(Senior) Social Development Specialist – South America Region
Term Duration:
3 years 0 months
Recruitment Type:
International Recruitment
Location:
Sao Paulo,Brazil; Buenos Aires,Argentina
Required Language(s):
English
Preferred Language(s):
Spanish or Portuguese
Closing Date:
6/24/2026 (MM/DD/YYYY) at 11:59pm UTC
Description
Build a career with impact. Working at the World Bank Group (WBG) provides a unique opportunity to help countries solve their greatest development challenges. As one of the largest sources of funding and knowledge for developing countries, the WBG is a unique partnership of five global institutions dedicated to ending poverty, increasing shared prosperity, and promoting sustainable development. With 189 member countries and more than 120 offices worldwide, the WBG works with public and private sector partners, investing in groundbreaking projects and using data, research, and technology to develop solutions to the most urgent global challenges.
The International Finance Corporation (IFC), a member of the World Bank Group, is the largest global development institution focused on the private sector in emerging markets. We work in more than 100 countries, using our capital, expertise, and influence to create markets and opportunities in developing countries. In fiscal year 2025, IFC committed a record $71.7 billion to private companies and financial institutions in developing countries, leveraging private sector solutions, and mobilizing private capital to create a world free of poverty on a livable planet. For more information, visit www.ifc.org.
IFC is looking for a dynamic, motivated, and detail-oriented (Senior) Social Development Specialist to provide support to infrastructure, manufacturing, services and agribusiness-related transactions in the South LAC region. This professional will be a member of the regional team providing guidance to clients and IFC’s investment and advisory teams on Social risk management in the sectors listed, in alignment with IFC Performance Standards and Sustainability Policy with the aim of enhancing E&S outcomes of IFC-supported investments and advisory mandates.
This position will report to the ESG Regional Manager for the South LAC region. The vacancy announcement is for one position posted across multiple possible duty stations. That includes Sao Paulo, Brazil and Buenos Aires Argentina. The selected candidate's duty station will be determined based on organizational requirements and business needs.
Duties and Accountabilities
1) Early Screening, Due Diligence, Portfolio supervision
- Lead and contribute to review of Social issues and risks in new investments and portfolio projects in multiple sectors (including infrastructure, mining, energy, oil & gas, manufacturing, services, agribusiness and financial intermediaries).
- Identify, assess, propose and develop risk management strategies for the projects that IFC is financing.
- Define pragmatic risk mitigation measures and value-add solutions for social risk management vis-à-vis IFC PS.
- Guide and support IFC clients addressing identified social risks and issues throughout IFC’s project cycle.
- Clear and proactive guidance to IFC teams on how to implement good social risk management practices in IFC funded projects.
- Proactively monitor portfolio clients and engage with clients and IFC investment departments to ensure projects remain aligned with the social components of IFC Performance Standards.
- Clearly document and communicate any outstanding or emerging gaps between projects performance and IFC requirements. Propose solutions.
- Build capacity with clients and projects on good social risk management in line with IFC standards.
- Contribute to regional E&S portfolio analysis to identify systemic issues and assess trends, including any issues of policy nature and propose policy adjustments as needed.
- Contribute to the regional supervision program reviews and periodic reports.
- Ensure effective and efficient use of consultants and resources when leading social assessments, ensuring the timely completion of deliverables.
- Support industry teams and clients in response to Compliance Advisor Ombudsman (CAO) and Independent Evaluation Group (IEG) requests, leading discussion with CAO and IEG officers.
2) Upstream and Advisory Services
- On the basis of new business processing and portfolio analysis, help identify systemic bottlenecks existing in the market that prevent adequate social risk management in key markets.
- In collaboration with Upstream officers and advisory teams, help develop upstream activities for good social risk management by using technical experience and expertise.
- Work proactively to identify opportunities for advisory engagements that result in greater development impact and value for the client; provide expert input into new IFC advisory offering.
- Participate in strategic decision making (as needed) regarding IFC role in advisory support to enhance Social risk management. Where relevant support the development of appropriate solutions.
3) Knowledge Management
- Participate in cross-regional and global teams responsible for the preparation of policy interpretation notes on Social topics and contribute to the corporate knowledge base by analyzing and disseminating lessons learned from project work.
- Participate in forums or conferences to showcase IFC experience, approach and value proposition (which includes serving as a panelist or moderator for internal and external events).
- Prepare management briefs of relevant Social matters.
- Provide guidance/mentor more junior staff working on Social risk management and supervise the timeliness and quality of their work, in coordination with the ESG Regional Manager.
Selection Criteria
- Master’s degree or equivalent in Sociology, Anthropology, Social Sciences, International Development, or any another relevant discipline related to Social Risk Management.
- Minimum of 10+ years of relevant professional experience working in social risk management of projects.
- Strong preference for experience supporting private sector projects across multiple industry sectors: infrastructure, mining, energy, oil & gas, manufacturing, agribusiness, services.
- Demonstrated fluency in the interpretation and implementation of IFC Performance Standards in E&S due diligence processes, and able to define strategies for proactive social risk management.
- Substantial experience identifying, assessing, and managing risks and impacts related to land acquisition and involuntary resettlement, Indigenous Peoples, stakeholder engagement, labor and working conditions, community health and safety, and other material social issues.
- Proficiency in English and Spanish/Portuguese is essential.
- Working experience in emerging markets, ideally in fragile and conflict-affected environments.
- Availability and willingness to travel regularly in emerging market countries.
- Strong analytical and strategic thinking skills, with the ability to synthesize complex and diverse information, exercise sound professional judgment, and formulate practical recommendations and solutions for social risk management of private sector Projects.
- Demonstrated ability to work effectively both independently and autonomously, while also contributing as a collaborative member of multidisciplinary and multicultural teams.
- Excellent interpersonal, communication and negotiation skills including the ability to communicate persuasively on complex issues with a wide range of internal and external parties and present social risks and management solutions in a manner that non-experts can understand.
- High personal integrity, sound judgement, and emotional intelligence, with demonstrated ability to handle sensitive matters in a discreet and respectful manner, and able to remain calm and effective under pressure.
WBG Culture Attributes:
1. Sense of urgency: Anticipate and quickly respond to the needs of internal and external stakeholders.
2. Thoughtful risk-taking: Challenge the status quo and push boundaries to achieve greater impact.
3. Empowerment and accountability: Empower yourself and others to act and hold each other accountable for results.
World Bank Group Core Competencies
The World Bank Group offers comprehensive benefits, including a retirement plan; medical, life and disability insurance; and paid leave, including parental leave, as well as reasonable accommodations for individuals with disabilities.
We are proud to be an equal opportunity and inclusive employer with a dedicated and committed workforce, and do not discriminate based on gender, gender identity, religion, race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, or disability.
Learn more about working at the World Bank and IFC including our values and inspiring stories.
