Social Manager

Social Manager – Türkiye

Location: Türkiye – Project Sites, Sivas & Taşeli

Function: Environmental & Social / Social Performance

About the Role

ACWA is looking for an experienced Social Manager to support our projects in Sivas and Taşeli, Türkiye .

This is a site-focused role responsible for managing the project's social performance, community relations and stakeholder engagement activities , ensuring commitments made through the project's environmental and social frameworks are effectively implemented.

The Social Manager will act as a key interface between the project, local communities, contractors, authorities and other stakeholders, with particular responsibility for stakeholder engagement, grievance management, resettlement and livelihood restoration, community development and lender compliance .

Key Responsibilities

• Manage and coordinate project social commitments in accordance with the ESIA, ESAP, RAP, LRP, CDP, ESMPs and wider ESMS .
• Develop and implement Stakeholder Engagement Plans , maintaining stakeholder mapping and ensuring meaningful and ongoing consultation.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with local communities, authorities and other project stakeholders .
• Manage the project's grievance mechanism , ensuring community concerns and complaints are properly recorded, investigated, addressed and closed.
• Support implementation of resettlement, livelihood restoration and community development programmes .
• Coordinate community investment, local employment and other social initiatives in collaboration with project teams and local partners.
• Lead the planning and budgeting of community relations and stakeholder engagement activities.
• Monitor emerging community issues, concerns and stakeholder interests and ensure appropriate follow-up.
• Ensure compliance with applicable Turkish regulations, IFC Performance Standards, EBRD Performance Requirements, Equator Principles and lender requirements .
• Maintain accurate social and ESMS records, including grievance registers, incident records, NCRs and corrective action reports.
• Monitor contractor and subcontractor social performance and ensure compliance with project ESMP and ESMS requirements.
• Conduct regular social and ESMS audits and coordinate corrective and preventative actions.
• Deliver social induction, awareness and toolbox training to project personnel and subcontractors.
• Coordinate and support external consultants undertaking social, community relations or stakeholder engagement activities.
• Prepare social performance reports and provide regular updates to Project and Senior Management.
• Monitor social investment budgets, expenditure and associated reporting.

What We're Looking For

• Bachelor's degree in Social Sciences, Environmental Sciences, Economics, Rural Development or a related discipline.
• Minimum 7 years' relevant professional experience within community relations, social performance, stakeholder engagement or a similar field.
• At least 3 years' experience supporting heavy industrial, infrastructure, energy or major construction projects in a community relations or social management capacity.
• Minimum 2 years' project-based experience in stakeholder engagement, resettlement and/or livelihood restoration .
• Strong practical experience working with ESIA/ESAP, RAP, LRP, Stakeholder Engagement Plans, grievance mechanisms and ESMS frameworks .
• Previous experience implementing an ESMS on at least one internationally financed project aligned with IFC Performance Standards or equivalent lender requirements.
• Strong knowledge of IFC Performance Standards and/or EBRD Performance Requirements, Equator Principles or similar international lender standards .
• Demonstrated ability to engage effectively with local communities, authorities, contractors and other external stakeholders .
• Experience managing or supervising teams and reporting to senior management.
• Strong organisational, reporting and Microsoft Office skills.
• Ability and willingness to work in a project-site environment .
• Fluent Turkish and English are required.

Key Competencies

• Stakeholder and community relationship management
• Collaboration and influencing
• Leadership and team development
• Accountability and ownership
• Results orientation
• Strong communication and conflict-resolution skills
• Ability to operate effectively across project, contractor and community environments

Why Join ACWA?

ACWA is a leading developer, investor and operator of power generation, renewable energy and desalinated water projects across multiple international markets.

This role offers the opportunity to play a key part in ensuring major infrastructure projects in Türkiye are delivered responsibly, maintaining strong relationships with local communities while meeting international environmental and social standards.