Social Sector Specialist
Asian Development Bank (ADB) is an international development finance institution headquartered in Manila, Philippines and is composed of 68 members, 49 of which are from the Asia and Pacific region. ADB is committed to achieving a prosperous, inclusive, resilient, and sustainable Asia and the Pacific, while sustaining its efforts to eradicate extreme poverty. ADB combines finance, knowledge, and partnerships to fulfill its expanded vision under its Strategy 2030. ADB only hires nationals of its 68 members.
Social Sector Specialist
The (Senior/Principal) Social Sector Specialist position is assigned to the Human and Social Development Sector Office, Sectors Group (SG-HSD). The SG-HSD was established to deliver impactful sector policy dialogue, initiatives, and solutions that advance ADB’s strategic agenda in the region and with ADB’s clients in the human and social development sectors (education, health, and social protection and in broader social development initiatives). The SG-HSD has four responsibilities: (i) conceptualize, process, and administer lending, grant, and technical assistance (TA) operations and deliver knowledge services to ADB’s developing member countries (DMCs) ; (ii) develop and deliver knowledge services and products to ADB’s developing member countries (DMCS); (iii) support regional departments and resident missions in regional and country engagement, lead technical work on sector diagnostics and road maps, and contribute to business development efforts, and (iv) ensure ADB’s technical leadership externally and internally.
The SG-HSD has three regional and three practice teams: (i) the Central, West and East Asia regional team; (ii) the Southeast Asia and Pacific regional team; (iii) the South Asia regional team; (iv) the education practice team; (v) the health practice team; and (vi) the social development practice team.
Job Purpose
The (Senior/Principal) Social Sector Specialists will work with any of the six teams and the office of the Senior Director, in accordance with their qualifications, business requirements, and career preferences and goals, in the spirit of ADB’s new operating model[1] . Priority responsibilities will be to identify, develop, implement, and administer loans, grants, and TA, and deliver knowledge products and services in education, social protection, and/or social development in ADB DMCs. Other responsibilities may include: (i) providing support to overall sector operations performance analysis, monitoring, reporting and quality assurance; and (ii) coordinating multi-sector initiatives across HSD teams and working groups and other sector offices.
The incumbent will report to the designated Director, SG-HSD or the Senior Director and will supervise national staff and administrative staff.
Responsibilities for the Social Sector Specialist
• Leads, co-leads, or participates in developing, processing, and administering loan and grant projects and TA, and delivering knowledge products and knowledge services with attention to DMC development policies and project impacts on climate change.
• Identifies and conceptualizes new lending projects and programs. Collaborates with other sector offices and departments in identifying countries and projects with the potential to demonstrate impactful solutions to DMC needs and with clear focus on
- climate change,
- (ii) private sector development,
- (iii) digital transformation through innovative and integrated solutions, and
- (iv) new ways of working.
• Works closely with regional departments, resident missions, Office of Safeguards (OSFG), the Climate Change and Sustainable Development Department (CCSD) , the Economic Research and Development Impact Department (ERDI) and other sector offices based on business needs, in conducting sector assessments and other upstream work, in line with existing country programs or contributing to new country programs.
• Leads, co-leads, or participates in sector portfolio performance assessment in country/tripartite portfolio review meetings, identifies systemic issues, proposes initiatives to promote project quality and improve portfolio performance, and provides guidance and advice for the identification and implementation of actions needed to resolve implementation issues.
• Supports the delivery of knowledge sharing and professional development programs to DMC officials and project managers based on demand and relevance to portfolio;
• Develops and maintains strategic partnerships with external partners for knowledge and project opportunities. Responds to external inquiries as needed.
• Analyses sector trends and generates and disseminates knowledge solutions from ADB operations, international best practices and country or region specific cross-learning.
• Leads, co-leads, or participates in strategic planning and coordination for multi-sector operations and new solutions and practices with SG-HSD working groups, other sector offices, regional departments, and other departments.
• Supports SG-HSD sector operations performance analysis, monitoring, reporting and quality assurance.
• Provides analytical work and reports to support SG-HSD senior management team as needed.
• Leads, supervises, and supports reporting staff, including their performance and career development. Ensure continuous learning and development of reporting staff.
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Qualifications
Relevant Experience & Requirements
• Master’s degree in a human and social development related field; University degree and at least 5 years of relevant work experience may be considered in lieu of a Master’s degree.
• At least 8 years of relevant experience in human and social development related fields with good knowledge of the Asia Pacific region (Candidates with sector expertise in one or more of following areas are encouraged to apply: education, skills development, social protection).
• International experience working in several countries.
• Excellent capabilities in sector data analysis and research for sector monitoring. Strong knowledge and experience in application of multilateral development bank policies and business procedures. Proven capabilities in conducting quality assurance.
• Broad experience in the preparation of development projects and analysis of development policies, including knowledge of procurement and consultant recruitment.
• Demonstrated team leadership and managerial skills and experience leading professionals, teams, and missions for technical matters and project preparation and implementation.
• Significant expertise within a specific area of ADB operations (economic, sector or thematic) or breadth across multiple areas with in-depth knowledge within one area.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills in English
Apply Here for the Social Sector Specialist Position
Social Sector Specialist
