh-day Adventist Church in all respects so as not to damage ADRA Canada’s reputation or harm the employee’s ability to fulfil all of the position’s obligations. The employee must inform the Executive Director if she no longer adheres to, or maintains belief in, the fundamental faith and religious beliefs and practices of the Seventh-day Adventist Church.

WHY A CAREER WITH ADRA CANADA?

ADRA Canada is one of the leading humanitarian and development organizations in Canada. Our reputation has been built by our amazing and dedicated team of knowledgeable, skilled and experienced staff who carry out ADRA’s mission each and every day. At ADRA Canada, we offer exciting and challenging careers that play an important role in positively impacting the futures of vulnerable families, and especially the lives of women and girls all over the world. Inspired by our Christian values, ADRA is active in over 130 countries globally, delivering justice, compassion, and love so that all may live as God intended.

Inspired by our Christian values, our unique culture fosters diversity and a workplace that strives to ensure all our employees feel respected and included. We offer flexible working arrangements, competitive compensation and generous benefits, ongoing learning and development opportunities and a supportive and meaningful environment where we work together to achieve our goals. Come and be a part of our high-performing team, where together we are working to lift people out of poverty, establish hope, empower communities, and create positive and long-lasting change!

ADRA Canada welcomes and encourages applications from people with disabilities. Accommodations are available upon request for candidates taking part in all aspects of the selection process.

Consistent with our Safeguarding and Protection from Sexual Harassment, Exploitation and Abuse Policy, the successful candidate must receive clearance by a police background check, including a vulnerable sector screen.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

A. Seventh-day Adventist Church Relations/Ministry (10% of each workweek)

• Participate in daily worship and prayers. All employees take turns in leading worship for all employees.
• Encourage partners (including Seventh-day Adventist Conferences and congregations in Canada, other Canadian and foreign Seventh-day Adventist entities and the worldwide ADRA network) in the mission of ADRA and the Seventh-day Adventist Church. Educate them, as necessary, about the ministry role of ADRA Canada as part of the worldwide Seventh-day Adventist Church movement, consistent with the religious teachings of the Church.
• As requested, contribute to corporate publications, and represent ADRA Canada and its mission at presentations/speaker appointment requests, particularly with ADRA Canada’s partners.
• Effectively manage relationships with key conference and union leadership and conference ADRA Canada Representatives.
• Ensure that all ADRA Canada activities are carried out in accordance with the values and religious beliefs of the ADRA network and the Seventh-day Adventist Church.
• As part of the ADRA Canada ministry, act in a way that reflects the religious beliefs and practices of the Seventh-day Adventist Church, both on and off duty.

B. Operations/Technical (90% of each work week)

Program Design

• Oversee the delivery and implementation of environment and climate change-related measures to mitigate and support the adoption of improved climate-smart agriculture, livelihoods, and nutritional practices that enhance farmers’ and affected households’ resilience for future climate changes.
• Ensure that appropriate methodologies are applied to design and implement needs/situation assessments (TOR development, data collection tools), and reports are produced on time and to acceptable standards.
• Prepare quality TORs, concept notes, and proposals.
• Ensure alignment with IUCN’s standards on Nature Based Solutions (NBS), Relevant SDGs, ICVA Charter, Paris Agreement, ADRA Carbon Accounting Guidelines, ADRA Network Environmental and Climate Change Policy.
• Streamline projects towards coherent food security projects with good climate-smart adaptation, NBS practices embedded in existing structures, such as Farmer Market Schools, Pastoralist Market Schools, Village Savings and Loans Associations, Market Access, Extension Services, Climate Smart agriculture and livelihood practices, etc.

Project implementation 

• Support implementing partners in conducting an institutional capacity assessment by observing their current practices, testing their existing knowledge and understanding of climate adaptation vis-à-vis nature-based solutions practices, and assessing their interest, willingness, and commitment to adopt good practices (Agriculture and Nutrition).
• Ensure timely preparation and submission of Detailed Implementation Plans (for each activity to ensure uniform understanding among the project team) and activity progress.
• Provide technical inputs in developing Climate-Smart, NBS, etc. information, education and communication materials and training modules.
• Support in developing climate-smart Farmer Field Schools criteria, tools, and checklists.
• Identify technical issues/problems/challenges and apply corrective measures.
• Provide technical expertise and guidance on carbon farming, environmental assessments, greenhouse gas monitoring, circular economy, carbon sequestration, conservation, restoration, land use management, and other climate change, biodiversity, and environment protection related issues.

