Job Description
Principal Specialist or Lead Specialist - Economics
City:  Washington DC
Company:  IDB
Posting End Date:  November 20, 2025

Location

Post of duty: Washington, District of Columbia, USA.

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 Economics Principal Specialist or Lead Specialist with extensive expertise in development effectiveness, with a particular interest in individuals with experience in infrastructure, productive sector development, fiscal management, and state institutional capacity. 

 

You will work in the Strategic Development Effectiveness Division (SDV), which is part of the Office of Strategic Planning and Development Effectiveness (SPD). SPD is charged with providing technical guidance to develop a culture of results within the Bank, and to help the Bank innovate its core business and ensure the effectiveness and efficiency of its products and methods over time. 

 

As part of SPD, SDV in consultation with relevant departments, proposes Development Effectiveness standards for the design and implementation of operational products, and to ensure their relevance, effectiveness, efficiency and sustainability. SDV ensures the application and update as needed of the Development Effectiveness Project Framework (DEPF). As part of this work, new end-to-end (in the project cycle) tools are being developed and implemented. Also, SDV designs and implements mechanisms to promote and disseminate evidence-based policy making and innovations through project evaluations.  

What you’ll do

  • Lead teams assessing the development effectiveness of Sovereign Guaranteed Operations during the project cycle. This includes assessing operational documents, such as loan proposals, theory of change and monitoring, evaluation and learning annexes and reports, project closure reports, and implies extensive involvement in operational work during project preparation and closure, and technical advising during project implementation.
  • Lead continuous assessment and improvement of the new development effectiveness tools being implemented as part of the DEPF and actively collaborating with operational teams.
  • Oversee and participate in specialized training for personnel on technical evaluation techniques, and in the dissemination of results of different analytic products, including preparation of presentations, executive summaries, or other materials, as required.
  • Lead the design and oversight of randomized controlled trials, quasi-experimental impact evaluations, and other evaluations related to IDB projects.
  • Lead the development of technical notes and evaluation guidelines by topic or sectors and originate, participate in and oversee specialized analytic and research papers or background studies on areas of strategic importance to the IDB. 

What you'll need

Education: You must hold a master's degree or equivalent education (PhD strongly preferred) in economics, statistics, public policy, international development, or related fields relevant to the responsibilities of the role.  

Experience: At least seven (7) years of experience for a principal specialist position and six (6) years for a lead specialist position, preferably ten (10) years of relevant and progressive substantive experience, working in program evaluation, applied economics and development economics, in the areas of sectoral expertise. Track record of academic publications related to development effectiveness of the area of expertise. 

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): 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.