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 energetic, collaborative, and knowledgeable Sector Lead Specialist - Sub-Sovereign Finance Program (SFP) Coordinator to assist IDB implement its new Sub-Sovereign Finance Program (SFP). The Sector Lead Specialist - SFP Coordinator will be a senior staff with extensive experience in both (i) public sector development and management (preferably at subnational level) and (ii) the preparation and implementation of non-sovereign (preferably sub-sovereign) operations.

On June 11, 2025, the Board of Executive Directors of the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) approved the establishment of the “Sub-Sovereign Finance Program (SFP)” as a pilot program. The SFP will, on a 5-year pilot basis, finance investment loans and guarantees to eligible sub-sovereign entities in borrowing-member countries of the IDB without the guarantee and/or counter-guarantee of the sovereign. The SFP pilot is structured in 2 subprograms: (i) a sub-sovereign investment financing subprogram (Subprogram 1); and (ii) a Technical Cooperation (TC) sub-sovereign readiness subprogram (Subprogram 2). Both are inter-linked, with TC specifically destined to support the successful preparation and implementation of the operational subprogram.

The SFP will support improved urban development and access to services and infrastructure provided by Subnational Governments (SNGs), along with local and regional reforms and institutional strengthening. The SFP aims to support SNGs which are either transitioning to or wish to improve access to market finance. For this, the SFP aims to strengthen frameworks and systems in SNGs, make them increasingly creditworthy and enhance their capacity to attract financing from private sources.

To achieve the SFP’s general and specific objectives, SNG and project selection criteria have been defined, and project preparation, approval, implementation, reporting and evaluation processes have been drafted as part of the SFP Operating Guidelines approved in August 2025.

You will work in the SFP support Team, reporting jointly to Chief (Housing and Urban Development Division) and Chief (Fiscal Management Division), and supporting teams across IDB.

What you’ll do

Policy Advice and Coordination

• Advise and guide project teams (PTs) on all aspects relating to the application of SFP policy, operating guidelines, templates and processes to SFP operations.
• Provide advise, upon request, project preparatory (e.g. ERM, QRR) and portfolio supervision (OPC) committees on applying SFP policy, guidelines, templates and processes.
• Coordinate across IDB any responses to SFP policy and strategy queries raised by Senior Management and/or The Board.
• Lead coordination across vice-presidencies to (a) update operational documents and (ii) resolve new issues not covered by existing guidance.   
• After year five, and based on OVE’s evaluation,  will be responsible for drafting a Board report proposing next steps for program continuity.

Strategy and Programming

• Review with PTs all operations proposed for SFP financing, ensuring from an early stage that they can meet SFP eligibility criteria (at SNG and project level).
• Coordinate and consolidate SFP annual programs, reviewing project briefs prepared by PTs and making suggestions for improvement, where relevant.
• Prepare an SFP business development strategy, outlining niche areas, new product opportunities, and ways to enhance IDB’s sub-sovereign finance.  

Operational Advice and Oversight

• Support PTs in designing and processing SFP operations, ensuring due process and alignment to sub-sovereign needs, including risk, structuring, legal and integrity aspects with core departments.
• Assist PTs in their efforts to effectively monitor projects under implementation, including procurement and disbursement activities, regular reporting, and management of client relationships, as needed.
• Monitor the performance of the SFP portfolio, proposing actions to PTs that might lead to operational and financial improvements or reduced risks.
• In close coordination with FIN, PTs and FMP,  monitor the repayment of SFP financing, devising corrective strategies in instances of default.
• Act as a client focal point for Radar and Watchlist projects.
• Assist the OPC in their reviews of the SFP portfolio, preparing background documentation relevant to the agenda of the meeting and OPC Terms of Reference for SFP Portfolio Monitoring.
• Provide advice to PTs on matters pertaining to a request for project changes, including but not limited to whether these might have credit risk or financial implications.

Reporting

• The SFP Portfolio Manager will review all draft SFP Project Monitoring Reports and associated documentation to be submitted to Management, ensuring that these meet high quality standards.
• Design an SFP results monitoring system that, based on an expanded SFP M&E framework, provides consolidated screening and reporting on (a) compliance with SFP’s objectives, indicators and results that derive from individual operations and (b) evaluates the performance of the SFP as an instrument.
• Draft annual progress reports to present to OPC, including information on progress, performance and lessons learned. It will include operational, credit risk, exposure, financial and other elements required to conduct a final evaluation of the SFP.
• Prepare a mid-term report with a summary of the progress, products, results achieved, and lessons derived from operations under the SFP to be submitted to the Board for information.
• Assist OVE in the preparation of its independent evaluation report after the fifth year of SFP pilot implementation.

What you'll need

• Education: Master’s degree in economics, finance, engineering, or other related fields.

• Experience: At least 6 years of relevant professional experience, preferably 10 years of experience, in the financial industry in an international environment, with a clear track record in both public sector and non-sovereign operations. Strong quantitative/numerical skills are key, with the ability to interpret credit and financial information.

• Languages: Proficient in English and Spanish, spoken and written, is required. Working knowledge of French and Portuguese is useful.

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: 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.

Our Human Resources Team reviews carefully every application.