The EIB,
the European Union's bank, is seeking to recruit for its Projects
Directorate (PJ) – Safeguards & Quality Management Department (SQM) -
Environment, Climate & Social Office Division (ECSO), a Senior Social Development Specialist. This is a full time temporary position at grade 5/6.
The
term of this contract will be 18 months; as this is a temporary
replacement assignment, no extension or conversion of the contract is
foreseen.
Panel interviews are anticipated for mid – November 2019.
The
Environment, Climate and Social Office (ECSO) leads the definition of
the Bank’s climate, environmental and social policies and their
mainstreaming through the Bank’s activities (e.g. through the
development of methodologies, guidance material, training and other
tools) and supports project teams in the environmental and social due
diligence of EIB-financed operations.
Purpose
As a Senior
Social Development Specialist (internally referred to as a (Senior)
Officer)you will contribute to the advancement of the Bank's social
development policies and you will advise on the evolution of social due
diligence practice and management systems. You will also contribute to
the further mainstreaming of the social development agenda within the
EIB portfolio, including by developing and disseminating knowledge
through guidance material and training activities. You will be working
closely with project teams, and you will carry out or advise on social
due diligence of the Bank's investment projects and programmes during
all relevant phases of the project cycle, in accordance with EIB
standards and procedures.
Operating network
As part of a
team of environmental and social specialists, the selected candidate
will report to the Head of Social Policy Unit in the Environment,
Climate and Social Office (ECSO). You will work in close contact with
other teams in the Projects Directorate (PJ) as well as with other
Directorates, in particular the Operations and General Secretariat
Directorates. You will liaise as appropriate with ECSO colleagues from
the Environment and Climate work streams as well as relevant sector
experts to ensure that all relevant technical expertise is mobilised to
carry out the Bank’s social development agenda. This is also in line
with ECSO’s vision to work in an integrated and holistic manner and use
the synergies within the ECSO team and across PJ and other EIB teams,
whenever possible.
ECSO’s social development experts lead and
coordinate the development and implementation of the Bank’s social
development agenda, in areas that include gender equality and women's
economic empowerment, conflict sensitivity and migration and forced
displacement in operations, among others, including by helping to
develop and/or appraise flagship/pilot operations in these areas. Across
all these, the respect and protection of human rights is central to the
EIB's interpretation of social sustainability and human well-being,
which is integrated in the EIB's social standards and the subsequent
application of social due diligence. ECSO’s social development experts
also provide support to project teams through their involvement in
social due diligence, at a level that depends on the significance and
complexity of the potential impacts and risks identified. In some sector
departments, this is carried out by deployed social development experts
who are administratively part of ECSO’s team. A close link with these
expert is key to ensure consistency in social due diligence. Finally,
they develop and organise training and awareness raising events, as part
of ECSO's Knowledge Sharing Programme.
Accountabilities
The
post involves policy and procedures drafting, knowledge management and
operational tasks. It requires the ability and willingness to travel and
to undertake on-site visits, the bulk of which are likely to be in
non-EU countries. Specifically, the selected candidate will:
- Contribute
to the revision process and follow-up, including capacity development,
of the EIB's Environmental and Social Framework, including the Statement
of Environmental and Social Principles, the EIB Environmental and
Social Standards, the related Procedures and the supporting Guidance
notes for promoters and/or EIB staff, as needed.
- Lead and
coordinate ECSO's work and play an advisory role across the Bank on the
application of the human rights-based approach in the EIB's social
development policies and due diligence
- Provide specialist input
on other tasks undertaken in ECSO, for example in the areas of social
impact financing and non-financial additionality.
- Carry out
social due diligence in selected projects and programmes or provide
specialist helpdesk advice on individual projects. It is anticipated
that the sectors of focus will be industry, education and health; but
involvement in other sectors may be additionally required. As requested,
advise Social Development Specialists working outside ECSO in specific
areas of expertise across the Bank's sustainability framework,
particularly on human rights-responsive due diligence and stakeholder
engagement.
- Contribute to the development, sharing and
dissemination of knowledge and lessons across the Bank. Input in the
development of specific capacity building activities to enhance
knowledge and capacity of EIB’s staff regarding different aspects of
social sustainability framework, as part of the Bank’s Knowledge Sharing
Programme. Deliver training to Bank staff as part of ECSO’s Knowledge
Sharing Programme. Organise internal and external training and awareness
raising events around EIB's social standards and other social
development themes, as needed;
- Manage the provision of
consultancy services catering to building staff capacity in
project-based social due diligence, specific social studies and/or the
broadening of the institution's relevant knowledge base and capacity;
Qualifications
- University
degree in a relevant field (e.g. sociology, anthropology, social
development practice, environmental studies, development studies,
economics or another relevant discipline);
- At least 8 years of
recent and relevant professional experience within an international
development and/or financial institution, consultancy firm, fund, or
corporate;
- A sound knowledge of social due diligence
frameworks, processes and tools and solid experience in their
application in a project/programme funding context. In particular
experience in carrying out due diligence on stakeholder engagement at
investment level is being sought;
- Expertise in human rights and
experience in addressing human rights impacts and risks in private and
public sector investments, including the experience in following UN
Guiding Principles for Business and Human Rights would be an advantage;
- Sound knowledge of the main social development policies and practices of the major international financial institutions;
- Familiarity
with current approaches to and debates on sustainable development and
more specialised expertise in areas such as conflict and fragility, land
tenure rights would be an advantage;
- Demonstrated ability to work in inter-disciplinary contexts;
- Experience of working with a wide range of stakeholders, including governments, civil society, and local communities;
- Excellent analytical skills with a practical approach to problem solving;
- Capacity
to deal with stressful and sensitive environments and situations and
experience operating in diverse and challenging international
environments;
- Good interpersonal and communication skills;
- Ability to use standard computer tools;
- Excellent
knowledge of spoken and written English and a strong preference for
good knowledge of French (*). Knowledge of other languages, e.g. Spanish
and Arabic, would be an advantage.
Competencies
- Achievement Drive:
Continually keeps an eye on performance, focusing on improving it,
showing drive and determination to meet short and long-term goals
- Change Orientation: Adapts to differences and changes in the environment; takes a flexible approach to reach outcomes
- Collaboration:
Works cooperatively as part of a team; works collaboratively with peers
across organisational boundaries based on a genuine interest in and an
accurate understanding of others and their individual perspectives and
concerns
- Organisational Commitment: Is willing
to commit to an organisation whose mission is to support Europe and is
open to diversity, and to align her/his own behaviour with the
organisation 's needs and intrinsic values, acting with integrity in
ways that promote the organisation 's mission, policies and rules.
(*)
There may be certain flexibility on this requirement, but limited to
particularly suitable candidates who may not yet be proficient in
French. If selected, such candidates will be hired on the condition that
they build up rapidly knowledge of French and accept that their future
career in the EIB may be subject to the attainment of sufficient
proficiency in both of the Bank's working languages
We are an
equal opportunity employer, who believes that diversity is good for our
people and our business. As such, we promote the inclusion of suitably
qualified and experienced staff without regard to their gender, age,
racial or ethnic origin, religion or beliefs, sexual
orientation/identity, or disability (*).
Deadline for applications: 14th October 2019.
(*). We particularly welcome applications from women and persons with disabilities.
https://erecruitment.eib.org/psc/hr/EIBJOBS/CAREERS/c/HRS_HRAM_FL.HRS_CG_SEARCH_FL.GBL?Page=HRS_APP_JBPST_FL&focus=Applicant&SiteId=1&JobOpeningId=105873&PostingSeq=2&