Job Announcement

Position: Social Development Specialist (Safeguards)

Grade Range: GF – GF
Appointment: 2-year Term (Local Hire)
Department: EASES- Beijing Country Office.
Supervisor Maria Teresa Serra, Sector Director

Context

The main objective of the Environment and Social Unit in the World Bank’s Office in Beijing
is to help the Bank's clients in China and Mongolia to reduce poverty and achieve
environmentally and socially sustainable development. The Unit’s work program falls into the
following areas: (i) ensuring compliance of the World Bank’s projects with the Bank’s
environmental and social safeguard policies; (ii) assisting the Bank’s work on social
development, specifically focusing on sub-national governance and poverty work, community
driven development, gender, conflict, social accountability and civil society engagement; and
(iii) assisting the Bank's work—including lending and non-lending operations—on
environmental management, specifically focusing on strengthening institutional capacity,
improving environmental quality and the sustainable management of natural resources, and
promoting equitable solutions in managing the global commons.

The position of a Social Development Specialist (Safeguards), located in the Beijing Office,
will complement the existing skill mix on the ES safeguards team. Working in close
collaboration with colleagues in other sectoral units (primarily Urban, Transport , and Rural
Development), the Social Development Specialist will support operations related to the first
two areas of EASES’ work program S/he will would work according to an annual work plan,
adjusted periodically as necessary. S/he will work under the guidance and mentoring of the
Country Sector Coordinator, and will report to the Social Development Sector Manager.

The specific tasks of the Social Development Specialist will include:

a. Supervise land acquisition and involuntary resettlement activities in projects under
implementation;
b. Initiate and review terms of reference for the conduct of social assessments required to
inform project preparation
c. Review of the ethnic minorities development plan and supervision of its
implementation
d. Assess the robustness of the consultation process required for the preparation and
implementation of the resettlement action plan as well as the Ethnic Minorities
Development Plan
e. Provide basic orientation and training to counterpart agencies potentially involved in
projects under preparation
f. Provide intensive on-site support to consultants or design agencies involved in
preliminary resettlement studies or preparation of resettlement action plans
g. Review draft resettlement action plans
h. Assist in policy dialogue with counterpart agencies
 i. Participate in the review and clearance of project documents for compliance with the
Bank’s safeguards policies.

As a member of the ES Team in Beijing, the Social Safeguard Specialist may be requested to
provide support on tasks related to social analysis, economic and sector work, and other non-
lending services in China and Mongolia. S/he will be supervised on a day-to-day basis by the
Country Sector Coordinator.

Selection Criteria :

a. Graduate degree in a relevant field such as sociology, anthropology, urban planning,

or other social sciences.
b. A minimum of 5 years relevant operational experience and proven track record in
working on projects covering a broad range of resettlement and social development
issues.
c. Good understanding of the World Bank’s operational policies, processes and
procedures including its safeguard policies.
d. Ability to think strategically and conduct dialogue on social development policies and
priorities, while maintaining a strong sense of realism with regard to in-country
conditions and competing demands for resources.
e. Demonstrated capacity to undertake operational and analytical tasks, work in teams,
coach junior staff, and share knowledge.
f. Track record of dealing effectively with external and internal clients.
g. Demonstrated ability to work independently with limited supervision on a wide range
of social development activities, and achieving results with agreed upon objectives
and deadlines.
h. Field experience highly desirable.
i. Strong client orientation with commitment to results on the ground.
j. Proven ability to work effectively in a matrix environment.
k. Strong English and Chinese communication skills, both written and oral.