(Senior) Social Development Specialist

The Senior Social Development Specialist will support independent second-line oversight of social risks across the World Bank Group, focusing on labor, land acquisition, stakeholder engagement, and Indigenous Peoples. The role involves risk assessment, portfolio monitoring, complaints oversight, and providing technical leadership and advice to senior management.

Responsibilities

• Conduct independent reviews of operations across the WBG, focusing on material social risks, implementation readiness, mitigation measures, monitoring arrangements, and escalation pathways.
• Review project documentation including due diligence reports, social assessments, labor management procedures, resettlement instruments, stakeholder engagement plans, Indigenous Peoples instruments, legal provisions, Board materials, supervision records, and management responses.
• Provide qualified technical opinions on labor and working conditions; land acquisition, restrictions on land use, resettlement and livelihood restoration; stakeholder engagement and grievance mechanisms; and Indigenous Peoples.
• Assess cross-cutting risks affecting vulnerable or disadvantaged groups, including risks of exclusion, retaliation, social conflict, and inadequate consultation or benefit sharing.
• Monitor social risk and performance across portfolios, sectors, regions, and institutions, and contribute to risk ratings, watch lists, management reporting, and integrated risk dashboards.
• Conduct thematic reviews to identify systemic issues, recurring implementation gaps, emerging risks, and lessons related to labor, land and resettlement, stakeholder engagement, and Indigenous Peoples.
• Analyze significant risk events and recommend improvements to institutional risk practices, guidance, and oversight approaches.
• Support oversight of projects subject to CAO or Inspection Panel processes, direct complaints, significant disputes, or public controversy.
• Assess the adequacy of management responses and advise on implications for affected people, project implementation, development outcomes, and WBG reputation.
• Provide senior technical advice during management reviews and discussions on complex or high-risk operations.
• Contribute to tools, guidance, training, and knowledge products that strengthen consistent and evidence-based social risk oversight.
• Mentor junior colleagues and collaborate effectively across disciplines, institutions, regions, and cultures.

Requirements

• Master's degree or higher in social sciences, anthropology, sociology, development studies, law, labor relations, or a related discipline.
• Minimum of 8 to 10 years of relevant professional experience in social risk management, including experience with complex operations in emerging markets and developing economies.
• Demonstrated depth in at least two of the four core thematic areas: labor; land acquisition and resettlement; stakeholder engagement; and Indigenous Peoples, with strong working knowledge across all four.
• Proven experience assessing and managing social risks in infrastructure, extractives, manufacturing, agribusiness, services, financial intermediaries, or other relevant sectors.
• Strong knowledge of the World Bank Environmental and Social Framework, IFC Sustainability Framework and Performance Standards, or comparable international standards.
• Strong analytical and strategic thinking skills, including the ability to synthesize incomplete or diverse information and identify project-level and systemic risks.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to communicate complex social risk issues clearly and concisely to senior audiences.
• Demonstrated ability to influence constructively, work effectively in multidisciplinary and multicultural teams, and manage sensitive matters with integrity and discretion.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities under tight deadlines and undertake international travel.
• Experience in fragile and conflict-affected situations is desirable.

Skills

• Social Risk Management
• Labour Relations
• Land Acquisition and Resettlement
• Stakeholder Engagement
• Indigenous Peoples Consultation
• Infrastructure Sector Knowledge
• Extractives Sector Knowledge
• Manufacturing Sector Knowledge
• Agribusiness Knowledge
• Financial Intermediaries Risk Assessment
• World Bank Environmental and Social Framework
• IFC Sustainability Framework
• Performance Standards Compliance
• Social Risk Assessment
• Strategic Thinking
• Analytical Skills
• Technical Leadership
• Portfolio Monitoring
• Complaints Oversight
• Multidisciplinary Team Collaboration
• Intercultural Collaboration

Languages

English