Food Rescue Project Developer

Department: ne’ma – National Food Loss and Waste Initiative

Location: Al Qana, Abu Dhabi ( with flexibility for travel across all Emirates to deliver programs and activations )

Contract Type: Full-time ( 1-year renewable )

Language: Arabic and English fluency required

Nationality: Open

About ne’ma Job Overview:

Established in March 2022 by the Ministry of Climate Change and Environment, Emirates Foundation, and the Presidential Court, ne’ma – the National Food Loss and Waste Initiative, aims to reduce food loss and waste (FLW) by 50% in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) before 2030. As the national custodian, ne’ma is pivotal in achieving food security strategy targets.

ne’ma is a transformative movement that instills the value of preserving resources and highlights the impact of wasteful practices. Through its comprehensive efforts, ne’ma fosters a culture of responsibility and environmental stewardship, leading the charge toward a sustainable future.

Job Overview

The Food Rescue Project Developer is responsible for overseeing and coordinating food rescue operations, ensuring that surplus food is efficiently collected, sorted, and redistributed to communities in need. The role involves designing scalable food recovery models, establishing strategic partnerships with food donors and logistics providers, and managing operational systems to ensure rescued food maintains the highest safety and quality standards.

Why This Role is Important

Globally, a significant portion of food waste occurs at the retail, food service, and consumer levels. In the UAE, food rescue presents a powerful opportunity to reduce waste, alleviate food insecurity, and contribute to the country’s sustainability and climate goals. This role is central to transforming surplus food into a resource that benefits vulnerable communities while supporting ne’ma’s ambition to become a regional leader in food rescue solutions.

Where This Role Fits into the Bigger Picture

This role operates at the heart of ne’ma’s Food Rescue & Redistribution pillar, working alongside government stakeholders, private sector partners (retailers, hotels, restaurants, caterers), logistics providers, and charitable organizations. By building and scaling food rescue operations, the Specialist contributes directly to achieving measurable reductions in food waste and creating social value through redistribution efforts.

Role Overview

The Food Rescue Project Developer will:

• Design and scale food rescue systems and frameworks across the UAE.
• Coordinate logistics, partnerships, and community engagement for food redistribution.
• Ensure compliance with food safety and health regulations.
• Develop monitoring and reporting tools to measure impact and efficiency of food rescue initiatives.

Key Responsibility

Program Development & Execution

• Support Programs Manager in developing the national and local-level food rescue strategies.
• Pilot innovative food redistribution models and scale successful approaches.
• Manage end-to-end operations, including food collection, storage, transportation, and distribution.
• Ensure food handling, storage, and distribution align with food safety regulations and organizational standards.
• Develop and implement processes to improve efficiency in food recovery and delivery operations.
• Track food rescue metrics and prepare reports on rescued food volumes, impact, and logistics efficiency.

Stakeholder Engagement & Relationship Management

• Build and maintain strong relationships with food donors, including supermarkets, restaurants, food manufacturers, and farms.
• Coordinate with community organizations to ensure efficient distribution of rescued food.
• Represent the organization in meetings, networking events, and collaborations with government agencies and industry partners.
• Negotiate agreements and MOUs with stakeholders to formalize food rescue commitments.

Compliance & Safety & Quality Assurance

• Ensure compliance with local food safety laws and best practices in food handling and redistribution.
• Conduct periodic audits to assess operational safety, hygiene, and efficiency.
• Address any issues related to food quality, donor compliance, or safety concerns.
• Develop standard operating procedures (SOPs) for handling, storing, and redistributing surplus food.

Impact Measurement & Reporting

• Establish KPIs to track the volume of food rescued, beneficiaries reached, and environmental impact.
• Report progress and insights to donors, government entities, and ne’ma leadership.

Community Engagement & Awareness

• Work with communications teams to raise awareness about food rescue opportunities.
• Train and educate volunteers and team members on food safety, logistics, and operational best practices.
• Mobilize volunteers to support collection and redistribution activities.

Qualifications and Skills

• Bachelor’s degree in supply chain management, Food Safety, Food Logistics, Food Science, or a related field (preferred but not mandatory).
• minimum 5 years of experience in food rescue, logistics or a related sector.
• Strong understanding of food safety regulations and best practices in food handling and storage.
• Experience managing logistics, transportation, and distribution of perishable goods.
• Excellent organizational and problem-solving skills.
• Strong communication and relationship-building abilities with diverse stakeholders.
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively in a fast-paced environment.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office, data management tools, and logistics software.

Key Competencies

• Leadership & Team Management: Ability to lead teams and engage volunteers effectively.
• Problem-Solving: Quick decision-making skills to handle challenges in food rescue operations.
• Collaboration & Relationship Building: Ability to foster strong relationships with donors, partners, and stakeholders.
• Attention to Detail: Ensuring food safety compliance and operational efficiency.
• Adaptability & Resilience: Ability to work under pressure and adapt to changing circumstances.

Working Conditions:

• This role may requires occasional travel to different emirates and flexibility in working hours to accommodate project needs and stakeholder availability.