Sustainable Systems Specialist

Organizational Setting

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) contributes to the 2030 Agenda through the FAO Strategic Framework by supporting transformation to more efficient, inclusive, resilient and sustainable agrifood systems for better production, nutrition, environment and life, leaving no one behind. FAO is a specialized UN agency leading international efforts to defeat hunger, working in over 130 countries worldwide. FAO Country Offices offer policy advice and technical assistance to countries, fully observing international accountability standards to establish leadership and strengthen impact at country level.
FAO has been working in Lebanon since 1977, supporting sustainable agricultural development, food security, and resilience of rural livelihoods. FAO Lebanon's growing project portfolio mainly targets farmers, fishers and their organisations. The Sustainable Systems Specialist will contribute to designing and implementing projects promoting sustainable agricultural production systems and natural resource management in Lebanon.

Reporting Lines

Under the overall supervision of the FAO Representative and direct supervision of Programme Leader CPF Outputs 2&3, in close coordination with other Units and national authorities.

Technical Focus

The Sustainable Systems Specialist will provide technical expertise, management and implementation support across FAO Lebanon's Climate Change and Sustainable Systems thematic area, focusing on water resource management, irrigation and rural infrastructure, renewable energy integration, wastewater treatment, circular economy and NRM. The Specialist will design, assess and monitor physical infrastructure systems, water distribution networks, irrigation canals, solar energy installations, constructed wetlands and rural assets, ensuring technical soundness and alignment with sustainability principles.

The Specialist collaborates closely with the Climate Change Specialist: leading on infrastructure engineering design, technical specifications and systems performance monitoring, while jointly contributing to irrigation master plans and climate proposals under the Programme Leader.

Tasks and responsibilities

Water resource management and irrigation systems

• Provide technical guidance on design, rehabilitation and performance optimization of irrigation systems, applying water balance modelling and water accounting methodologies to optimize allocation under climate variability and water scarcity.
• Develop and implement irrigation water balance monitoring systems, including real-time monitoring and remote sensing, to track water productivity and generate data for adaptive management and investment planning.
• Support preparation of irrigation master plans and investment frameworks, incorporating crop pattern scenarios, CAPEX/OPEX analysis and climate projections.
• Prepare technical specifications, BoQs and procurement documentation for irrigation works, and provide technical review for tendering processes per FAO procedures.

Renewable energy integration

• Lead design and implementation of renewable energy solutions in agricultural and rural infrastructure, focusing on solar irrigation systems, ensuring technical soundness and long-term sustainability.
• Assess feasibility and performance of renewable energy applications, prepare technical designs and specifications, and supervise installation and commissioning in collaboration with other FAO units.
• Promote energy efficiency and renewable energy adoption among farmers, cooperatives and local institutions through technical advisory and capacity development.

Wastewater management and nature-based solutions

• Provide technical expertise in designing and implementing nature-based wastewater treatment systems, including constructed wetlands, for treated water reuse in agriculture, environmental protection and community water security.
• Promote treated wastewater reuse in water-scarce areas, supporting development of technical guidelines and capacity development for farmers and local stakeholders.

Rural infrastructure rehabilitation and systems monitoring

• Provide technical supervision of agricultural and rural infrastructure rehabilitation, including facilities, canals, rural roads and water storage, embedding sustainability and nature-based solution principles in design.
• Conduct regular field assessments to verify infrastructure performance, identify constraints and propose corrective measures, documenting findings in technical reports.

Natural resource management and circular economy

• Provide technical inputs to NRM initiatives, including agricultural water resources protection from degradation and pollution.
• Integrate circular economy principles into programming, including organic waste valorisation, wastewater reuse and resource recovery from agricultural by-products.
• Support knowledge generation and technical guidelines on sustainable resource use, reducing environmental footprint while improving agricultural productivity.

