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 looking for an analytical, impact-oriented and visually-savvy Data Scientist to join the Regional and Sectoral Data Group (RSD) within the Research Department (RES).
RSD coordinates and supports the efficient management, governance, and reuse of regional and sectoral data generated or obtained through research, knowledge, and operational work that is not produced in the Bank’s core systems but remains under the responsibility and/or custody of the IDB. This includes both traditional (censuses, surveys, administrative records) and non-traditional (social networks, digital exhaust, satellite imagery, mobile data, etc.) data sources used across VPS, VPC, SPD and other areas. RSD’s mandate is to turn scattered datasets into strategic, reusable assets that accelerate decisions safely and consistently across the institution.
As a Data Scientist, you will co-design reusable analytical products (from notebooks to production pipelines), apply statistical and machine learning methods, and translate findings into clear, policy-relevant narratives. You will work closely with data engineers and data governance specialists to ensure solutions are FAIR-aligned (Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, Reusable), privacy-preserving, and ready for pilot-to-production adoption by multiple teams.

What you’ll do

• Engage with stakeholders (operations, country teams, researchers) to frame decision problems and  turn them into analytical backlogs with clear success metrics.
• Analyze complex, multi-source datasets (surveys, admin records, geospatial/satellite, mobile, open  data) to detect patterns and produce actionable insights.
• Apply statistical/econometric and machine learning techniques (e.g., causal inference, prediction,  classification, segmentation, small-area estimation, nowcasting) to support evidence-based  and policy.
• Build reusable components: features, model pipelines, and production-grade dataflows (in collaboration with data engineers) with version control, testing, and basic MLOps.
• Develop interactive visual products (Power BI, Tableau, Plotly/Dash/Streamlit) and clear storytelling  to make technical results accessible to non-technical audiences.
• Implement data quality checks (schema, range, duplication, drift) and document data  lineage/assumptions to ensure reproducibility and auditability.
• Work with data governance specialists to uphold privacy-by-design, ethical AI practices, and  compliant sharing (e.g., data-use agreements, tiered access).
• Contribute to capacity building (playbooks, brown-bags, office hours) with country counterparts and  internal teams; promote “build once—reuse many” practices.
• Continuously explore and evaluate new tools (including AI/LLMs), keeping a pragmatic focus on  impact, robustness, and maintainability

What you'll need

Education: Master’s degree in Statistics, Economics, Computer/Data Science, or a related quantitative field.
Experience:
•At least 5 years in data science/analytics/applied research, demonstrating strong skills in statistical modeling, econometrics, machine learning, and quantitative analysis.
•Proven experience building data systems and analytical products in international development organizations (e.g., MDBs/UN/INGOs/governments) and/or the private sector (e.g., tech, consulting, civic tech), including work with national statistical offices or government data producers.
•Experience integrating traditional and non-traditional data (e.g., surveys + admin + geospatial/mobile) and taking solutions from prototype to pilot/production.
•Familiarity with LAC context and working in multilingual, multi-stakeholder environments is highly desirable.
Languages: Proficiency in English and one of the other IDB official languages (Spanish, French, or Portuguese) is required.

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 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: the 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 supports 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, 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.