Lead Social Development Specialist

Lead Social Development Specialist

Job #:
req32978

Organization:
World Bank

Sector:
Social Development

Grade:
GH

Term Duration:
4 years 0 months

Recruitment Type:
International Recruitment

Location:
Washington, DC,United States

Required Language(s):
English, Spanish

Preferred Language(s):
French, Portuguese

Closing Date:
5/9/2025 (MM/DD/YYYY) at 11:59pm UTC

Description

Do you want to build a career that is truly worthwhile? Working at the World Bank Group provides a unique opportunity for you to help our clients solve their greatest development challenges. 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, increasing shared prosperity and promoting sustainable development. 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

Latin America and the Caribbean Region (LCR):

The World Bank Group serves 30 client countries in Latin America and the Caribbean Region (LCR). Clients range from large rapidly growing middle-income clients to IDA countries to small Caribbean states to one fragile state. Despite immense resources, dynamic societies, and an average annual per capita income of about $4,000, deep inequalities persist in most LCR countries, with nearly a quarter of the Region's people living in poverty. The Bank's strategy in LCR is focused on five pillars: (a) stimulating growth and improving competitiveness; (b) reducing poverty and inequality; (c) making governments and institutions work for people; (d) providing a platform for addressing global issues (climate change, gender, trade, disease, migration); and (e) reducing risk, whether from extreme weather events, climate change, crime and violence or other.

The Planet Vice Presidency

The Planet Vice Presidency helps countries tackle their most complex challenges in the areas of Agriculture and Food, Climate Change, Environment, Natural Resources & Blue Economy, Environmental and Social Framework, Social Development, and Water.

LCR Social Development (SLCSO)

Like other Social Development teams across the World Bank, SLCSO helps countries tackle deep rooted social problems stemming from fragility, climate change, exclusion, and the digital age with people centered solutions that build on local values and institutions. The Department engages with citizens, communities, and governments to deepen resilience, build inclusion, and empower vulnerable and marginalized groups to have influence and voice. It prioritizes participatory, multi-sectoral approaches that build on norms and informal institutions to address social challenges and to build more inclusive, empowered communities. Importantly, the Department also works across the Bank's portfolio to implement the Environment and Social Framework (ESF) standards. The ESF offers an overarching platform for fostering inclusive approaches to ensure vulnerable groups benefit from Bank investments and to mitigate against related risks. Social Development includes four pillars of work:

Promoting inclusive societies. We help expand access to markets, services, and spaces for vulnerable and marginalized groups in ways that promote their dignity.

Promoting resilient communities. We help communities cope with climate change, conflict, pandemics, and migration by expanding access to resources and responsive governments.

Empowering people. We help expand access to the policy arena to strengthen voice and social accountability and build consensus for positive change.

Managing social risk. We help enhance the inclusiveness, efficiency, equity, and transparency of public and private investments.

Duties and Responsibilities

The Social Development unit for the LCR Region is seeking to hire a Lead Social Development Specialist to act as the Unit's Regional Standards Coordinator (RSC) and ensure the consistent quality of the ESF/Social Safeguards work across the unit's portfolio. Key duties of the RSC include:

In coordination with the Social Development Practice Manager (PM), as well as the RSC and counterparts from ENV, lead oversight and quality assurance of ESF, in a manner consistent with the Bank's ESF, including through the review of ESF instruments, meetings with specialists, ad-hoc advisory, and overall ESF quality support.

Review ESF packages for the Substantial risk projects prior to the PM's approval; and, when needed, discuss with project Social Development Specialist (SDS) ways to strengthen the social development input in those projects.

Act as the social specialist on high risk and complex operations, advising and participating in project teams to help develop operational designs and mechanisms that are socially inclusive and assess social opportunities, impacts and risks related to Bank operations, supporting the identification of technical solutions, and assist in the preparation of project documentation.

Support the SDSs working on projects with significant social risk or complexity and provide technical guidance on the ESF/social safeguards matters and policy interpretations.

Lead initiatives and analytical efforts to strengthen the capacity among borrowers to implement the principles and requirements outlined in the ESF, including through ESF gap analyses and overview assessments.

