Environmental & Social Manager

About the Company

Etihad Development Company, a subsidiary of Etihad Water & Electricity, is a premier developer handling major infrastructure projects across the GCC and CIS regions, specializing in Conventional Power, Environment, and Renewable energy sectors.

Role Summary

The Environmental & Social (E&S) Manager will lead and oversee environmental and social management activities for energy infrastructure projects during their execution phase. This role ensures strict compliance with IFC Performance Standards, Equator Principles, World Bank Group EHS Guidelines, lender mandates, and local laws. The manager provides strategic direction for the Environmental and Social Management System (ESMS), supervises contractors' E&S performance, manages stakeholder engagement, and drives the identification, mitigation, monitoring, and reporting of environmental and social risks throughout project lifecycles. Additionally, the role supports corporate governance in E&S matters and promotes continuous improvements.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead development, implementation, and ongoing enhancement of the ESMS.
• Create and maintain the Social Management System (SMS) aligned with UAE laws and international benchmarks.
• Develop and execute a Stakeholder Engagement Plan reflecting Dubai’s societal and cultural context and leveraging experience from Central Asia, Far East, and Middle East.
• Manage the Grievance Mechanism ensuring tracking, resolution, and reporting consistent with IFC PS1 and PS4 standards.
• Identify, assess, and mitigate social impacts such as economic displacement, livelihood disruptions, vulnerability, gender issues, cultural diversity, and service access.
• Coordinate socioeconomic research and stakeholder mapping, utilizing methodologies applicable to relevant regional projects.
• Integrate social criteria into engineering, construction, and procurement processes.
• Lead both internal and external social audits and ensure corrective action plans are implemented.
• Oversee environmental and social compliance throughout engineering, procurement, construction, commissioning, and handover phases.
• Ensure EPC contractors, Owner's Engineer, and subcontractors comply with E&S contractual, lender, and regulatory requirements.
• Monitor the application of Environmental and Social Management Plans, Biodiversity Action Plans, Labour Management Plans, Stakeholder Engagement Plans, and Grievance Mechanisms.
• Conduct environmental and social audits, inspections, and compliance checks, tracking required corrective and preventive measures.
• Provide input on E&S risks for project risk registers and advise leadership on emerging issues.
• Maintain effective relations with regulators, lenders, local communities, and other stakeholders.
• Analyze environmental monitoring data, social performance indicators, and prepare reports for lenders.
• Support requirements relating to permits, land access, community relations, labor conditions, and human rights compliance.
• Define project E&S Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) and communicate progress to senior management and financiers.
• Conduct training sessions for project teams and contractors on E&S compliance and best practices consistent with international standards.

Expected Deliverables

• Fully functional Environmental and Social Management System.
• Reports documenting Environmental and Social Compliance.
• Lender-focused Environmental and Social monitoring reports.
• Audit documentation and corrective action tracking.
• Dashboards reflecting E&S KPIs for management review.
• Effective management of environmental and social risks throughout the project lifecycle.
• Social compliance matrices and periodic lender/institutional stakeholder updates.

Experience & Qualifications

• More than 10 years specializing in Environmental & Social management within infrastructure, renewable energy, thermal power, water, mining, or major EPC projects.
• Proven expertise with IFC Performance Standards, Equator Principles, and compliance in lender-funded projects.
• Track record overseeing E&S performance throughout project execution and managing contractor obligations.
• Experience operating in the Middle East region is essential; Central Asia experience is a significant advantage.

Core Competencies

• Leadership capabilities in environmental and social governance frameworks.
• Hands-on project execution oversight and contractor management skills.
• Proficiency in stakeholder engagement and conflict resolution techniques.
• Expertise in risk evaluation and reporting to meet lender standards.
• Strong communication and persuasive skills to influence diverse teams and stakeholders.