We improve lives.

The IDB Group is a community of diverse, versatile, and enthusiastic 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 role of the Disaster Risk Management (DRM) Unit is to facilitate coordination among sectors and provide specialized advice on a demand basis, ensuring a robust conceptual approach aligned with the Disaster Risk Management Action Plan. The Unit is part of the Climate Change and Sustainability (CSD) Sector within the IDB’s Vice-Presidency for Sectors and Knowledge (VPS). CSD conceptualizes, prepares, supports the execution, and coordinates sustainability-focused Bank operations in borrowing member countries. Our main activities include lending operations, technical assistance, and knowledge generation related to territorial development, sustainable cities, biodiversity, environment, disaster risk management and climate change. Due to the cross-cutting nature of our work, we work predominantly in a multi-sectoral fashion with other VPS sectors, Country departments and representations, as well as those areas of the Bank that lead on institutional partnerships, fiduciary matters, and development effectiveness. The present position will require extensive collaboration across the IDB Group. The position reports to the Sector Manager for CSD.

What you will do:

As the Disaster Risk Management Unit Chief, you will:

Lead and manage the implementation of the Disaster Risk Management Action Plan and its associated funding mechanisms.
Work closely with the IDB Group to plan, formulate, and implement solutions to development challenges from a strategic DRM perspective through IDB Group financing mechanisms.
Lead the generation and maintenance of up-to-date sector knowledge, including: (i) the preparation of country, sector, and local risk profiles; (ii) the evaluation of the effectiveness of public policy options for disaster risk reduction; and (iii) the assessment of the governance condition of DRM in borrowing member countries. Additionally, promote the dissemination of this sector knowledge.
Work closely with IDB Sectors, Countries, and the IDB Group (IDB Invest and IDB Lab) to plan, formulate, and implement solutions to Disaster Risk Management development challenges using IDB Group financing mechanisms.
Coordinate the development of a high-quality economic research agenda on DRM.
Lead high-level sector dialogue with borrowing member countries on DRM.
Provide technical assistance/advice on DRM to all borrowing member countries in coordination with the Country Offices and all IDB Group areas.
Supervise the strategic direction of the Unit, ensure quality control of its work, and provide direct and indirect line management to its staff.
Manage a highly skilled, interdisciplinary, and multicultural team of professionals based in both headquarters and regional country offices. The team leads or co-leads DRM-related operations either directly or in collaboration with other divisions/units to ensure quality standards and innovative solutions.
Lead, mentor, establish goals and expectations, handle performance, provide feedback to optimize staff performance; and promote knowledge sharing within the Unit, contributing to coherence, consistency and collaboration between employees.
Provide guidance to the Bank's administration on identifying projects that should integrate (mainstream) DRM across projects scheduled in the annual programming cycle.
Represent the Bank in external initiatives with other Multilateral Development Banks and relevant National and International Organizations.
Lead the Unit's team, in the event of disasters, to deploy: (i) available instruments for emergency response, (ii) damage and loss assessments, (iii) analysis of underlying factors of the occurrence of the disaster, and (iv) formulation of projects necessary for rehabilitation and reconstruction in coordination with internal and external partners.

What you'll need:

Education: You hold an advanced degree (master’s or equivalent) from an accredited university in disciplines relevant to Disaster Risk Management.

Experience:

A minimum of 10 years of proven experience related to Disaster Risk Management is needed.
Extensive experience conducting strategic-level technical dialogues with diverse groups (e.g. public sector, private sector, civil society), including dialogues in matters related to the Unit's work.
Experience facilitating dialogues and negotiations.
Experience in connecting strategic-level discussions with realities at the operational level.
A working understanding of Multi-lateral Development Banks is highly valued.
A demonstrated understanding of the fundamental economic, socio-cultural and environmental characteristics of the LAC region.

Languages: Proficiency in English (written and spoken) is required, and Spanish is highly desired. Additional knowledge of French and Portuguese is a plus

Requirements

Citizenship You are a citizen of one of our 48-member countries. We may help with relocation and visa applications for you and your eligible dependents.
Consanguinity: You have no family members (up to fourth degree of consanguinity and second degree of affinity, including spouse) working at the IDB Group.

Type of contract and duration

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

Key skills

Coach and Develop

Promote Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

Build Lean and Versatile Teams

Lead Change and Transformation

Create Partnerships

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 which 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 wellbeing: Access to our Health Services Center which 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: Lactation Room, Daycare Center, Gym, Bike Racks, Parking, Spouse Career Program, and others

Our culture

At the IDB Group we work so everyone brings their best and authentic selves to work, willing to try innovative approaches without fear, and where they are accountable and rewarded for their actions.
Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging (DEIB) are at the center of our organization. We celebrate all dimensions of diversity and encourage women, LGBTQ+ people, persons with disabilities, Afro-descendants, and Indigenous people to apply.
We will ensure that individuals with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodation to participate in the job interview process. If you are a qualified candidate with a disability, please e-mail us at diversity@iadb.org to request reasonable accommodation to complete this application.

Our Human Resources Team reviews carefully every application.