Identify opportunities to develop training and capacity building programs to manage social risks; facilitate and organize intra/inter-practice teams, international experts, etc. to debate and exchange ideas on key issues.

Provide guidance and mentorship to the unit's CMU Coordinators and SDSs, including to identify systemic social development and risk issues in the portfolio, and support dialogue with external and internal clients on these issues.

Support the handling of grievances received by the Bank regarding matters related to ESF and social safeguards, including GRS cases, in coordination with the unit's focal point for grievances.

Undertake policy dialogue with clients on social inclusion and safeguards issues, and advise on technical options for social development, including involuntary resettlement, Indigenous Peoples, labor issues, mitigation plans and institutional development strategies.

Lead the process of identifying solutions to complex technical, institutional and program implementation issues regarding social development, and lead the related dialogue with counterparts.

Participate in Concept and Decision Review meetings of projects with significant social complexity; representing the PM, when needed, and supporting the SDS in the discussions and the briefings to the meeting chairs.

Selection Criteria

This is a challenging position suited to a constructive, highly motivated leader and team player with excellent knowledge on technical issues, extensive operational experience, an eye for detail, understanding the bigger picture context of operations, and creative problem-solving and practical thinking abilities. The successful candidate is expected to have the following qualifications:

Advanced degree in a relevant social science (anthropology, sociology, political economy, social development, economics, etc.) with a substantive professional experience (a minimum of 12 years in the case of a PhD or 15 years in the case of a Master's degree) working on social risk management and sustainability, and preferably on other dimensions of social sustainability and inclusion as well.

In-depth knowledge of the Bank's ESF and social safeguard policies (e.g., Involuntary Resettlement, Indigenous Peoples, Citizen Engagement, Grievance Redress Mechanisms).

Demonstrated practical experience working on social development issues - including social impact assessments, social risks and impacts on vulnerable groups, involuntary resettlement/land acquisition/access restrictions in different socio-economic contexts and tenure systems, Indigenous Peoples' issues, consultative and stakeholder engagement processes, grievance mechanisms, SEA/SH, labor and working conditions, and community health and safety, etc.

Ability to present complex social development and ESF/safeguards issues to task teams and Bank audiences, and to engage effectively with government counterparts, development partners, project beneficiaries, and civil society organizations.

Excellent interpersonal skills, and problem-solving and proactive approach.

Ability to work across departments and sectors and mentor junior/new staff.

Demonstrated track record of integrity and behavioral skills to build trust and to create an enabling teamwork environment.

Initiative and self-motivation; flexibility and willingness to travel on a short notice in complex missions and work under challenging circumstances.

Excellent oral and writing skills in English and Spanish; French and/or Portuguese language skills would be a plus.

Competencies

Social Safeguards/ESF - Experience in successfully applying social safeguard and/or ESF policies to both high, substantial, moderate, and low risk projects, without supervision, covering issues of involuntary resettlement, indigenous peoples, labor, etc.

Social Development implications on policies, institutions, and operations - Solid understanding of the implications of social development on policy, institutions, and operations.

Participation and Consultation - Extensive experience conducting social development consultative and participatory approaches, ability to coach others in the application of the interventions.

Analytical Tools for Social Sustainability - Extensive experience conducting social development analyses, in areas related to social risk management, deriving results that resonate with the client.

Integrative Skills - Understand relevant cross-sectoral areas and how they are interrelated; able to undertake cross-departmental work in lending and non-lending operations.

Knowledge and Experience in Development Arena - Translate technical and cross-country knowledge into practical applications and contributions to country and sector strategies; interact with clients.

Policy Dialogue Skills - Anticipate needs and requests in the field and conduct independent policy discussions with representatives of government and non-government partners.

Lead and Innovate - Develop innovative solutions with others.

Deliver Results for Clients - Achieve results and identify mission-driven solutions for the client.

Collaborate Within Teams and Across Boundaries - Initiate collaboration across boundaries and broadly across the World Bank Group, and bring differing ideas into the forefront.

Create, Apply and Share Knowledge - Create, apply and share knowledge from across and outside WBG to strengthen internal and or external client solutions.

Note - 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.