Social/Gender Specialist for Road Infrastructure Projects

About the role

SMEC is looking for an experienced Social/Gender Specialist to support the planning, design, and implementation of major road and highway projects in Papua New Guinea. The role will lead social and gender assessments, stakeholder engagement, and gender mainstreaming to meet international development partner requirements.

Key responsibilities

• Lead social impact assessments and socio‑economic baseline studies for road and highway projects.
• Conduct field surveys, stakeholder interviews, focus groups, and community consultations.
• Develop mitigation measures to address social risks and adverse impacts.
• Ensure stakeholder engagement activities are culturally appropriate and inclusive.

Required profile

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent in social sciences or a related field.
• Minimum 5 years of experience in social safeguards assessment and gender mainstreaming, preferably on transport projects funded by multilateral development banks.
• Strong communication skills in English.

Required skills

• Stakeholder Engagement
• Social Impact Assessment
• Cultural Sensitivity
• Project Coordination
• Monitoring & Evaluation
• Technical Report Writing

What we offer

• Opportunity to work on high‑impact infrastructure projects in a diverse environment.
• Collaboration with a global network of engineering and design professionals.
• Supportive workplace that values talent, teamwork, and creativity.