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 seeking for a Sector Specialist for the Knowledge Agenda and Program of the Infrastructure and Energy (INE) Sector for the office in Washington, DC.
INE is responsible for conceptualizing, preparing, supporting execution, and supervises the IDB’s operations related to energy, transport, and water and sanitation. Its functions include preparing the Bank sector policies, strategies, operational guidelines and programs in infrastructure and energy; conducting relevant research and analytical work, best practices, and case studies in the sector; and provides specialized sectoral technical support to activities and operations in borrowing member countries.
Within this context, INE aims to develop new knowledge products and technical assistance programs for LAC countries. The knowledge products produced will inform, guide, and offer a menu of policy recommendations to policymakers, and active participants in the infrastructure and energy markets, including consumers, utilities, and regulators.
You will work with the Knowledge Team of INE Sector. The team leads the identification and development of groundbreaking analytical work and research products using robust theoretical and empirical tools to inform policy design and decision making in infrastructure.
What you’ll do:
Analytical Work
Conduct economic research to identify sector challenges and issues, applying theoretical and/or empirical analysis, and developing policy recommendations, methodological notes, and capacity-building products. Lead, coordinate, and support the design, preparation, and delivery of key research products, including papers, reports, and policy brief notes, as lead author or co-author. Assist the INE Sector in: (1) Literature reviews; (2) Preparing papers that meet quality standards for peer-reviewed journals. (3) Designing and implementing internal knowledge programs. (4) Synthesizing and translating research into policy implications and best practices to promote data-driven decision-making. Perform econometric and statistical analysis on diverse datasets to derive meaningful insights, communicate findings, and organize databases. Design and support the implementation of surveys and economic experiments.Communication and Dissemination
Present research to academic and non-academic audiences, refining papers based on feedback for eventual publication in refereed journals. Summarize analytical work and present it to internal and external policy audiences, ensuring clarity and highlighting policy implications.Support Sector Management
Assist the INE Sector Manager and the Sector Economic Advisor with the preparation, review, and consolidation of content for strategic documents, talking points, presentations, and data analysis. Provide ad-hoc analysis on infrastructure and energy issues as needed. Support other activities related to the Sector's Knowledge agenda.Operational Support
Coordinate, supervise, and prepare terms of reference for contract packages (CW and firm hires), calls for proposals for infrastructure and energy studies, and performance evaluations. Lead and provide operational management assistance for research and data projects, supervise knowledge project implementation, and ensure quality control on deliverables. Oversee the allocation and execution of financial resources assigned to knowledge products within INE’s Knowledge team.What you'll need
Education: Master’s degree in economics, engineering-economics, or related field (with strong quantitative background). PHD is a preferred. Experience: At least five (5) years of relevant experience in conducting research on infrastructure economics using robust theoretical and empirical tools. Previous experience working with household surveys and/or firm level data is essential. Strong background in econometrics and statistics. Languages: Proficiency in English, spoken and written is required. Advanced knowledge of Spanish or Portuguese is highly desirable. The ideal candidate will have proven programming skills in Stata (knowledge of other program languages like Python, R, and ArcGIS/QGIS is a strong plus); interest in research, ability to work independently, and to participate in research teams; excellent writing skills focused on research protocols, research papers and descriptive reports for diverse audience; and lastly, flexibility and adaptability, in particular, willingness to learn new skills.Key skills
Mentor and develop Promote Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging Focus on clients Communicate and influence Innovate and try new thingRequirements
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 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.