Location

Post of duty: Washington, District of Columbia, USA.

We Improve Lives

The IDB Group is a community of diverse, versatile, and passionate people who come together on a journey to improve lives in Latin America and the Caribbean. Our people find purpose and do what they love in an inclusive, collaborative, agile, and rewarding environment.

About This Position

The Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) seeks an accomplished and visionary Treasury and Risk Principal Specialist leader to head its Enterprise Risk Management (ERM) Group, reporting directly to the Chief Risk Officer (CRO). This Group plays a critical second-line role in ensuring that the IDB has a robust, integrated, and forward-looking approach to managing enterprise-wide risks, including emerging risk, operational risk, technology-related risk, Internal Control over Financial Reporting (ICFR), and compliance coordination. As the Bank undergoes digital transformation and process modernization, the Group Head will be expected to lead the design, implementation, and enhancement of the Bank’s ERM Framework, embedding risk management practices into decision-making and using technology, automation, and data analytics to deliver better insights and stronger organizational resilience. In addition, the Group Head will contribute to continuous process improvement, to leverage new technologies—particularly AI, process automation, and data analytics—to strengthen risk frameworks, and enhance operational efficiency.

What You'll Do

Strategic Leadership

• Act as a key advisor to the CRO and Senior Management, providing a holistic, forward-looking view of enterprise risk.

Enterprise Risk Management Framework

• Define and maintain the Bank-wide Risk Taxonomy, risk appetite statement, and key risk indicators.
• Design, implement, and continuously improve the Enterprise Risk Management (ERM) Framework, ensuring it aligns with best practices (e.g., COSO (Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission) ERM, ISO 31000) and the Bank’s strategic priorities.
• Lead  the Operational Risk Management Framework (ORMF) process, drive the integration of operational risk management practices across business processes, promote a proactive risk culture, and ensure that incident management, root cause analysis, and lessons learned are systematically captured and used to enhance resilience.
• Coordinate the institution-wide evaluation of the Internal Control over Financial Reporting (ICFR) framework, in alignment with COSO principles, ensuring effective testing, documentation, and remediation of control deficiencies.
• Coordinate compliance-related risk assessments and issue management across the institution.
• Develop and lead the risk identification and assessment process, integrating financial, operational, compliance, and other risk perspectives into a single institutional risk profile.
• In coordination with all RMG’s Groups, lead the building, and continuous improvement of a centralized risk dashboard leveraging technology and automation to deliver timely, actionable insights to relevant stakeholders, particularly Senior Management and the Board.

Innovation, Technology, and Process Improvement

• Champion the adoption of AI, machine learning, process automation, and advanced data analytics to improve risk monitoring, control testing, and reporting.
• Identify and recommend enterprise-wide process improvements, ensuring that risk management practices evolve with industry best practices and technological innovation. Drive continuous improvement of Bank-wide processes.
• Drive the digitalization of risk tools (e.g., risk and control self-assessments, key risk indicators, incident reporting, ICFR representation memoranda).
• Oversee and monitor RMG’s IT and capital projects, ensuring alignment with institutional priorities, risk management objectives, and digital transformation goals; serve as the primary liaison between RMG and the Technology Department on all such initiatives.

Governance and Reporting

• Provide regular and ad-hoc risk reports and dashboards for Senior Management Committees, and the Board of Executive Directors.
• Monitor key risk exposures and ensure consistent communication of risk appetite and tolerance levels across the Bank.
• Maintain and periodically update to incorporate leading practices the bank-wide Risk Taxonomy
• Establish and maintain a knowledge repository of methods, lessons learned, and best practices.
• Perform Secretary function for all committees chaired by RMG representatives.

Stakeholder Engagement and Capacity Building

• In coordination with RMG (Risk Management Group) / RMI (Risk Messaging and Identity), build and sustain strong working relationships with diverse stakeholders, including business unit leaders, other second line functions, internal audit, external auditors, and peer institutions.
• Promote a culture of risk awareness and accountability through targeted training, workshops, and communications.
• Facilitate dialogue across departments, managing diverse personalities and levels of expertise, from senior executives to technical specialists.