Learning, Adaptation, Documentation and Reporting 

• Provide support ADRA local Country Offices in documenting good practices, lessons learned, and reporting in a timely manner in compliance with ADRA and donor guidelines.
• Keep updated on technical and cultural aspects of environmental stewardship, climate-smart agriculture, climate change adaptation and mitigation, nature-based solutions, and biodiversity practices and adjust the implementation strategy, if necessary.
• Test, pilot, and apply research recommendations into action to transfer knowledge and improve food system and biodiversity resilience to climate change and enhance project implementation.
• Identify potential action research topics and methodologies that will improve and inform agricultural resilience and improved biodiversity to climate change, which may include using smart technology, monitoring seasonal changes, measuring rainfall and patterns, using drought and pest resilient seeds and local regerminating seeds.
• Prepare action research data and findings for review, analysis, and reporting.
• Ensure implementing partners learn from each other and enhance their efficiency/effectiveness.
• Ensure that measurements of pre and post learning/training evaluation are conducted in a timely manner according to industry standards.

Other Duties

• Proactively map, develop and maintain relationships and coordination with national, regional, and international research centers and technical institutions for environment, climate change and biodiversity resilience in food systems for greater impact and evidence gathering.
• Actively participate in relevant technical learning hubs facilitated by CFGB, ADRA network, etc.
• Filing and record retention on SharePoint.
• Other duties as agreed upon.

EDUCATION, EXPERIENCE AND COMPETENCY

Essential

• Master’s degree in environmental management, natural resource management, environment science, environmental planning, climate change or other relevant discipline. 
• Minimum 5+ years of progressive professional experience in environment/climate change programming.
• Strong understanding of environment and climate change theory and practice, including experience in environment/climate change analysis, project/program design, and monitoring and evaluation of environmental sustainability and reduction of impacts of climate change in projects.
• Familiarity with global best practices and standards related to environment and climate change in humanitarian and development programming, as well as extensive experience with results-based management and effective measurement of progress in environment sustainability and reducing the impacts of climate change.
• Demonstrated experience in designing and facilitating trainings on environment and climate change concepts for diverse groups.
• Excellent organizational skills and attention to detail, including an aptitude for reviewing, synthesizing, and analyzing information/data to produce quality reports.
• Strong ability to present and communicate information by speaking clearly and fluently in English, expressing opinions, information, and key points of an argument clearly.
• Strong writing and reporting skills including writing clearly, succinctly, and correctly in English and in a convincing, engaging, and expressive manner.

• Demonstrated ability to apply specialist and detailed technical expertise.
• Strong relational and networking skills with the ability to establish good relationships with colleagues and others with political and cultural sensitivity; and to build wide and effective networks.

• Strong initiative.  Able to anticipate needs and be proactive.  Self-disciplined to meet deadlines and strong work ethic.  Self-directed to act and resolve issues.  Strong sense of responsibility and ability to perform while delivering superior service.
• Awareness and sensitivity regarding gender equality issues and a commitment to programming and communications that respect and protect the human rights of all people it serves, including an active commitment to the rights of women and girls.

Preferred:

• 3+ years experience working on environment/climate resilience programming in developing countries.
• Experience working on environment/climate resilience programming within the development and emergency contexts.
• A high degree of understanding of cross-cultural communication, including understanding sensitivities of various cultures as well as the ability to translate academic concepts into real and practical advice for implementing partners.
• Fluency in French and/or another language 

TERMS AND CONDITIONS

The terms and conditions shall be read in conjunction with the ADRA Canada Human Resources Manual (as amended from time to time), the contents of which form part of the employee’s obligations to ADRA Canada. The obligations of ADRA Canada are as set out in the ADRA Canada Human Resources Manual and the applicable employment standards legislation and regulations, whichever obligations are greater. The employer will have no other obligations except as expressly set out in a written employment contract.

Performance Review: A Performance Review will typically be conducted after the first three months in the position. All employees will be required to participate in annual Performance Reviews.

Job Description Continuous Review: This job description is intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by incumbents assigned to this position. It is not intended to be an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties and skills required. Job descriptions are reviewed on a regular basis and can be modified at any time to meet the needs of ADRA Canada.

Physical Requirements: Must be able to read, speak, and hear. Must be able to effectively communicate both orally and in writing. Some standing, walking, bending, kneeling, carrying of light items, etc. are required. Standard work hours, as defined by the ADRA Canada Human Resources Manual, are required.

Working Conditions: Essential responsibilities are performed either in the office or in travelling conditions.  Within the office the work is primarily in a sedentary and comfortable environment, with tasks usually performed under normal office conditions with little or no noticeable discomfort. The work area is well lit and ventilated.  If travelling (international and/or domestic) there will be difficult conditions and challenging environments, particularly to destinations in the developing world.

Vulnerable Sector Screening: Consistent with our PSEA & Child Protection Policies the successful candidate must receive clearance by providing a police background check, including a vulnerable sector screening.

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How to Apply:

Click here to apply!