Senior Social Sector Officer

The position of Senior Social Sector Officer (Health) is assigned in the Human and Social Development Sector Office (SG-HSD) within the Sectors Group (SG). SG aims to deliver impactful sector strategy, initiatives, and integrated solutions that advance ADB’s strategic agenda in the region and with ADB’s clients. The SG, which is comprised of seven sector offices, supports the delivery of sovereign, nonsovereign, and advisory operations; delivers knowledge services; supports regional departments (RDs) and resident missions (RMs) in engaging with developing member countries (DMCs); and ensures ADB’s technical leadership externally and internally.   

SG-HSD leads policy dialogue, initiatives, and solutions in the human and social development sectors (education, health, social protection, and in broader social development initiatives). SG-HSD is responsible for (i) conceptualizing, processing, and administering lending, grant, and technical assistance (TA) operations; (ii) developing and delivering knowledge services and products to DMCs; and (iii) leading technical work on sector diagnostics and road maps, and contributing to business development efforts.  

You will be based at our Lao PDR Resident Mission in Vientiane.

You will report to the designated International Staff or Director, SG-HSD on operational and policy-related matters and to the Country Director, LRM on day-to-day administrative matters. You will oversee administrative staff.

Your Role

As a Senior Social Sector Officer (Health), you will provide expertise in social sector development, especially health and social protection. Together with the International Staff, you will take a lead role in processing and administering ADB’s lending and non-lending programs and projects in health and social protection in the Lao PDR. You will collaborate with government, development partners, the private sector, and civil society organizations to improve the quality and coverage of social services.

You will:

• Provide social sector inputs to support formulation of ADB country partnership strategies for the Lao PDR and the annual country programming and portfolio review mission and meetings.
• Support policy dialogue with the government on social sector issues.
• Contribute to preparation of sector assessments, strategies and roadmaps for the social sectors.
• Support policy reform initiatives related to the social sectors by monitoring key policy reforms, analyzing data, gathering information, and preparing background papers.
• Maintain up-to-date knowledge of current and future government investment plans and approval processes, organizational structures, and policies relevant to the social sectors.
• Contribute and/or co-lead loan, grant and TA identification and processing in collaboration with ADB staff, government, and other development partners.
• Coordinate with government line ministries, particularly the Ministry of Planning and Investment and Ministry of Finance to ensure project readiness, timely loan and grant negotiations and signing, and timely loan/grant effectiveness.
• Effectively administer loan, grant and TA assistance by leading and participating in review missions, monitoring implementation progress, identifying technical issues, and advising clients on actions to address them.
• Ensure that ADB-financed operations are implemented in compliance with procurement, financial management, safeguards and other ADB and government requirements.
• Monitor compliance with loan and grant covenants.
• Ensure that ADB-financed operations are implemented in accordance with ADB and government anti-corruption policies.
• Prepare project completion reports and TA completion reports.
• Prepare a range of other reports, management briefs, and other documents related to assigned projects and sectors.
• Engage with government, development partners, the private sector, and civil society organizations to further improve the quality and coverage of social services.
• Explore potential areas of collaboration in the social sectors with other development partners.
• Represent ADB in various social sector working group meetings and facilitate inter-agency coordination.
• Provide inputs to ADB and government development effectiveness reviews and reports.
• Produce progress reports, as required, on the tasks undertaken under the work plan.
• Prepare background and issue papers on social sector development and contribute to the identification and documentation of good practices.
• Participate in portfolio review meetings.
• Provide guidance to administrative staff.
• Perform other duties as assigned and reflected in staff’s workplan.

Qualifications

You will need:

• Bachelor’s degree in social sciences, public health, education, or related fields, preferably with Master’s Degree or equivalent.
• At least 8 years of relevant professional experience in public health and/or in development partner-financed project preparation and administration, with at least 4 years supervisory experience.
• Extensive knowledge of government policies, reforms and programs in social sectors and social development. Familiarity with government procedures, structure and institutions. Work experience within the Ministry of Health would be an advantage.
• Strong capacity to communicate with government agencies, development partners, civil society organizations and stakeholders.
• Understanding of ADB policies and procedures would be an advantage.
• Excellent analytical skills.
• Flexibility and willingness to perform a variety of tasks and expand the scope of work and responsibilities as needed.
• Ability to work effectively, proactively and collaboratively in a team-oriented environment.
• Proficiency in computer applications, especially word processing, spreadsheets, e-mail, and SharePoint.
• Strong oral and written English and Lao communication skills.
• Please refer to the link for ADB Competency Framework for NS3.
• Please refer to the link for ADB Competency Framework for NS4.

Source: https://www.adb.org/careers/240539