Social/Gender Specialist

About SMEC

For 75 years, SMEC has built a reputation as a trusted partner on major transport and energy infrastructure projects around the world. Our design leaders and specialist teams draw on deep expertise and experience delivering projects across a range of diverse environments, from some of the world’s most remote locations to some of the densest urban surroundings.

We understand the value of relationships to ensure that we comprehensively address all requirements at each stage in a project’s development. By closely collaborating with our clients, contractors, subcontractors and asset operators, we deliver commercially informed design thinking through local specialists who understand on-the-ground context and industry expectations.

Along with parent company the SJ Group, 2016-2022 was a period of significant growth and development for SMEC. Spanning 40+ countries and with the specialist expertise of over 5,000 employees, SMEC continued to deliver complex major projects, world-class technical excellence and advanced engineering solutions. As part of the SJ Group, SMEC is able to leverage the capabilities of our parent and sister companies to operate flexibly and effectively in local and global markets. We have access to global network of design and engineering expertise, with 16,000 colleagues across 10 multi-disciplinary brands including architects, designers, planners, engineers and other specialists.

About the Role 

We are seeking an experienced Social / Gender Specialist to support the planning, design, and implementation of major road and highway infrastructure projects in Papua New Guinea. The successful candidate will lead social and gender assessments, stakeholder engagement activities, and gender mainstreaming initiatives to ensure project compliance with international development partner requirements and safeguard standards.

Responsibilities

• Lead social impact assessments and socio-economic baseline studies for road and highway projects.

• Conduct field surveys, stakeholder interviews, focus group discussions, and community consultations.

• Develop mitigation measures to address project-related social risks and adverse impacts.

• Ensure stakeholder engagement activities are culturally appropriate and inclusive.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent in social sciences or related field

• Minimum 5 years’ experience in social safeguards assessment, and gender mainstreaming, preferably for transport projects, funded by MDBs. 

• Male or female

• Good communication in English Language

Preferred Skills

• Stakeholder Engagement

• Social Impact Assessment

• Cultural Sensitivity

• Project Coordination

• Monitoring & Evaluation

• Technical Report Writing