Sociologist, Southern Africa

CDM Smith; Pretoria; On-site; ZAR 800,000 - 1,200,000; Full time

Job summary

CDM Smith seeks a Sociologist to lead baseline socioeconomic assessment for the Lesotho-Botswana Water Transfer project. The role designs data collection, analyzes affordability, supports demand projections, addresses land access and affected communities, and ensures gender inclusion and social safeguards are integrated into route confirmation and preliminary design.

Professional engagement depends on project award; travel 20-40% is expected, with collaboration across land survey, GIS, demand,

Qualifications

• Master's degree in social sciences (anthropology, sociology, social work, history, heritage, psychology, political science or economics).
• Minimum of 15 years of work experience in social impact assessments, resettlement and compensation for large projects.
• Knowledge of MDB environmental and social safeguards and related laws in L-BWT states.

Responsibilities

• Lead the socioeconomic assessment and affordability-analysis methodology.
• Design field surveys, questionnaires, stakeholder interviews, and data quality controls.
• Analyze income, expenditure, affordability, water consumption, and demographics using disaggregated data.
• Support population projections, demand scenarios, and willingness-to-pay analyses.
• Assess social impacts including displacement, land access, and community benefits.
• Coordinate with land survey, GIS, economists, route, ESIA, and engineering teams.
• Guide stakeholder engagement and landowner interactions for affected communities.
• Ensure alignment with social laws and MDB safeguards.

Skills

Socioeconomic surveys

Social-impact assessment

Gender inclusion

Stakeholder engagement

Data analysis

Education

Master's degree in social sciences

15+ years of work experience

Job description

Company Overview

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Our employees are the heart of our company. As an employer of choice, our goal is to provide a challenging, progressive and inclusive work environment which fosters personal leadership, career growth and development for every employee. We value passionate individuals who challenge the norm, deliver world-class solutions and bring diverse perspectives. Join our team, and together we will make a difference and change the world.

Job Description

Project Overview

_The Orange-Senqu River Commission (ORASECOM) is seeking consulting services to conduct a technical feasibility study and produce the preliminary design for the water conveyance system of the Lesotho to Botswana Water Transfer Scheme. The bulk water transfer scheme is intended to mobilize water in Lesotho and convey it through South Africa to Botswana, while supplying users along the route. The study will assess and integrate technical, financial, environmental, regulatory, institutional, social, and climate considerations to support financing and implementation decisions._

_The assignment covers route confirmation, demand and socioeconomic assessment, topographical and cadastral surveys, geotechnical and materials investigations, climate risk assessment, hydraulic modelling and optimization, preliminary design of pipelines, pump stations, reservoirs and supporting infrastructure, cost estimation, economic analysis, and preparation of detailed-design terms of reference and a Record of Implementation Decision._

Position Description

_CDM Smith is seeking a Sociologist to lead the baseline socioeconomic assessment and social inputs to the anticipated feasibility study. The position will design and oversee socioeconomic data collection and analysis, assess affordability and consumption patterns, support demand projections, address land access and affected-community considerations, and ensure gender, inclusion, resettlement, compensation, and social-safeguard findings are integrated into route confirmation and preliminary design._

_Professional engagement is contingent on project award and client approval._

Responsibilities

• Develop and obtain approval for the socioeconomic-assessment and affordability-analysis methodology.
• Design and oversee questionnaires, field surveys, stakeholder interviews, consultations, data-quality controls, and statistical analyses across demand centres and affected communities.
• Analyze household income, expenditure, affordability, water consumption, service levels, poverty, migration, health, gender, disability, vulnerable groups, and demographic conditions using disaggregated data.
• Support present and future population estimates, spatial distribution, growth scenarios, water-demand projections, willingness-to-pay, and ability-to-pay analysis.
• Assess social impacts related to route refinement, physical and economic displacement, land acquisition, servitudes, access, construction disruption, and community benefits.
• Coordinate with land survey, GIS, demand, economist, route, ESIA, and engineering teams and incorporate social recommendations into preliminary design and feasibility reporting.
• Support stakeholder analysis, consultation strategy, information dissemination, landowner engagement, and documentation for affected properties and communities.
• Ensure alignment with applicable social laws and multilateral development bank environmental and social safeguards.

Skills & Abilities

• Socioeconomic survey design, field implementation, statistical analysis, and interpretation.
• Social-impact assessment, resettlement, compensation, land-access, and livelihood-restoration expertise.
• Strong understanding of gender equality, inclusion, vulnerability, affordability, willingness-to-pay, and service-level analysis.
• Ability to integrate social and demographic findings with engineering design, demand forecasting, economic analysis, and ESIA processes.
• Strong stakeholder engagement, facilitation, culturally appropriate communication, and report-writing skills.

Qualifications

• At least a master's degree in social sciences (anthropology, sociology, social work, history, heritage architecture, psychology, political science or economics)
• Minimum of 15 years of work experience in preparing and implementing social impact assessments, resettlement and compensation plans for large projects, preferably in Southern Africa.
• Familiarity with MDB's environmental and social safeguards policies and applicable environmental and social laws in the State Parties of the L-BWT (Lesotho, Botswana, South Africa) is a necessity
• Knowledge and experience in the field of gender issues and inclusivity.

Preferred Qualifications

• Social-assessment experience on large linear infrastructure, bulk-water, pipeline, or regional water-supply projects in Lesotho, Botswana, or South Africa.
• Demonstrated knowledge of social-impact, resettlement, compensation, land-acquisition, servitude, and stakeholder-engagement requirements in the L-BWT State Parties.
• Experience applying African Development Bank or comparable multilateral development bank environmental and social safeguards to feasibility-stage infrastructure.
• Experience conducting household surveys and affordability, willingness-to-pay, consumption, poverty, gender, disability, health, and vulnerable-group analyses across diverse communities.
• Experience coordinating community-level consultation across urban, peri-urban, rural, agricultural, and road-reserve settings in Southern Africa.
• Working knowledge of relevant local languages and cultural or administrative contexts along the proposed conveyance corridor.

Amount of Travel Required

20% - 40%

Background Check and Drug Testing Information

CDM Smith Inc. and its divisions and subsidiaries (hereafter collectively referred to as "CDM Smith") reserves the right to require background checks including criminal, employment, education, licensure, etc. as well as credit and motor vehicle when applicable for certain positions. In addition, CDM Smith may conduct drug testing for designated positions. Background checks are conducted after an offer of employment has been made in the United States. The timing of when background checks will be conducted on candidates for positions outside the United States will vary based on country statutory law but in no case, will the background check precede an interview. CDM Smith will conduct interviews of qualified individuals prior to requesting a criminal background check, and no job application submitted prior to such interview shall inquire into an applicant's criminal history. If this position is subject to a background check for any convictions related to its responsibilities and requirements, employment will be contingent upon successful completion of a background investigation including criminal history. Criminal history will not automatically disqualify a candidate. In addition, during employment individuals may be required by CDM Smith or a CDM Smith client to successfully complete additional background checks, including motor vehicle record as well as drug testing.

Additional Pay Range Information

CDM Smith is committed to fair and equitable compensation practices. This pay range is a good faith estimate representative of all experience levels for the geographic location assigned to the position. In addition to geographic location, a candidate's salary is determined by several other factors including, but not limited to, the role, function and associated responsibilities, relevant work experience, skills, required certifications, and education/training.

Additional Compensation

All bonuses at CDM Smith are discretionary and may or may not apply to this position.

Visa Sponsorship Available

No - We are not open to sponsoring for this position