Project management and coordination

• Lead/ contribute to the preparation and updating of project workplans, activity schedules and procurement plans, ensuring alignment with timelines and budgets.
• Prepare Terms of Reference, Scope of Works, evaluation criteria, project reports and programme documentation per FAO and donor standards.
• Prepare technical specifications of inputs, supplies, and equipment, and assist in the procurement process.
• Prepare and update logical frameworks, results frameworks and performance monitoring matrices.
• Monitor implementation progress, identify bottlenecks and risks, and report findings and corrective actions to the Programme Leader.
• Coordinate with implementing partners, contractors and field teams to ensure timely quality delivery, maintaining clear coordination records.
• Lead preparation of donor progress reports, corporate reporting submissions and internal monitoring documents.
• Participate in review meetings and external coordination forums, contributing technical and implementation updates.
• Contribute to project proposals and concept notes on water, infrastructure, energy and sustainable systems, and to resource mobilization activities.
• Perform any other related duties as required by the Programme Leader.

Stakeholder coordination and capacity development

• Liaise with national ministries, water establishments, municipalities, cooperatives and communities, providing technical inputs to align interventions with national policies, water strategies and climate plans.
• Support capacity development for national counterparts and local stakeholders on water management, wastewater reuse, renewable energy and adaptive infrastructure.
• Contribute to knowledge management by documenting lessons learned, good practices and innovations for organizational learning and resource mobilization.

CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING

Minimum Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in Civil, Agricultural, Water Resources or Environmental Engineering, or a closely related technical field. Master's degree is an asset.
• 6 years of relevant experience in water resource management, irrigation, rural infrastructure or renewable energy in the agriculture or rural development sector; and proven experience in: (i) design, rehabilitation or monitoring of irrigation and water infrastructure; (ii) preparation of technical specifications, BoQs and procurement documentation; (iii) design or implementation of renewable energy solutions, including solar irrigation systems; (iv) design or supervision of nature-based solutions such as constructed wetlands.
• Working knowledge of English (level C)
• National of Lebanon

FAO Core Competencies

• Results Focus
• Teamwork
• Communication
• Building Effective Relationships
• Knowledge Sharing and Continuous Improvement

Technical/Functional Skills

• Strong technical knowledge of water resource management, including irrigation system design, water balance modelling, water accounting methodologies and real-time monitoring systems applicable to agricultural water management under scarcity and climate variability.
• Demonstrated experience in design and technical supervision of rural and agricultural infrastructure, including irrigation canals, water storage, solar pumping systems and constructed wetland wastewater treatment systems.
• Proven ability to prepare technical specifications, BoQs, procurement documentation and tender evaluation reports per UN or equivalent procurement standards.
• Knowledge of renewable energy technologies for agricultural systems, particularly solar irrigation and pumping systems, including feasibility assessment, technical design and performance monitoring.
• Understanding of nature-based solutions for water management and wastewater treatment, including constructed wetlands and treated water reuse in water-scarce contexts.
• Familiarity with circular economy principles and NRM approaches in agricultural systems; ability to integrate these into infrastructure project design and monitoring.
• Knowledge of climate finance mechanisms including GEF, GCF and UNCCD frameworks, and ability to contribute technical sustainability inputs to climate finance proposals.
• Good analytical, reporting and technical writing skills in English; ability to produce technical assessments, field monitoring reports and knowledge products to a high professional standard.

Selection Criteria

• Experience with climate finance mechanisms (GEF, GCF) or NRM is an asset.
• Prior FAO, UN agencies or international organisations experience is an asset.
• Strong knowledge of Lebanon’s water sector and national institutions is highly desirable.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

• FAO does not charge a fee at any stage of the recruitment process (application, interview meeting, processing)
• Applications received after the closing date will not be accepted
• Please note that FAO only considers higher educational qualifications obtained from an institution accredited/recognized in the World Higher Education Database (WHED), a list updated by the International Association of Universities (IAU) / United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). The list can be accessed at http://www.whed.net/
• For additional employment opportunities visit the FAO employment website: http://www.fao.org/employment/home/en/
• Appointment will be subject to certification that the candidate is medically fit for appointment, accreditation, any residency or visa requirements, and security clearances.