People Leadership

• Recruit, mentor, and develop a high-performing, diverse team, fostering a collaborative, inclusive, and innovative work environment.
• Define clear objectives, performance indicators, and development opportunities to align team output with the Bank’s strategy.
• Lead change management efforts, ensuring effective adoption of new processes and tools across the institution.

What you'll need

Education: You must hold a master’s degree (or equivalent advanced degree) in business administration, finance, economics, risk management, accounting, data science, or related fields relevant to the responsibilities of the role.

Experience:

• At least 7 years of relevant experience, preferably 10 years of relevant and progressive substantive experience in enterprise risk management, operational risk, internal controls, compliance, or related fields within international financial institutions or regulated entities.
• Demonstrated leadership experience managing cross-functional teams and delivering results in complex, multicultural environments.
• Proven experience with digital transformation initiatives, including AI-driven risk analytics, automation of control processes, and implementation of enterprise-wide risk systems.

Technical Skills:

• Deep knowledge of COSO Internal Control Framework, Basel operational risk standards, and compliance best practices.
• Strong understanding of emerging technologies (AI/ML, RPA, data visualization) and their application to risk management.
• Skilled in dashboard development and process automation tools (e.g., Power BI, Tableau, or similar platforms).

Other Skills:

• Exceptional stakeholder management and communication skills, with the ability to engage diverse audiences and build consensus.
• High emotional intelligence, able to navigate complex organizational dynamics and diverse personalities.
• Strategic and critical thinker, capable of driving continuous improvement and innovation.

Languages:

• Proficiency in English and one of the other Bank official languages (Spanish, French or Portuguese) is required. 

Please note that for this position, the final candidates will be required to successfully pass a background check to the satisfaction of the IDB Group, as a pre-employment condition, which will be conducted by third-parties. 

Requirements

•    Citizenship: You are a citizen of one of our . We may offer assistance with relocation and visa applications for you and your eligible dependents.  

•    Consanguinity: You have no family members (up to the fourth degree of consanguinity and second degree of affinity, including spouse) working at the IDB, IDB Invest, or IDB Lab.

Type of contract and duration

•  International: International staff contract, 36 months initially, renewable upon mutual agreement.
   

What We Offer

The IDB Group provides benefits that respond to the different needs and moments of an employee’s life. These benefits include: 

• A competitive compensation package, including an annual base salary expressed on a net-of-tax basis.
• Leaves and vacations: 24 days of paid time off + 8 personal days + sick leave + gender-neutral parental leave.
• Health Insurance: IDB Group provides employees and eligible dependents with a robust medical benefits program that covers medical, dental, vision, preventive care, and prescription drugs.
• Pension plan: defined benefit pension plan that provides financial security and support employees in planning for their future.
• We offer assistance with relocation and visa applications for you and your family when it applies.
• On-site position with the occasional flexibility of teleworking. 
• Health and well-being: Access to our Health Services Center that provides preventive care and health education for employees.
• Development support: We offer tools to boost your professional profile, such as mentoring, 1:1 professional counseling, training and learning opportunities, language classes, mobility options, among others.
• Other perks (country specific): Lactation Room, Daycare Center, Gym, Bike Racks, Parking, Spouse Career Program, and others.

Our Culture

At the IDB, we work so everyone brings their best and authentic selves to work while finding their purpose. Our people consistently strive for excellence, and we recognize and celebrate the impact of their contributions.

In our efforts to drive innovation, we intentionally include all voices, cultivate a sense of belonging and champion fairness. We welcome individuals from underrepresented groups to join us and share their unique perspectives.

We ensure that individuals with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodations to participate in the job interview process. If you require an accommodation to complete this application, please email us at.