Social Development Advisors- Home based (multiple retainer contracts), Multiple positions

The Health, Safety, Social and Environmental (HSSE) management unit falls under the UNOPS Shared Services Centre (SSC) Group. It is responsible for supporting the development and implementation of HSSE good practices in UNOPS projects and operations in line with UNOPS policies, UN common system standards and international best practices. 

A key component of the work of the HSSE unit is to provide tools and advice to make UNOPS projects more socially sustainable throughout their project life cycle. Therefore it is necessary to carry out social development due diligence and to establish appropriate social development frameworks for managing the projects. The social development aspects of UNOPS projects also involves monitoring performance and addressing deviations from expectations. 

UNOPS is embarking on a process of adopting safeguards, based on international best practice, tailored to UNOPS and the range of projects it delivers. On social matters, UNOPS is looking for expertise in the areas of  i) labor and working conditions; ii) community health, safety and security (including dam safety, security personnel and human rights); iii) grievance redress and accountability mechanisms; iv) stakeholder engagement and disclosure of information.

Therefore, the organisation requires the services of senior social development experts that shall be on retainer contracts to carry out short term work packages when required. 

Please note that the selected candidates who will successfully undergo the assessments will be offered a contract for 1 year (renewable) but proposed a work package only when a specific opportunity arises. 

Functional Responsibilities May Include

• Assisting the Director of SSC and the Head of the HSSE unit, in shaping the strategic direction and policies of UNOPS in social development matters. This may include issues specific to labor and working conditions on UNOPS projects, community health and safety matters, stakeholder engagement and grievance redress, etc.

• Developing key guidance, templates and other management tools and instruments as required, to enhance the ability of UNOPS personnel and teams to plan and implement social management activities in their projects

• Carrying out or coordinating the carrying out of project due diligence including social screening and impact assessments 

• Developing and/or implementing plans and frameworks such as Social Impact Assessments, Community Health and Safety Assessments, Grievance Redress Mechanisms and Stakeholder Engagement Plans, among others

• Developing and implementing training programmes to develop the capacity of partners and UNOPS personnel in implementing UNOPS social development requirements. 

• Carrying out social development due diligence of partners, contractors and suppliers prior to commencement of project work to ensure that the ones with unsatisfactory performance are not engaged

• Carrying out or coordinating the monitoring of social development performance during project execution.

Education: 

• An advanced university degree (Master’s or equivalent) in a relevant subject such as preferably Social Development, Sociology, Development Studies or Anthropology is required. 

• An additional 2 years of relevant work experience in combination with a relevant first university degree (Bachelor’s or equivalent) may substitute for the requirement for a Master’s degree. 

Experience: 

• A minimum of 7 years of experience in a social development role is required (with an advanced university degree). 

• Demonstrable experience in the management of some of the following areas is an asset: i) labor and working conditions,; ii) community health,  and safety and security (including dam safety, security personnel and human rights);, iii) grievance redress and accountability mechanisms;, iv) stakeholder engagement and disclosure of information.

• Experience in drafting of impact assessments and plans such as ESIAs, GRMs, SEPs, etc. is an asset.

• Knowledge and working experience with the World Bank ESF and/or UN Model Approach is an asset.

Language Requirements: 

• Full working knowledge of English.

• Knowledge of either French or Spanish is an asset. 

• Contract type: ICA
• Contract level: I-ICA 3
• Contract duration: 1 year, renewable upon satisfactory performance and budget availability

For more details about the ICA contractual modality, please follow this link:

UNOPS is an operational arm of the United Nations, supporting the successful implementation of its partners’ peacebuilding, humanitarian and development projects around the world. Our mission is to help people build better lives and countries achieve sustainable development.

UNOPS areas of expertise cover infrastructure, procurement, project management, financial management and human resources.

Working with us

UNOPS offers short- and long-term work opportunities in diverse and challenging environments across the globe. We are looking for creative, results-focused professionals with skills in a range of disciplines.

Diversity

With over 4,000 UNOPS personnel and approximately 7,000 personnel recruited on behalf of UNOPS partners spread across 80 countries, our workforce represents a wide range of nationalities and cultures. We promote a balanced, diverse workforce — a strength that helps us better understand and address our partners’ needs, and continually strive to improve our gender balance through initiatives and policies that encourage recruitment of qualified female candidates.

Work life harmonization

UNOPS values its people and recognizes the importance of balancing professional and personal demands.