Senior Social Development Specialist (Re-advertisement), Manila, Philippines

Closing date: 7 Oct 2011 , 5:00 p.m. (1700 Manila Time, 0900 GMT)

Job Purpose:

Analyze and report on empowerment, human security, and inclusiveness to advance social development in ADB's knowledge and operational activities. Support ADB's overarching goal of poverty reduction and strategic agenda on inclusive growth through the provision of operational support and preparation of knowledge products and staff resource tools. Coordinate and implement regional cooperation initiatives. Work with broad policies and objectives, collaborating directly with clients, with supervision for critical tasks.

Expected Outcomes:

Policies, strategies and frameworks

• Prepare, update, and monitor implementation of policies, strategies, guidelines and good practice related to inclusive growth, poverty reduction, and social development.
• Provide technical inputs on social sectors/themes to the country performance assessment process.

Operational advice and support

• Provide upstream programming support to ADB operations departments in identifying and addressing key inclusive growth, poverty reduction, and social development issues requiring ADB's attention through regional cooperation strategies and programs, and country partnership strategies.
• Provide upstream project support and quality assurances to ADB operations departments concerning projects and programs in order to improve inclusive growth, poverty reduction, and social development outcomes.
• Assist operations departments and developing member country governments to utilize innovative and participatory approaches to nurture inclusive growth, reduce poverty, and advance social development through, e.g., market-based approaches, community-driven development, output-based aid, and impact evaluation.

Knowledge generation and sharing

• Assist in promoting knowledge management (i.e., collection, synthesis, generation and dissemination) internally and externally to ensure that operations departments are informed about current good practice and innovations related to inclusive growth, poverty reduction, and social development, and that ADB develops and maintains high professional standards.
• Develop innovative approaches and instruments that effectively address inclusive growth, poverty reduction, and social development concerns, especially in ADB's five core operational areas.
• Contribute to the understanding of - and ADB responses to - the social dimensions of climate change and emergencies, including natural disasters.
• Participate in and contribute to relevant internal and external training and conferences and other activities for advocacy, dissemination, and knowledge building.

Promotion of regional cooperation

• Coordinate regional cooperation activities on inclusive growth, poverty reduction, and social development issues and concerns; and maintain linkages with regional and global networks on poverty reduction, inclusive growth, and social development.
• Coordinate activities with international agencies and civil society organizations with which ADB interacts on inclusive growth, poverty reduction, and social development issues.

Project Management

• Identify, process and administer technical assistance (TA) projects in collaboration with operational departments and ADB developing member countries in the fields of inclusive growth, poverty reduction, and social development.
• Liaise and coordinate with development agencies and other stakeholders on TA projects under the staff's responsibility.

Staff supervision
- Provide leadership and support to reporting staff.
- Supervise the performance of reporting staff, providing clear direction and regular monitoring and feedback on performance.
- Ensure the ongoing learning and development of reporting staff.

Educational Requirements:

• Master's Degree, or equivalent, in International Development, International Economics, Public Policy, Social Development , Sociology or related fields. University degree in International Development, International Economics, Public Policy, Social Development , Sociology or related fields, combined with specialized experience in similar organization/s, may be considered in lieu of a Master's degree.

Relevant Experience And Other Requirements:

• Suitability to undertake the responsibilities mentioned above at the required level.
• At least 10 years of relevant professional experience in development.
• Strong practical skills in various facets of social development, such as education, health, participation, social sectors, gender equality, social protection, an provision of basic services.
• Operational knowledge of multilateral development organizations and executing agencies of DMCs.
• Strong analytical skills to deal quickly with a variety of technical problems in complex environments.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills to dynamically participate in networks and interact effectively with ADBmanagement, staff, and counterparts in other institutions.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills in English.
• International experience working in development in several countries, ideally including countries in developing Asia and the Pacific.

Core Competencies:

Application of Technical Knowledge and Skills

• Provides supervision to others in completing their technical tasks
• Called upon for advice and guidance based on expertise gained by working in different countries and organizations
• Contributes advanced knowledge and expertise to different parts of the Department

Client Orientation

• Proposes effective services and solutions to staff beyond presenting issues and past challenges
• Assists colleagues adapt to the cultural and business norms of diverse clients and country situations
• Gains respect for the breadth and depth of expertise demonstrated in effectively managing diverse clients and country situations
• Called upon to resolve client situations that may impact their long-term ADB relationship

Achieving Results and Problem Solving

• Resolves situations where client needs are not being met
• Shares past experiences from different projects, organizations, and countries to help achieve quality results
• Ensures that thorough analysis includes current and relevant factors from different countriesand contexts
• Sought out for guidance and experience in overcoming the most challenging situations
• Draws on long-term relationships with stakeholders to help plan for and achieve results

Working Together

• Addresses team members not contributing to required standards
• Commits to delivering timely and high quality work to assist in the team's success
• Develops and maintains good internal and external peer and senior level relationships
• Helps teams understand common features to build rapport and overcome challenges

Communication and Knowledge Sharing

• Provides stakeholders with the level and quality of information required to achieve outcomes
• Encourages others to seek long-term solutions to address feedback opposed to focusing on immediate concerns or reactions
• Uses breath of multi-country and multi-client knowledge to equip clients and staff for more effective outcomes
• Designs and implements project and program knowledge and services

Innovation and Change

• Consistently seeks more effective and practical ways for the Departmental delivery of services, products, and processes
• Proposes new ways to improve the quality and relevance of products and services
• Includes the core benefits and reasons for change when developing comprehensive change roll out plans
• Influences and persuades decision makers by presenting business cases supporting the proposed changes

Immediate Reporting Relationships / Other Information:

- Supervisor: Director, RSGS
- The following staff positions may be supervised by the incumbent:o Administrative Staff
o National Staff
Women are encouraged to apply.