Social Development Specialist

Social Development Specialist

Job #:

req32223

Organization:

World Bank

Sector:

Social Development

Grade:

GF

Term Duration:
3 years 0 months

Recruitment Type:

International Recruitment

Location:

Washington, DC,United States

Required Language(s):

English

Preferred Language(s):

French, Arabic

Closing Date:

3/25/2025 (MM/DD/YYYY) at 11:59pm UTC

Description

Do you want to build a career that is truly worthwhile? 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:
1. 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).
2. 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;
3. 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;
4. 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.

As part of the multi-disciplinary team of E&S specialists, the Social Development Specialist will support the E&S Manager and Lead E&S Standards Specialist in overseeing the implementation of the ESF policy and standards. The Specialist will support E&S risk management across the lending portfolio, assist in interpreting the standards, promote building sustainability into project design and implementation, support the use of sound assessments methodologies across sectors and countries, and participate in knowledge and learning initiatives. The Social Development Specialist responsibilities may include, among other matters:

• Supporting the development and implementation of corporate policy guidance on the ESF, E&S risk management tools, overview assessments, the measures to strengthen and streamline ESF implementation, and other E&S work products;

• Contributing and providing support to the E&S Manager and Lead E&S Standards Specialists in reviewing high-risk E&S policy issues as appropriate;

• Supporting the OPCS UN Agencies work stream in relation to direct and indirect financed operations;

• Providing support to the E&S Manager and Lead E&S Standards Specialists in enhancing Procurement and ESF interface;

• Contributing and providing support (e.g., research, benchmarking, stakeholder dialogue) on interpretation and updates to E&S policies, guidance, and procedures, as applicable

• Supporting the OPCS IPN Focal Point on specific tasks as required.

Selection Criteria

The Social Development Specialist must be a team oriented professional with proven ability to carry out tasks as a member of a multi-disciplinary team; he/she should possess capacity to work under pressure, meet strict deadlines; and ability to work with task teams and key stakeholders on complaint handling activities.

• Masters Degree in social sciences, law, political science, environmental or natural sciences or other relevant discipline

• Five years of full-time relevant experience with a sustained record of achieving high quality results. Experience in grievance redress / dispute resolution highly desirable

• Knowledge of the World Bank’s ESF, environmental and social policies and standards

• Demonstrated maturity and sound judgment, attention to detail, and proven track record in conveying complex messages succinctly and diplomatically in a clear and concise manner to different stakeholders in multi-cultural contexts

• Capacity to multi-task—working on a variety of tasks simultaneously, adjusting to priorities and achieving results with agreed objectives and deadlines

• Ability to work independently, i.e. to fully comprehend tasks, to develop a strategy for implementing those tasks and drawing up on a variety of resources to ensure completion

• Highest personal integrity and ethical standards, with demonstrated ability to handle confidential matters in a discreet and respectful manner

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

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.