Senior Social Development Specialist

Senior Social Development Specialist

Job #:

req23506

Organization:

World Bank

Sector:

Operations

Grade:

GG

Term Duration:

4 years 0 months

Recruitment Type:

International Recruitment

Location:

Washington, DC,United States

Required Language(s):

English

Preferred Language(s):

French, Spanish

Closing Date:

8/7/2023 (MM/DD/YYYY) at 11:59pm UTC

Description

The World Bank Group is one of the largest sources of funding and knowledge for developing countries; a unique global partnership of five institutions dedicated to ending extreme poverty and promoting shared prosperity. With 189 member countries and more than 120 offices worldwide, we work with public and private sector partners, investing in groundbreaking projects and using data, research, and technology to develop solutions to the most urgent global challenges. For more information, visit www.worldbank.org.

Operations Policy and Country Services (OPCS) plays a pivotal role in achieving the World Bank Group's mission. OPCS assists frontline staff in delivering results to clients through sound operations policy and strong country support. In the World Bank Group structure, OPCS is at the center of operations and delivery, and serves as the link between the Global Practices and the Regions. OPCS develops and oversees the Bank's operational policies for country strategies, lending operations, advisory services and analytical support, financial management, procurement, and environmental and social safeguards. It oversees the Bank Group's Corporate Scorecard; manages interactions with the Bank's oversight units; and co-leads the results measurement and evaluation stream in the Bank Group. OPCS teams provide advice and support to World Bank management and staff as well as hands-on assistance to help teams leverage the Bank's policies, processes, and risk management tools for our country clients. Working in OPCS helps World Bank professionals gain broad exposure to strategic operational issues and develop a deeper understanding of the Bank's business. OPCS's staff are organized in four departments:

• Operations Standards, Environment and Social (OPSES) is responsible for Environmental and Social Standards and Safeguard Policies, including support to operations, learning and training, knowledge management, reporting, interface with the Inspection Panel, and management of the Grievance Redress Service (GRS).

• Operations Standards, Procurement, Financial Management (OPSPF) is responsible for ensuring technical excellence in the financial management and procurement, and manages selected aspects of the anticorruption in operations agenda and the UN agencies engagement in operation program;

• Operations Policy and Quality (OPSPQ) consolidates the corporate support and oversight of country strategies and all financing instruments as well as managing operational learning and the Operations Help Desk;

• Operations Strategy, Risk and results (OPSRR) supports Bank staff and Management in strengthening the focus on results and risk to achieve the Bank's strategic objectives.

Duties & Accountabilities

As part of the multi-disciplinary team of E&S specialists, the Sr. Social Development Specialist will support the Chief Environmental and Social Standards Officer (CESSO) in overseeing the application of the ESF policy and standards and compliance with the social safeguard policies to the Bank's investment lending operations. The Specialist also will support E&S risk management across the lending portfolio, in particular by managing the ESF Help Desk as well as interpreting the social policies, promoting social sustainability into project design and implementation, supporting the use of sound social assessments methodologies across sectors and countries, and participating in knowledge and learning initiatives. The Sr. Social Development Specialist responsibilities may include, among other matters:

• Organize and manage the ESF Help Desk, which responds to requests from regional task teams on projects under the ESF as well as under the Safeguard Policies. Provide day-to-day advice to Bank staff through the help desk on policy, procedures and ESMS processing. Conduct daily monitoring of the help desk cases and resolution of the assigned cases, and escalation and follow up of cases that can't be resolved on first call.

• Develop and provide corporate policy guidance on social risk tools, social assessment instruments and documentation, and related risk management tools.

