Location

Post of duty: Bogota, Colombia.

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

We are seeking a proactive and dynamic Education Senior Associate or Specialist to manage the IDB’s education portfolio in Colombia. As a key member of the Education Division, you will contribute the current portfolio of grants and technical cooperation projects, coordinate strategic sector dialogue with government and sector counterparts, and advance the IDB’s education initiatives in Colombia.

You will work in the Education Division, part of the Social Sector of the IDB, and will work in close cooperation with the Country Office. The Education Division supports education sectors across Latin America and the Caribbean, advancing new knowledge and innovation in the sector, and engaging in regular dialogue with governments, civil society, and technical and financial partners of the Bank to promote educational development in the region.

What you’ll do

• Lead and contribute to the Bank’s dialogue with executing units to support program planning and implementation by applying advanced technical knowledge, project management tools, and methods.
• Identify, develop, and implement complex education sector projects, programs, studies, and main activities in Colombia, working within multidisciplinary teams and under moderate supervision.
• Conduct and coordinate research and analysis, contributing to the development of innovative knowledge products and technical notes related to the education sector in Colombia.
• Engage in and lead policy dialogues with the Government of Colombia, donors, and other stakeholders, proposing innovative solutions informed by multi-country experience and political economy analysis.
• Collaborate with country-based colleagues from the Education Division and other sectors to design and execute multi-sectoral programs aligned with the Bank’s institutional strategy.
• Liaise and build strategic networks with international and local technical and financing partners to advance the Bank’s mission and objectives as outlined in the Sector Framework Document.
• Develop and promote innovative approaches, policy reforms, and strategy changes on education issues are critical to improving learning outcomes and equity across the region.
• Provide evidence-based recommendations to enhance the education sector performance, improve the quality of project design, and strengthen the impact of the Division’s operational work.
• Design and apply risk assessment frameworks and mitigation strategies to anticipate implementation challenges and ensure effective delivery of complex projects and programs.
• Develop and apply monitoring and evaluation methodologies to measure project outcomes and operational impact, ensuring alignment with IDB quality and accountability standards.
• Lead and facilitate change management processes by engaging key stakeholders, supporting institutional capacity-building, and fostering the adoption of innovative education reforms.
• Promote cross-country learning and knowledge sharing by leveraging regional evidence, lessons learned, and best practices to inform project design, policy recommendations, and sector strategies.

What you'll need

• Education: You must hold a Master’s degree or advanced degree (Ph.D.) in Education, Economics, Public Administration, Public Policy, Sociology, or another relevant field.   
• Experience: At least four (4) years for a specialist position and three (3) years for a senior associate position of relevant and substantive experience in the education sector in developing countries, including the promotion, programming, design, financing, supervision, implementation, and evaluation of education projects, with a strong focus on digital transformation in education, the application of artificial intelligence in educational contexts, or reforms in higher education.  
• Languages: Proficiency in Spanish and English, spoken and written, is required. Additional knowledge of French and Portuguese is preferable. 

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

• 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. 
• Hybrid and flexible work schedules.
• 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).

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 accommodations@iadb.org.

Our Human Resources Team reviews carefully every application.