Gender and Social Development Expert - based in Luxembourg (Entity: EIB - Job ID: 111387)

Job ID:111387Entity:European Investment BankDeadline:

This position is based at our Luxembourg headquarters and requires regular office presence. The EIB offers you the opportunity to live and work in a truly international and multi-cultural environment. We also offer relocation support.

The EIB, the European Union's bank, is seeking to recruit for its Projects Directorate (PJ) - Innovation & Competitiveness Department (INCO) - Circular Economy & Sustainable Development Division, at its headquarters in Luxembourg, a Gender and Social Development Expert *.

This is a full-time temporary position at grade 5.

The term of this contract will be 2 years.

*internal benchmark (Sector) Transversal Specialist

Panel interviews are foreseen as from June 2026.

Purpose

Help shape and strengthen the Bank's approach to social risk management while championing social inclusion and gender equality across the full project cycle (from project preparation and due diligence to completion). You will contribute to policy development, practical guidance and capacity building, ensuring our work remains fully aligned with the EIB's Environmental and Social Sustainability Framework and with EIB/EU requirements and priorities.

Specific Post Environment

Working within a multidisciplinary team of social, environmental, climate and other specialists, the Gender and Social Development Expert reports to the Head of Division. You will collaborate closely with colleagues across the Department, the Projects Directorate (PJ) and other Directorates, building strong partnerships to deliver high-quality support across operations.

Alongside capacity building, you will provide hands-on support to project teams on social due diligence, with a focus on indigenous peoples and other vulnerable groups-helping to identify and manage risks while strengthening inclusive project design and delivery.

Operating Network

Internal contacts: Department experts, other experts across Projects, Global and Operation Directorates, Portfolio management and Monitoring.

External contacts: Represent the EIB externally on social topics in so far as relevant to the specific sector / department.

Accountabilities

In general, the Gender and Social Development Expert will:

• Help clients meet EIB social standards and integrate practical measures that advance social inclusion and gender equality - through advisory work, technical assistance, and hands‑on support.
• Guide sector teams on social risks and impacts, with a strong focus on vulnerable groups and indigenous peoples, while identifying opportunities to strengthen gender and social outcomes across the project cycle.
• Shape and share knowledge by capturing lessons learned, delivering capacity‑building activities, and promoting good practices across the department.
• Co‑develop sector tools that measure both direct and indirect social impacts of EIB investments.
• Work closely with social development colleagues across PJ and the wider Bank to ensure a coherent, aligned approach to social risk management, gender equality, and inclusion.

More specifically, the job of the Gender and Social Development Expert entails:

Support the appraisal and implementation of sector projects in the INCO department by:

• Spot opportunities for gender and social inclusion and help teams integrate them into project design and implementation.
• Lead or contribute to social due diligence, reviewing assessments and studies, especially those concerning vulnerable groups and indigenous peoples.
• Participate in project appraisals, including missions for high‑risk operations, to assess compliance and eligibility for EIB financing.
• Monitor project performance, ensuring contractual social requirements are met and intended social outcomes are achieved.
• Provide expert input on social‑related complaints and information disclosure requests.
• Oversee consultancy assignments supporting due diligence, social studies, and technical assistance.
• Share knowledge and best practices, contributing to internal learning and continuous improvement.
• Deliver training on EIB social standards and thematic areas such as human rights, digital impacts, gender in social infrastructure, and indigenous peoples' engagement.
• Support the evolution of EIB social standards, representing the department in relevant working groups.
• Advance the Bank's work on vulnerable groups and social inclusion, ensuring tools and guidance are aligned with operational needs.
• Build partnerships internally and externally to strengthen the department's impact and reach.

Qualifications

• University degree (minimum an equivalent to a Bachelor) in a relevant field (e.g. statistics, political sciences, development studies, economics, sociology, anthropology, environmental law or another relevant discipline).

• At least 5 years of recent and relevant professional experience within an international development and/or financial institution, consultancy firm, fund, or corporate or government department or equivalent.

• Some knowledge and understanding of EIBG policies and procedures, and relevant EU policies and regulations including on EU taxonomy for sustainable activities and ESG.

• Experience with the identification of opportunities for gender inclusion and women empowerment, stakeholder engagement, and groups approaches.

• Experience with working with vulnerable groups such as indigenous peoples would be an advantage.

• Sound knowledge of international good practice related to social due diligence and on the ground practical experience in their application in a project context -would be an advantage.

• Excellent knowledge of English and/or French (***), with a good command of the other. (Knowledge of other EU languages would be an advantage).

We're looking for someone who will bring experience working confidently with diverse stakeholders in interdisciplinary and multicultural settings, combining excellent analytical skills with a practical, solution-oriented mindset and ease with digital tools. You're someone who stays composed and effective in sensitive or high-pressure environments, communicates clearly, and builds constructive relationships that help move complex work forward.

Competencies

Find out more about EIB core behavioural skills here

To find out more about our eligibility criteria click here

(***) Unless stated explicitly as a required qualification, a good command of French is not a pre-requisite for hire. As both English and French are however official working languages of the EIB, proficiency in both languages is a pre-requisite for your future career development. Any language clause in your contract must be fulfilled in order for you to be eligible for a promotion (either via the annual appraisal cycle or via an internal selection process). Proficiency is understood to mean the attainment of level 5 of the Inter Institutional language courses, corresponding to B1.2 of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFRL). The Bank offers appropriate training support.

We hire and value talent with unique characteristics, creating a work environment where they can be themselves. We believe that Diversity, Equity and Inclusion makes us a performing and innovative organisation. We encourage all suitably qualified and eligible candidates to apply regardless of their gender identity/expression, age, racial, ethnic and cultural background, religion and beliefs, sexual orientation, disability or neurodiversity.

If you require reasonable accommodation during the recruitment process due to a disability, neurodivergence, or a chronic health condition, please contact the EIB Recruitment team [email protected] who will manage your request appropriately.

By applying for this position, you acknowledge the importance of maintaining the security and integrity of the Information of the EIB Group. In case of selection for the position you agree to comply with all measures (policies, controls, document classification and management) implemented by the EIB Group to prevent unauthorised disclosure of any information or any damage to the EIB Group reputation.

This is an open campaign to consecutively fill open positions. The campaign will remain open until position is filled. Applications will be reviewed in order of receipt.

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