Regional Programs Coordinator (Operations Principal Specialist)

Location: Headquarters - Washington, USA (staff position)

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 a highly skilled professional with a strong understanding of LAC countries and regional integration and robust program management capabilities to lead and coordinate the department's regional integration agenda, including IDB’s strategic regional programs and initiatives, including Amazonia Forever and Integration Routes Initiatives, among others. Amazonia Forever is a holistic umbrella program for the region’s sustainable development that aims to collaborate on forest conservation and climate action, offering economic alternatives to improve people’s quality of life. The five pillars of the initiatives are i) combating deforestation, ii)bioeconomy and creative economy, iii) people, iv) sustainable infrastructure and cities and connectivity, and v) sustainable low carbon, agriculture, livestock, and forestry. The Integration Routes initiative aims to enhance regional integration in South America and facilitate the inclusion of our member countries in global value chains by connecting the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans.

You will work as a member of the Andean Country Department (CAN) team, under the CAN Regional Manager, in close coordination with the other regional departments, in the Vice-presidency for Countries (VPC); and in collaboration with other relevant areas of the IDB Group.

What you will do:

As Regional Programs Coordinator, you will lead and manage, among other duties, dialogue, all tasks and activities related to the topic of regional integration involving CAN countries, including the following:

  • Lead and coordinate the advancement of the Regional Integration agenda for CAN, including through collaboration among a multidisciplinary team within the IDB Group to support the integration efforts in the Andean region.
  • Lead the dialogue and coordination efforts needed to ensure synergy and consistency between the Regional Integration Initiatives, the IDB Group’s institutional strategy, and other IDBG regional initiatives, whether managed by the IDB or externally, such as the Amazonia Forever Program, America in the Center, and One Caribbean.
  • Facilitate close coordination with dedicated units and regional departments to identify and implement programmatic efforts, including building a robust operational pipeline and knowledge agenda in line with the objectives of respective regional programs and initiatives.
  • Develop and oversee the implementation of an action plan for Regional Integration actions that contributes to achieving the objectives and results of the IDB's priority regional programs involving CAN countries, emphasizing deepening the regional integration process, maximizing impact and effectiveness, and increasing coordination with cooperating partners and regional forums to achieve greater resource mobilization. The plan should also incorporate a comprehensive communication and dissemination strategy.
  • Support the delivery and oversight of regional integration projects to enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of these operations, in line with Institutional Strategy IMPACT+
  • Support the CAN Regional Manager in the preparation, development, execution, and supervision of national and regional integration dialogues related to regional integration initiatives with internal and external stakeholders from both the public and private sectors.
  • Represent the CAN Regional Manager on regional integration-related matters, as needed.
  • Support the CAN Regional Manager in identifying innovative financing instruments to promote regional integration and implement the IDB’s regional integration agenda, including multicountry and multisector projects.
  • Support the CAN Regional Manager in strengthening coordination with IDB-Lab and IDB-Invest in implementing the regional integration agenda.
  • Support the CAN Regional Manager in identifying opportunities for financing and aligning loan operations, both with and without sovereign guarantees, as well as technical assistance to the IDB’s Regional Integration agenda,
  • Support the CAN Regional Manager in identifying knowledge gaps regarding key regional issues and support the crafting and implementation of the regional research agenda for the Andean Region.
  • Enhance collaboration with regional and national actors, including national and regional development institutions. Represent the Regional Manager as needed.
  • Lead, in tandem with our Office of Outreach and Partnership, the design and implementation of a resource mobilization strategy, including identifying co-financing opportunities, that complements other efforts undertaken under other regional programs.
  • Encourage alignment, consistency, and integration of cross-cutting issues, outcomes, and knowledge creation and sharing while also promoting innovation and research to advance the integration agenda.
  • Work independently with minimal oversight.
  • Provide technical guidance to more junior staff.

    What you’ll need:

    • Education: Master’s degree (or equivalent advanced degree) in Public Policy, Economics, Law or a similar field in 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. You must also have a deep understanding of the Latin American and Caribbean region, with proven experience in advancing a multi-stakeholder and multi-sector agenda of sustainable and inclusive development in the Andean Region.

      Additional experience in the following would be a plus:

      • Proven track record conducting strategic-level, multi-country, technical dialogue with diverse groups (e.g. public sector, private sector, civil society, and/or traditional communities), including dialogue in matters related to the IDB Group’s work.
      • A working understanding of multi-lateral development banks, in addition to an ample knowledge of the Andean Region's fundamental economic, socio-cultural, political, and environmental challenges.
      • Research experience on economic and social topics relevant to the Andean Region, such as migration, benefits of regional integration, extractive industries, etc. is desirable.
      • Advanced diplomatic skills with a track record of strengthening impactful collaborations among diverse counterparts.
      • Demonstrated experience with leading effective teams.

        • Languages: Proficiency in English and Spanish is required.

          Technical track (with supervisory responsibilities):

          • Mentor and develop
          • Promote Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging
          • Focus on clients
          • Communicate and influence

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