Corporate Social & Welfare Manager

About the Role

ACWA is seeking a Corporate Social & Welfare Manager to enhance labor rights and worker welfare across its international project portfolio. This full-time position is based in Makkah, specifically in Jeddah or Makkah, Saudi Arabia. The role involves providing corporate oversight of labor practices within construction contractor workforces and driving the implementation of established frameworks. The Corporate Social & Welfare Manager will report to the Global Head of Environmental & Social.

Role Context and Focus

This is a senior specialist position with global reach, focusing on the welfare of workers engaged through construction contractors. The manager will work closely with regional and project E&S teams, EPC contractors, and corporate stakeholders to ensure international labor standards and lender requirements are effectively translated into on-the-ground practices. Key areas include responsible recruitment, working conditions, accommodation, human rights, and access to effective grievance mechanisms. The role also involves representing ACWA in discussions with lenders and investors.

Key Responsibilities

• Oversee the implementation of corporate labor rights and worker welfare frameworks across projects.
• Engage with lenders and investors, demonstrate social compliance, and lead responses to labor and welfare concerns.
• Support project teams in identifying labor risks, implementing corrective actions, and verifying improvements.
• Assess contractor and subcontractor practices covering recruitment, employment conditions, worker accommodation, and welfare facilities.
• Strengthen monitoring and reporting systems to provide clear evidence of performance against lender requirements.
• Guide project teams on workforce grievance mechanisms, human rights risks, and prevention of gender-based violence and harassment.
• Build capability through practical guidance and training for E&S teams, relevant employees, and contractors.
• Collaborate with HR, Legal, and Compliance to address complex labor and welfare matters.

Qualifications and Experience

• Over 10 years of practical experience applying international labor standards and lender requirements, including relevant IFC Performance Standards, ILO standards, and development finance institution frameworks.
• Demonstrated experience engaging directly with lenders, responding to due diligence or monitoring findings, and delivering corrective actions.
• Strong understanding of contractor workforce risks, responsible recruitment, working conditions, and worker accommodation.
• Experience implementing social or labor management frameworks across multiple projects or countries.
• Ability to influence project leaders and contractors, constructively challenge gaps, and secure action without direct reporting authority.
• Willingness to travel internationally to project sites.
• Experience within an EPC contractor, energy developer, specialist consultancy, or international financial institution is valuable.

Work Environment

This role offers an opportunity to improve worker welfare across an international energy and water project portfolio. It combines practical project engagement with corporate influence and direct lender interaction. ACWA welcomes applications from internationally experienced professionals open to being based in Saudi Arabia.