Job Description
City:  Washington DC
Company:  IDB
Posting End Date:  2/28/2026 11:59 PM EST

Location

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

About this position

The Institutions for Development Sector (IFD) in the Vice Presidency for Sectors and Knowledge at the IDB works with countries in the region in the areas of fiscal policy; public sector management, digital government, and regulation; finance and connectivity; and citizen security.  The department is multidisciplinary and has a substantial agenda aimed at filling important knowledge gaps in all these areas.  It is currently looking for an economist to work with IFD teams in defining and advancing this agenda as the Sector Economic Advisor (SEA).  The SEA reports directly to the Sector Manager in the Vice Presidency for Sectors and Knowledge (VPS).

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.

What you’ll do

1. Research and Research Leadership

a. Undertake and lead cutting-edge research in the Sector’s areas of focus to support innovative, operationally relevant programs and policy and technical dialogues.

b. Stay abreast of the latest academic research, including through participation in conferences and seminars, and actively disseminate relevant findings across teams and divisions.

c. Oversee the strategic direction of the Sector’s research agenda, develop its multi-annual research agenda, and collaborate in the formulation and implementation of its dissemination strategy.

d. Advise teams on identifying and prioritizing research gaps based on their relevance to the Bank’s and the Sector’s priorities, including operational programs and policy and technical dialogues with Member Countries.

e. Coordinate and leverage the expertise of the Department of Research and Chief Economist (RES) to address key knowledge gaps in the Sector.

f. Coordinate with other sectors within the Vice Presidency for Sectors and Knowledge (VPS), the Vice Presidency for Countries and Regional Integration (VPC), IDB Invest, and IDB Lab to develop and implement joint research initiatives.

2. Quality Assurance and Technical Guidance

a. In conjunction with the Sector Manager, Division Chiefs, and Knowledge Coordinators within each Division, and with the support of her/his team, supervise the analytical work of staff and external consultants, ensuring consistently high standards of technical quality across all knowledge products.

3. Participation in Strategic Corporate Documents

a. Provide technical guidance in the preparation and dissemination of Thematic Framework Documents (TFDs) and other Bank- and Sector-level strategic documents, ensuring they reflect sound economic reasoning and the best available evidence.

b. Coordinate the Sector’s contributions to Country Diagnostics for Impact (CDIs), a Bank’s strategic document led by VPC.

4. Internal Engagement

a. Within the Sector

i. Support the Sector Manager, Division Chiefs, and Knowledge Coordinators within each Division in optimizing information exchange on sector-relevant research and in adopting good practices across divisions.

ii. In collaboration with the Sector’s Division Chiefs, supervise the Knowledge Coordinators within each Division.

iii. Coordinate and work closely with staff responsible for development effectiveness within the Sector to identify and address operationally relevant research gaps.

iv. Mentor junior staff within the Sector on research and analytical matters.

b. Bank-wide

i. Represent the Sector on relevant Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) Group committees, including the Knowledge Advisory Committee (KAC), the Studies and Publications Committee (SPC), and the Strategic Effectiveness and Accountability (SEA) Coordination Committee.

ii. Coordinate with the Knowledge and Learning Division to assess and measure the impact of the Sector’s knowledge production.

5. External Engagement and Partnerships

a. Build and maintain research networks with universities, think tanks, external development partners, and public and private sector institutions within and outside the region.

b. Advise on critical issues for Regional Policy Dialogues to strengthen engagement with high-level government officials and leading research organizations on priority sectoral challenges.

What you'll need

•    Education: you must hold a master's degree or equivalent education (PhD strongly preferred in Economics)

•    Experience: 

  • At least 10 years of relevant experience, preferably in public or organizational economics.
  • Recognition as a leader and authority among peers in at least one of the focal areas of IFD.
  • Significant publication record in at least one of the focal areas of IFD, preferably on Latin American and Caribbean countries.

•    Languages:  Proficiency in Spanish and English, oral and written, is required. French and Portuguese are a plus.

Requirements

•    Citizenship: You are a citizen of one of our 48-member countries. 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

•    Staff: 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 support, 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.
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Before applying, please make sure that you have read the requirements for the position and that you qualify. Applications from non-qualifying applicants will most likely be discarded by the recruiting manager.