Back America en el Centro Coordinator (Unit Chief)

America en el Centro Coordinator (Unit Chief)

Washington D.C.

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

You will work with the Country Department Central America, Haiti, Mexico, Panama, and the Dominican Republic (CID), responsible for the strategic, programmatic, and operational relationship with Belize, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Guatemala, Haiti, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, and Panama.

CID is responsible for the promotion and development of IDB country and regional strategies and programming aimed at achieving greater economic and social progress. The principal objective of CID’s work program is to support the development agenda for the region. To that end, the Department supports the conceptualization, processing, negotiation, and implementation of regional and country-specific projects and programs; leads and maintains the relations of the Bank with member countries; supports the implementation of country-specific and regional operations; promotes and coordinates the use of funds administered by the Bank; and helps to supervise the project-related fiduciary activities of Bank borrowers and beneficiaries. The Department is also responsible for the promotion and development of Bank country/regional strategies and programming, as well as knowledge and capacity-building work that will contribute to country/regional dialogue.

We are looking for a professional to lead the America en el Centro Unit, with strong program management skills, a deep understanding of the region and validated experience in advancing a multi-stakeholder and multi-sector agenda of sustainable and inclusive development in the region.

America en el Centro is a regional program that seeks to promote sustainable development and resilience in Central America, Panama, and the Dominican Republic (CAPDR) countries, fostering the conditions for a more integrated and productive region, increasing its resilience and adaptation to climate challenges, and enhancing the opportunities for its youth.

The position coordinates and facilitates so that corporate and operational activities and processes are duly integrated and attended to in the administrative instances of the Institution, including the Board of Directors, Senior Management, and the different IDB Group Departments.

What you’ll do:

As the America en el Centro Coordinator, you will work independently with minimal oversight, leading and handling the implementation of the America en el Centro initiative, in close collaboration with other relevant areas of the IDB Group. This includes, but is not limited to:

• Advising and making recommendations to the Vice-Presidency of Countries and CID Manager in the preparation, development and implementation of the national and regional dialogues with diverse partners and relevant stakeholders, as well as strategy and country programs related to America en el Centro.
• Expand the mobilization of resources from donors and the private sector towards the priorities of the program.
• Providing input to the CID Department Manager on the development of operational strategies, policies, and guidelines in the 3 pillars of America en el Centro: 1) Productivity and Economic Integration, 2) Climate Adaptation and Resilience, and 3) Development of Youth.
• Ensuring strong coupling between the America en el Centro initiative and the IDB Group’s Institutional Strategy, as well as with other regional initiatives, both under IDB administration or externally handled.
• Promoting alignments, consistency and strong integration of transversal issues, results and knowledge creation and dissemination, as well as encouraging experimental programs and a groundbreaking research agenda.
• Representing CID, as appropriate, in external initiatives with others Multilateral Development Banks and relevant National and International Organizations.
• Increase the number of operations and TC aligned to the pillars and activities of the program.
• Developing a roadmap for implementation of America en el Centro, with a timeline of activities, achievements, bottlenecks and corresponding mitigation actions, as well as main activities to be developed under the main pillars. The roadmap should also include a dissemination strategy and the foreseen actions to strengthen the results framework already proposed in the America en el Centro initiative
• Collaborating with the Office of Outreach and Partnerships (ORP) in resource mobilization efforts, contributing with strategic and operational inputs to showcase America en el Centro.
• Overseeing, jointly with the Office of Strategic Planning and Development Effectiveness (SPD), the monitoring of impact indicators associated with America en el Centro.
• Crafting and leading the evaluation of America en el Centro results, preparing interaction with the Board.
• Generating knowledge, ensuring that best practices and lessons learned are captured and shared with others.
• Contributing to the training and development of others, coaching and mentoring junior staff to build technical expertise.

  What you’ll need:

  Education: Master’s degree (or equivalent advanced degree) in Public Policy, Economics, Law or similar field in the social, sciences or humanities that is relevant to sustainable and inclusive development.

  Experience: A minimum of 10 years of validated experience related to advancing sustainable and/or inclusive development in the region is needed. Additional experience in the following would be a plus:

  • Conducting strategic-level technical dialogues with diverse groups (e.g. public sector, private sector, civil society, and/or traditional communities), including dialogues in matters related to our work.
  • Facilitating dialogues and negotiations that directly involved more than one CID’s Country.
  • Connecting strategic-level discussions with realities at the operational level.
  • A working understanding of multi-lateral development banks.
  • Understanding of the fundamental economic, socio-cultural and environmental characteristics of the CID’s territories within the America en el Centro initiative.
  • Diplomatic skills with a track-record of strengthening impactful collaborations among diverse counterparts.
  • You can quickly adapt to changing circumstances while maintaining focus on quality, priorities and results.
  • You show a collaborative spirit that allows you to integrate quickly and contribute effectively to a wide variety of settings with a variety of partners.

    Languages: Proficiency in English and Spanish, spoken and written, is required. Additional knowledge of French and Portuguese is preferable.

    Key Skills

    • Mentor and develop
    • Promote Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging
    • Build Lean and Versatile teams
    • Lead change and Transformation
    • Create Partnerships

      Requirements