Social Development Specialist - World Bank - Beijing, China

Job #: 122119

Job Title: Social Development Specialist

Job Family: Social Development

Job Type: Professional & Technical

Grade: GF

Location: Beijing, China

Recruitment Type: Local Hire

Language Requirement: English [Essential]

Closing Date: 11-Oct-2012

 Background / General description:

The main objective of the Sustainable Development Unit in the World Bank’s Office in Beijing (WBOB) is to help the Bank's clients in China and Mongolia to reduce poverty and achieve socially and environmentally sustainable development. As a member of the Unit’s professional team, the Social Development Specialist will be expected: (i) to work as integral part of project teams to ensure that social development issues are properly considered and addressed, and that Bank-supported operations comply with the Bank’s safeguard policies during project design and implementation; (ii) to assist the Bank’s work on social development, —including lending and non-lending operations, specifically focusing on strengthening institutional capacity, sub-national governance and poverty work, community driven development, gender, conflict, social accountability and civil society engagement. The Social Development Specialist will report to the Manager of Sustainable Development Unit  and work as an integral part of the overall SD team, collaborating with both HQ and Beijing-based Task Team Leaders and teams.

Note: If the selected candidate is a current Bank Group staff member with a Regular or Open-Ended appointment, s/he will retain his/her Regular or Open-Ended appointment. All others will be offered a 2 year term appointment.

Duties and Accountabilities:

The main duties and responsibilities of the Social Development Specialist are to:
a.    Participate as task team member in lending operations undertaken by sector units, advising on social development approaches, policies, and technical issues including safeguard issues during project preparation and supervision.
b.     Work proactively with clients to improve the performance of the portfolio with regard to social safeguards and social development outcomes, by providing technical guidance and training.
c.    Support social development operations financed by the Bank, GEF, or other sources including project identification, preparation, processing, and supervision.
d.    In coordination with China Safeguards Coordinator, undertake safeguard reviews of projects and in-country reviews and thematic supervisions, prepare reports, and disseminate lessons learned.
e.    Contribute to social development Economic and Sector Work (ESW) and Analytical and Advisory Assistance (AAA)  activities under the guidance of the lead Economist or the Country Sector Coordinator for China or such activities undertaken by other sectors.
f.    Participate in country dialogue on social development policy and strategy, and contribute to preparation of the Country Partnership Strategy.
g.    Assist in the design and delivery of knowledge management and training activities.

 Selection Criteria:

Competencies requirements

•    Social Safeguards – Good knowledge and ability to apply (under supervision) the social safeguard policies of the World Bank to a situation and identify issues and risks. 
•    Knowledge and Experience in Development Arena - Understands policy making process; distills operationally relevant recommendations/lessons for clients. 
•    Policy Dialogue Skills - Identifies and assesses policy issues and plays an active role in the dialogue with the government and/or other stakeholders. 
•    Integrative Skills - Working to develop an integrated view across all facets of current sector. 
•    Analytical Tools for Social Sustainability - Solid experience conducting social development analyses, producing meaningful results, and applying the tools in the course of an operation. 
•    Participation and Consultation - Solid experience conducting social development consultative and participatory approaches, and applying the approaches in the course of an operation. 
•    Social Development Implications on Policy, Institutions, and Operations - Familiarity with the implications of social development on policy, institutions, and operations. 
•    Client Orientation - Takes personal responsibility and accountability for timely response to client queries, requests or needs, working to remove obstacles that may impede execution or overall success. 
•    Drive for Results - Takes personal ownership and accountability to meet deadlines and achieve agreed-upon results, and has the personal organization to do so. 
•    Teamwork (Collaboration) and Inclusion - Collaborates with other team members and contributes productively to the team’s work and output, demonstrating respect for different points of view. 
•    Knowledge, Learning and Communication - Actively seeks knowledge needed to complete assignments and shares knowledge with others, communicating and presenting information in a clear and organized manner. 
•    Business Judgment and Analytical Decision Making - Analyzes facts and data to support sound, logical decisions regarding own and others’ work. 

Other selection criteria

•    Master degree in anthropology, sociology, development economics or other relevant social science.
•    A minimum of five years experience in China working on social development issues, including social assessment of development projects and resettlement planning. Experience with development assistance to ethnic minority people, gender equity, and experience working on social development issues in projects financed by the World Bank, other international organizations, and/or the Government of China would be advantageous. Experience in rural development field is a plus.
•    Strong communication skills, both written and oral in Chinese and English.
•    Willingness to travel frequently.

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