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.

The Office of Ombuds and Mediation Services serves as a confidential, independent, and impartial resource for IDB and IDB Invest employees seeking support with work-related concerns. It functions as a single-entry point for individuals to access information and assistance in a safe and trusted environment. OMN offers three service lines: (i) Ombuds Services, which provide informal conflict resolution, coaching, and strategic consultations to help individuals evaluate options and navigate workplace challenges; (ii) Mediation Services, which offer processes facilitated by impartial third parties to help resolve disputes constructively and collaboratively; and (iii) Respectful Workplace Services, which use a restorative, human-centered approach to address perceived inappropriate behaviors—such as microaggressions—before they escalate, promoting respectful and inclusive work environments. 

About this position

The Office of Ombuds and Mediation Services (OMN) is seeking experienced external workplace mediators for inclusion in its roster of professional external mediators. If selected to serve in a mediation matter, mediators will be responsible for facilitating mediation processes involving work-related disputes and grievances between management and employees, or among employees.

What you’ll do

If selected by the parties of a mediation process, and with prior coordination with the Office of Ombuds and Mediation Services, the Mediator will carry out the mediation proceedings between or among the parties, including tasks and functions such as:

• Describing the mediation process, its scope and advantages to the interested parties, the rules of engagement and what can be expected from the process.
• Identifying and clarifying substantive and procedural issues. Mediators will attempt to understand the scope, intensity, and contentiousness of the issues for the parties and use this understanding to help the parties understand their own and one another’s concerns more fully.
• Establishing a productive and respectful atmosphere among the parties, conveying respect and neutrality to the parties while creating a safe space for participants to speak.
• Demonstrating equal respect and consideration for all parties and ensuring that each has a meaningful opportunity to be heard.
• Assisting the parties in identifying and understanding their respective issues, positions, interests, needs, and concerns.
• Assisting the parties to develop their own options and evaluate their alternatives. Helping parties recognize possible workable solutions and evaluate them.
• Emphasizing areas of agreement. Clarifying and framing offers and counter offers.
• Managing the mediation process by handling complex personal dynamics and preventing the manipulation of the mediation by any participant.
• Maintaining the confidentiality of all mediation proceedings and information obtained in connection with the engagement, consistent with applicable IDB policies and mediation standards.
• Drafting or assisting to draft language that reflects the parties’ agreement(s).
• Consulting with OMN liaison regarding policy or process questions that may be relevant to the issues in the mediation.

What you'll need

• Education Master’s Degree or Licenciatura preferably related to Law, Human Resources, Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) or other relevant discipline.
• Experience: A minimum of 15 years as a professional mediator, having completed a minimum of twenty (20) cases as a lead or solo mediator and fifty (50) hours mediating disputes as lead or solo mediator. Familiarity with workplace disputes in multilateral organizations is highly desired.
• Languages: Proficiency in English and one of the other Bank official languages (Spanish, French or Portuguese) is required. Fluency in Spanish, French and Portuguese is particularly desirable to support the expansion of OMN's mediation services in those languages.

Requirements

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

•    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

• Type of contract: Products and External Services Consultant (PEC)
• Length of contract:  12 months, renewable
• Work Location: Remote

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.