Principal Social Development Specialist (Gender and Development)

Job Posting Organization:
The Asian Development Bank (ADB) is an international development finance institution established to foster economic growth and cooperation in the Asia-Pacific region. Founded in 1966, ADB has grown to include 69 member countries, with 50 of them from the Asia and Pacific region. The organization is dedicated to alleviating poverty and promoting sustainable development through financial assistance, knowledge sharing, and partnerships. ADB's mission is to create a prosperous, inclusive, resilient, and sustainable Asia and the Pacific, while also working towards the eradication of extreme poverty. ADB operates in various sectors, including infrastructure, health, education, and environmental sustainability, and aims to achieve its goals through its Strategy 2030 framework, which emphasizes the importance of gender equality and women's empowerment in development efforts.

Job Overview:
The Principal Social Development Specialist (Gender and Development) position is a senior role within the Gender Equality Division of ADB's Climate Change and Sustainable Development Department. The successful candidate will provide high-level leadership and technical oversight in mainstreaming gender equality and women's empowerment across all ADB operations, policies, and partnerships. This role involves ensuring the implementation of gender mainstreaming standards in both sovereign and non-sovereign operations, as well as providing knowledge leadership on emerging gender issues in the Asia-Pacific region. The position requires collaboration with various stakeholders, including government agencies, civil society organizations, and international partners, to influence and support innovative gender equality initiatives. The Principal Specialist will also support the Director of Gender Equality in managing corporate initiatives and mentoring junior staff, thereby playing a crucial role in advancing ADB's commitments to gender equality and women's empowerment.

Duties and Responsibilities:
The Principal Social Development Specialist will be responsible for a wide range of duties, including:

• Assisting the Director of Gender Equality in advancing ADB's policy and strategic commitments on gender equality and women's empowerment, including monitoring and reporting on corporate gender-related targets.
• Overseeing the development and quality of contributions to ADB corporate reports, such as the Annual Report and Development Effectiveness Report.
• Providing high-quality technical advice for mainstreaming gender equality in country partnership strategies and project quality assurance.
• Leading the integration of gender equality in project design, implementation, and completion, as well as developing technical assistance projects on gender issues.
• Building and maintaining partnerships with various stakeholders focused on gender equality, including government agencies, NGOs, and academic institutions.
• Leading external policy engagement and representing ADB at knowledge events.
• Developing gender knowledge products and delivering capacity development initiatives on gender equality.
• Providing senior-level support to the Director in gender-related corporate initiatives and preparing management briefings.
• Mentoring junior staff and supervising their performance and development. 1
• Performing any other tasks assigned by the Director of Gender Equality.

Required Qualifications:
Candidates for the Principal Social Development Specialist position must possess the following qualifications:

• A Master's degree or equivalent in social sciences, international development, public policy, or related fields with a focus on gender and development; or a Bachelor's degree in relevant fields with at least 5 years of specialized experience.
• A minimum of 12 years of work experience in gender and development, with field-level experience in mainstreaming gender equality into country/regional operations.
• Demonstrated expertise in building capacity for gender equality initiatives with various stakeholders, including the private sector and civil society organizations.
• Proven experience in leading innovative knowledge products or initiatives related to gender equality.
• International experience working with multilateral development banks or international development organizations.
• Strong management skills, including budget management and team leadership.
• Experience in donor relations and partnership development.
• Proficiency in written and verbal English is mandatory, and knowledge of additional languages is an asset.

Educational Background:
The educational background required for this position includes a Master's degree or equivalent in social sciences, international development, public policy, or other related fields, particularly with an emphasis on gender and development. Alternatively, candidates with a Bachelor's degree in relevant fields and at least 5 years of specialized experience may also be considered. This educational foundation is essential for understanding the complexities of gender issues and development practices in the Asia-Pacific region.

Experience:
The position requires at least 12 years of relevant work experience in gender and development, with a strong preference for candidates who have field-level experience in integrating gender equality and women's empowerment into country and regional operations. Candidates should have a proven track record of leading gender equality initiatives and managing projects effectively, as well as experience in building partnerships with various stakeholders in the development sector.

Languages:
Proficiency in English is mandatory for this position, both written and verbal. Candidates who possess additional language skills, particularly those relevant to the Asia-Pacific region, will be considered an asset, as they can enhance communication and collaboration with diverse stakeholders.

Additional Notes:
This is a fixed-term appointment for an initial period of 3 years, with the possibility of extension for up to 2 years or conversion to a regular appointment based on performance and organizational needs. The position is full-time and based at ADB's headquarters in Manila, Philippines, with relocation required. ADB offers competitive compensation and a comprehensive benefits package, including housing and education allowances (if applicable), expatriate benefits for international staff, retirement plans, medical and health benefits, paid leave (including parental leave), and life and other insurance plans. ADB encourages applications from all qualified candidates, regardless of their background, and particularly welcomes applications from women.