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: 14^th 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&