INTRODUCTION

 

The Caribbean Development Bank (CDB/the Bank) is seeking to recruit a national from its Member Countries to fill the position of Operations Officer (Social Analyst) in the Social Sector Division (SSD) of the Projects Department.  The successful candidate will be based at CDB’s headquarters in St. Michael, Barbados.

 

THE DIVISION

 

The Social Sector Division (SSD) of the Projects Department is responsible for the preparation/appraisal and supervision of projects in education and training, human settlements (including sites and services) agriculture and rural development, citizen security and youth development. SSD also has responsibility for the Basic Needs Trust Fund (BNTF), for gender mainstreaming and monitoring of social safeguards across the Bank’s operations. SSD is also engaged in research and the development of knowledge products in the above areas These areas of work are central to the Bank's Strategic Objective of Building Social Resilience and assisting BMCs meet the development targets as set out in the SDGs particularly SDG - 1, 4, 5,10 and 12.

 

THE ROLE

 

Operations Officers (OOs) are collectively responsible for identification of potential projects and TA interventions for inclusion in the Bank’s pipeline.  The OO (Social Analyst) is responsible for providing social and community development expertise.  They are expected to stay abreast of advances in the social development discipline, drawing on international experience and research.  In addition, they are required to identify areas of operational policy, procedure and practice for improvement of “lessons learned” and best practices, to support programme/project development activities and project performance assessments.

 

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

 

The responsibilities of the OO (Social Analyst) include:

• Conducting research and analyses on social issues towards timely identification of potential policy direction or projects including determination of the need for technical assistance and the eligibility for Bank financing.

 

• Contributing, either as team coordinator or team member, to the preparation and appraisal of loan/grant financing proposals in respect of assigned capital and technical assistance projects, in keeping with the Bank’s policies, procedures and guidelines.
• Providing guidance to the Bank’s BMCs and clients on application of Bank policies and procedures including participatory methodologies relating to project development, appraisal, monitoring of implementation and evaluation for development effectiveness of assigned projects. 
• Monitoring progress during the implementation and operational phases of the project cycle through field visits and/or desk reviews of relevant reports including comparisons with identified financial, physical and institutional monitoring indicators.
• Reviewing and commenting on notices for advertisement, prequalification, tender evaluation and other reports and agree qualification lists, contract award recommendations or other appropriate action as necessary.
• Supervising approving projects, reviewing and authorising disbursement claims including preparation/review of project reports for consistency with CDB’s policies and procedures and compliance standards, and apply lessons learned continuously.
• Monitoring of social safeguards across the Bank’s operations to ensure compliance with the Bank’s Environmental and Social Review procedures.
• Researching and developing policy papers or other recommendations for enhancing the efficiency of the Bank’s operations in general or project identification, preparation and appraisal in particular.
• Producing evidence-based social policy analysis as an integral part of the work of SSD and contribute to monitoring the causes, distribution and routes out of poverty and vulnerability.
• Contributing to the preparation of annual work plans, annual reports, reviews and impact assessments of BMC projects, including CDB and donor reports, in the Results-Based Management and other required formats and programme-related cases studies and programme research.

 

QUALIFICATIONS AND COMPETENCIES

 

The OO (Social Analyst) must have a strong client-orientation and inter-personal skills with the proven ability to work cooperatively with multi-disciplinary teams and all levels of staff.  The successful candidate will have the ability to lead in the provision of social and community development expertise and to contribute technical input on the social analysis of project proposals.

 

 

The successful candidate should have:

 

• A post-graduate degree in the Social Sciences, Arts or Natural Sciences.

 

• A minimum of eight years’ experience in applied social analysis and social policy formulation, including at least five years’ practical experience in the use of participatory methods and approaches in social planning and project management.

 

• Direct hands-on experience providing advice or consultation on social issues to communities, public institutions or governments and knowledge of a broad range of qualitative and quantitative social research methods for analysis and monitoring.

 

• A good grasp of socio-economic, social policy and institutional development issues as they relate to poverty reduction and gender equality issues in English-speaking Caribbean Countries.

 

• Experience working with national governments, regional and international organisations.

 

 

 

FUNCTION-SPECIFIC COMPETENCIES

 

The OO (Social Analyst) should have:

 

• Demonstrated ability to achieve results.
• Ability to communicate complex issues and opinions effectively through verbal and written presentations to peers, senior management, government officials and other key stakeholders.
• Ability to perform a facilitative role for groups at all levels of technical capacity.
• Ability to deal sensitively in a multicultural environment and build effective working relationships with diverse clients and colleagues.

 

Behavioural Competencies 

 

Competency	Definition
Delivering High Quality Work	Critically reviews work processes to ensure quality; addresses problems that could impact quality; makes sure project deliverables and services meet all requirements and expectations; does not make the same mistakes twice.
Displaying Technical Expertise	Keeps his/her technical skills current; effectively applies specialised knowledge and skills to perform work tasks; understands and masters the technical skills, knowledge, and tasks associated with his/her job; shares technical expertise with others.
Acting Strategically	Aligns day-to-day activities around broader organisational goals and objectives; prioritises resources based on the strategic objectives of the organisation; recognises and rewards people based on how their actions support the broader needs of the organisation.
Acting Decisively	Moves quickly to make decisions and commits to a clear course of action; comfortable making decisions based on partial information; willing to take risks in order to maintain momentum; shows a strong bias toward action.
Communicating Effectively	Consistently communicates with clarity and thoroughness to optimise audience understanding. Communicates information in a clear, concise, and timely manner. Demonstrates effective speaking and presentation skills.
Driving for Results	Bottom-line oriented and pushes self and others to achieve results. Keeps current on project status; makes sure people are aware of project status and what they need to do to keep things moving; redirects project resources and activities to overcome setbacks; elevates project concerns to senior levels of leadership when appropriate.
Acting as a Champion for Change	Actively identifies problems and opportunities for change and implements solutions where appropriate. Maintains effectiveness when experiencing major changes in work tasks or the work environment; and supports people in their efforts to try new things.

TERMS OF APPOINTMENT

This is a full-time position with the successful candidate being contracted on a two-year basis in the first instance, with the possibility of renewal.  The salary is competitive and commensurate with qualifications and experience.  A pension plan, life and medical insurances are included in the benefits package.

 

Before you proceed to apply, please consider the following requirements: 

• You must be a national of one of CDB’s member countries.

• You will be required to produce evidence of any educational and professional qualifications to support your application if you are selected for an interview.

• All appointments are subject to satisfactory background checks and references.

 

CDB fully respects the need for confidentiality of the information supplied and assures you that we will not discuss your background and interest with anyone, including references, without your prior consent.

 

The deadline for submission of applications is September 26, 2023 at 11:59 pm AST.