SOCIAL SPECIALIST

Reporting to the KiWI Project Manager, the Social Specialist is responsible for the strategic design, coordination, and oversight of socio-economic interventions and sub-projects that prioritize vulnerable populations.

1)      SOCIAL SPECIALIST

Job Summary:

 The incumbent leads participatory engagement processes with communities and stakeholders to foster inclusive dialogue, mutual understanding, and strong local ownership of project activities. The Social Specialist also manages social safeguards, stakeholder engagement strategies, and the grievance redress mechanism (GRM), ensuring alignment with national regulations and World Bank Environmental and Social Standards (ESS).

Key Responsibilities

The Social Specialist will, inter alia:

• Lead the strategic assessment, design, and management of social interventions across all project components, ensuring integration of social dimensions (inclusion, participation, power dynamics).
• Identify and manage social risks and threats that could compromise the achievement of project objectives.
• Ensure long-term sustainability of social interventions through capacity building and strategic partnerships.
• Manage and supervise the Social Officer and consultants engaged in social development and safeguards tasks.
• Provide technical leadership in social development approaches and methodologies within the KiWI Project Implementation Unit (PIU).
• Coordinate all stakeholder engagement activities, ensuring inclusive and participatory processes.
• Design and oversee a structured program of public consultations synchronized with each investment activity, from design through implementation.
• Lead citizen engagement processes and contribute to the development and ongoing refinement of the Citizen Engagement and Communications Strategy.
• Conduct social screenings and impact assessments; identify mitigation and enhancement measures.
• Guide local authorities on discrepancies between national resettlement laws and World Bank policies to ensure compliance with the latter.
• Prepare Resettlement Action Plans (RAPs) or Abbreviated RAPs (ARAPs) as required, ensuring alignment with RPF guidelines.
• Collaborate with Local Government Units (LGUs) and other institutions for effective RAP/ARAP implementation.
• Provide regular inputs to the M&E Specialist and Project Manager on indicators related to social development and safeguards.

Requirements:

• Master’s Degree in Development Studies, International Development, Social Work, Sociology, Community Development or relevant discipline
• Project Management certification and Social Safeguards training is desirable 
• Minimum 10 years’ professional experience in social/community development including social assessment, social protection and resettlement. At least five (5) years of this should be at a senior level. 

• Minimum five (5) years’ professional project preparation and implementation experience, or Project Management certification 
• Experience working in urban, inner-city and volatile communities.
• Knowledge of social and economic environment of downtown Kingston and the activities in the corresponding areas financed by donors will be an advantage; 
• Knowledge of national legislation in the field of social protection and resettlement and safeguards policies of the WB in these areas  
• Work experience including leadership roles on large and complex projects. Experience with donor-funded projects is an advantage. 
• Work experience in labor safety in civil works 
• Experience in mediation or dispute resolution, and management of grievance and feedback mechanisms  
• Experience conducting or coordinating community consultations, public hearings and meetings  
• Experience and knowledge of World Bank policy regarding social protection and resettlement  
• Proven ability to prepare reports on time and to required standard 
• Demonstrated facilitation skills and ability to keep discussions and respond to  feedback provided by stakeholders and communities regarding any matters. 
• Computer literacy in MS Office. 
• Strong Leadership skills, with proven ability to manage a team for results 
• Excellent written and verbal Communication skills, with proven ability to interact with persons at all levels   
• Training in Research methods including Participatory Learning in Action (PLA)