We improve lives

The Inter-American Development Bank Group (IDB Group) is the leading source of financing and knowledge for development in Latin America and the Caribbean. Comprising the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB or Bank), the Inter-American Investment Corporation (IDB Invest), and the Multilateral Investment Fund (IDB Lab or MIF), we align public-sector action, private investment, and entrepreneurial innovation to drive results across sectors. By strengthening economies and societies, we improve lives in the region and contribute to global solutions.

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.

IDB Lab is the innovation and venture capital arm of the IDB Group. Since its creation in 1993, IDB Lab has played a pioneering role in impact investing, fostering innovation and inclusive development across the region.

About this position

The mission of IDB Lab is to drive impactful development in the Latin America and Caribbean region, with a specific emphasis on empowering poor and vulnerable populations through emerging entrepreneurial innovations. IDB Lab leverages financing, knowledge, and connections to support early-stage entrepreneurship, foster the development of new technologies, activate innovative markets, and catalyze existing sectors.

In March 2024, the Boards of Governors of the Bank and the IDB Invest approved a proposal to strengthen IDB Lab’s value proposition and operating model (MIF IV). Within this mandate, IDB Lab is strategically positioned to increase its relevance in the coming years by becoming more scalable, financially sustainable and capable of generating greater impact per dollar deployed. IDB Lab aspires to further establish itself as a dynamic hub that harnesses emerging innovations to tackle the most pressing development challenges in the region and amplifies the impact of the entire IDB Group.

Under this new phase, IDB Lab is expected to receive $400 million in new funding to be deployed over the next seven years, while also generating more resources through core mobilization from third-party organizations.

The General Manager of IDB Lab is a member of the Executive Management Team of the IDB Group and reports directly to the IDB President. The IDB Lab General Manager currently leads a multidisciplinary team of operational and project specialists, as well as contractual employees, with nearly half of the workforce based in field offices.

What you’ll do

1. Strategic Leadership

• Set and implement the new phase and business model of  IDB Lab, IDB Lab+, including its replenishment.
• In alignment with the institutional strategy of the IDB Group, IDB Impact+, support  the President and engage with the Executive Management Team.
• Position IDB Lab as a leader in development innovation and impact investing for the region.
• Guide IDB Lab as a high-impact innovation hub, effectively implementing its new business model and its transition to a financially sustainable diversified funding model.
• Enhance synergies and coordination across IDB, IDB Invest, and IDB Lab to strengthen the financing continuum and amplify collective impact.
• Guide the efforts to improve scalability frameworks and knowledge systems to track and manage scaling outcomes.

2. People, Operational & Financial Management

• Manage a motivated group of senior staff on the new phase of IDB Lab.
• Ensure efficient operational management and drive the achievement of financial sustainability for IDB Lab, including oversight of budgeting, financial reflows, investment portfolios, mobilization, and risk management.
• Oversee the design, development, and execution of IDB Lab’s initiatives, programs, and projects, including ecosystem building operations and venture investments.
• Monitor the quality and execution of IDB Lab operations through effective oversight and active portfolio management, ensuring achievement of development effectiveness goals.
• Oversee the preparation of key IDB Lab documents, including the Annual Information Statement, Financial Statements, Business Plans, and Work Programs and Budget.

3. Partnerships & Stakeholder Engagement

• Build and maintain strong relationships with key stakeholders, including the Representatives of the Donors Committee, entrepreneurs, venture capitalists, governments, civil society, and other relevant actors.
• Lead fundraising and resource mobilization efforts with donors, philanthropic organizations, and private sector partners.
• Provide support to the IDB Lab Donors Committee.

What you'll need

The IDB is looking for an outstanding, strategic Executive with:

• Demonstrated knowledge and working experience in areas such as venture capital operations, innovation, investment management, equity investments, finance, digital transformation, and/or ecosystem building and acceleration, with a minimum of 10 years in managerial positions.
• Deep knowledge of Latin America and the Caribbean, including market nuances, client needs, and  development challenges.
• Ample experience of development through private sector and international relations, with a proven track record of establishing strategic partnerships and collaborating with different stakeholders (business leaders, , foundations, non- governmental organizations or multilateral organizations).
• Capability to drive synergies with its IDB and IDB Invest counterparts.
• Demonstrated ability to design and implement long-term strategies that deliver measurable results, ideally in international, multi-stakeholder, and/or mission-driven environments.
• Top management experience: an outstanding people manager who models inclusive behavior, impact driven, work as one team and grow our talent, strive for agility, foster accountability and meritocracy, and champions innovation. Proven management record in similar positions, including supervision of technically strong multi-disciplinary teams (preferably in a matrix structure).
• Exceptional communication skills, with the ability to convey complex topics clearly and concisely to diverse audiences, including IDB Lab’s donor committee and  stakeholders across Latin America and the Caribbean.
• Sound judgment and ability to make decisions effectively, a client-service orientation, and collaborative team player attitude.
• Strong interpersonal skills to establish and maintain trust and credibility with institutional stakeholders; ability to generate networks is critical.
• Strong change management experience in complex organizations.
• Strong fundraising skills.
• Strong analytical skills, capacity for innovation, and high motivation.

Education requirement: Master’s or equivalent advanced level degree(s) in economics, business administration or other relevant fields is required. At least 15 years+ of relevant experience, preferably with 10 years at the international senior leadership level. Experience in structuring private sector projects preferred.

Language requirement: Proficiency in English is required and in Spanish strongly desired. Additional knowledge of Portuguese and/or French is a clear plus.

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 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 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: 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): 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 accommodations@iadb.org.