• Support CESSO in fulfilling corporate ESF and safeguards functions with relation to Regional and corporate risk analysis, review of ROC and OC pipeline projects, review of policy waiver requests, review of DPFs and PforRs, and engagement with development partners

• Preparing updates to and interpretations for policy, procedures, directives and guidance for the World Bank's Environmental and Social Framework policy and standards and the Bank's safeguard policies, with reference to international good practices;

• Design and implement knowledge management and learning activities of the ESF, in collaboration with Regional, GP and OPCS colleagues

• Provide policy advice on environmental and social impact assessments, and on one or more of the following topics: stakeholder engagement, consultation plans; labor, gender, indigenous peoples' frameworks and plans, disadvantaged and vulnerable groups, gender-based violence, land tenure and access, resettlement plans, grievance mechanisms, and human security.

Selection Criteria

The Sr. Social Specialist must be a team-oriented professional with proven ability to carry out complex tasks as part of multi-disciplinary teams, capacity to work under pressure, meet strict deadlines; and ability to work with and advise task teams and key stakeholders on social risks and impacts.

• Advanced degree (Masters or PhD) in social sciences, law, economics, or other relevant discipline;

• At least eight years of full-time relevant experience with a sustained record of achieving high quality substantive results;

• At least five years of full-time relevant experience working on World Bank-financed IPFs;

• ESF accreditation mandatory;

• Experience in social risk management, preparation and/or review of project social risk and impact assessments, social management plans, capacity assessments and institutional strengthening measures;

• Good knowledge of the World Bank's E&S policies and standards, and social safeguard policies on Involuntary Resettlement, Indigenous Peoples, Disadvantaged and Vulnerable Groups, Stakeholder Engagement, Grievance Mechanisms, Access to Information;

• Demonstrated maturity and sound judgment, attention to detail, and ability to convey complex messages succinctly and diplomatically;

• Proven capacity to work with a wide range of stakeholders, and ability to represent the Department with internal and external partners;

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills in English; French or Spanish desirable;

• Strong interpersonal skills and demonstrated ability to work in multi-disciplinary teams.

• Excellent workflow management and task organization skills; able to coordinate all aspects of the workflow of assigned responsibilities.

• Ability to coach/mentor more junior staff.

Required Professional Competencies:

• Social Development Policy, Strategy and Institutions - Solid understanding of social development policies, strategies, institutions, and regulations;

• Social Sciences and Law - Demonstrates strong knowledge of one relevant thematic areas of social development, and social risk management; deep experience in applying knowledge to policy-related decisions and advice;

• Policy Dialogue Skills - Possesses political judgement, diplomatic acumen and negotiating skills; builds and sustains key stakeholder relationships with government and other key stakeholders;

• Integrative Skills - Demonstrates ability to think and work across WBG practices and sectors; integrates divergent viewpoints of multiple external and internal stakeholders into a coherent strategy/program/project;

• Knowledge and Experience in Development Arena - Fully understands the Bank's development initiatives and policies and practices related to lending and non-lending; Guides research and translates technical and cross-country knowledge into practical applications and contributions to country and sector strategies; interacts with clients at the policy level.

WBG Core Competencies

• Lead and Innovate - Develops innovative solutions with others.

• Deliver Results for Clients - Achieves results and identifies mission-driven solutions for the client.

• Collaborate Within Teams and Across Boundaries - Initiates collaboration across boundaries and broadly across the WBG and brings differing ideas to the forefront.

• Create, Apply and Share Knowledge - Creates, applies and shares knowledge from across and outside WBG to strengthen internal and/or external client solutions.

• Make Smart Decisions - Recommends and takes decisive action.

This internal requisition is open to WBG and IMF staff only (including short-term and extended term consultants/ temporaries). External candidates are requested not to apply. In case an external candidate applies, their application will not be considered.

World Bank Group Core Competencies

The World Bank Group offers comprehensive benefits, including a retirement plan; medical, life and disability insurance; and paid leave, including parental leave, as well as reasonable accommodations for individuals with disabilities.

We are proud to be an equal opportunity and inclusive employer with a dedicated and committed workforce, and do not discriminate based on gender, gender identity, religion, race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, or disability.

Learn more about working at the World Bank and IFC, including our values and inspiring stories.