Location

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

We improve lives

The IDB Group is a community of diverse, versatile, and passionate people dedicated to improving lives in Latin America and the Caribbean. Our people find purpose and do what they love in an inclusive, collaborative, agile, and rewarding environment.

The Office of Evaluation and Oversight (OVE) is responsible for independently evaluating all aspects of the IDB Group’s work. OVE reports directly to the IDB Group’s Boards of Directors with the objective of improving management’s accountability and learning. OVE delivers corporate, country, and thematic evaluations, validates project-level self-evaluations, and tracks implementation of recommendations. In addition to evaluating IDB Group’s work, OVE supports capacity building for the staff of public institutions in Latin America and the Caribbean. OVE is a member of the Evaluation Cooperation Group (ECG), a standard-setting network of the independent evaluation offices of Multilateral Development Banks (MDBs).

About this position

We are seeking an experienced professional with strong analytical and leadership capabilities, and in-depth knowledge of the operations and strategies of the IDB Group, other MDBs, or similar organizations to join OVE’s leadership team as the Cluster Leader for thematic evaluations. You will oversee OVE’s thematic evaluation portfolio and supervise the staff of the thematic cluster. This position reports to the OVE Director and works closely with the Principal Advisor and OVE’s other Cluster Leaders.

The IDB Group’s 2024 strategy focuses on three main goals—reducing poverty and inequality, increasing sustainable growth and development, and addressing climate change through seven key areas:

Four targeted sectors:

• Social Protection and Human Capital Development
• Sustainable, Resilient, and Inclusive Infrastructure
• Productive Development and Innovation through the Private Sector
• Regional Integration

Three cross-cutting areas:

• Biodiversity, Natural Capital, and Climate Action
• Gender Equality and Inclusion of Diverse Population Groups
• Institutional Capacity, Rule of Law, and Citizen Security

Through thematic evaluations, OVE aims to assess the relevance and effectiveness of the IDB Group’s work in some of the key areas covered by the IDB Group’s Strategy. OVE uses a mix of qualitative and quantitative methods, including (among others) review of IDB Group’s strategies and project documents, portfolio analysis, empirical work, literature reviews and case studies.

Examples of thematic evaluations recently completed by OVE include Citizens’ Security, Climate Adaptation and Transparency and Integrity. Thematic evaluations included in OVE’s future work programs include Productive Development (planned for 2026), Small Islands and Countries (also planned for 2026) and Poverty Reduction (planned for 2027). In addition to delivering Thematic Evaluations, the Thematic Cluster also delivers Synthesis Notes, which summarize evaluative evidence on a topic of interest to the Board, and in depth Project Performance Assessment Reports (PPAR), which aim to assess the development outcomes of selected projects in a specific thematic area.

What you’ll do

Under the guidance of OVE’s director and in close collaboration with OVE’s principal advisor, supervise the preparation of high-quality and timely thematic evaluations

• Help task team leaders and staff conceptualize thematic evaluations and provide timely feedback to them through all stages of evaluation.
• Review and revise draft reports, providing inputs as needed to ensure that they are of high quality and that they are delivered on time.
• Coordinate closely with OVE’s principal advisor and Director to reflect their insights in the evaluations.

Lead OVE’s thematic cluster

• Supervise 12-15 staff and research fellows mapped to the thematic cluster.
• Agree on work programs and results with cluster members.
• Give periodic performance feedback to cluster members and complete their yearly performance assessments.
• Ensure access to appropriate training resources on relevant thematic issues.
• Hold periodic staff meetings of the thematic cluster.

Contribute to OVE’s strategic direction and be an active member of OVE’s leadership team

• As a member of OVE’s leadership team, work closely with other OVE’s Cluster Leaders and with OVE’s Principal Advisor to provide insights on OVE’s overall strategic directions under the guidance of OVE’s Director.
• Contribute to managing OVE’s human and financial resources.
• Work jointly with other Cluster Leaders to address OVE Director requests.
• Provide input on evaluations managed by other Cluster Leaders.
• Discuss and agree on allocation of thematic cluster staff time across evaluations.

Establish constructive dialogues with internal and external partners

• Engage with IDB Group’s management at key stages of the evaluation cycle – pre-approach paper, emerging findings, and management review – establishing a transparent, constructive dialogue that leads to accountability and mutual learning while maintaining OVE’s independence.
• Take part in discussions with the Board to define OVE’s work program.
• Engage in technical discussions with the Board when requested.
• Identify and discuss good practices in thematic evaluations within other MDBs.
• Contribute to the update of the Good Practice Standards (GPS) for evaluation that OVE is leading for the Evaluation Cooperation Group (ECG).

What you'll need

Education: You must hold a master's degree (PhD strongly preferred) in economics, social sciences, public policy, business administration, or other fields relevant to the responsibilities of the role.

Experience: At least 7 years of relevant and progressive substantive experience, preferably 15 years of experience, in (1) leading complex analytical work and independent evaluations, (2) designing and overseeing qualitative and quantitative evaluations across multi-country, multi-sector contexts, (3) shaping evaluation strategies, and ensuring methodological rigor in thematic and project level evaluations, (4) conducting and supervising strategic evaluations in areas such as poverty reduction, climate action, governance, and institutional effectiveness.

Languages: Proficiency in English and one of the other Bank official languages (Spanish, French or Portuguese) is required.

Analytical Knowledge

• Excellent track record in leading high-quality complex analytical work or evaluations.
• Advanced knowledge of quantitative and qualitative evaluation methods, including data science applications.
• Advanced knowledge of design challenges for thematic evaluations and how to address them.
• Demonstrated capacity to provide intellectual leadership on evaluation methods.
• Strong practical understanding of designing and conducting rigorous multi-level, multi-site, and theory-based evaluations is a plus.

Organizational Knowledge

• In-depth understanding of operations and strategies of the IDB, other MDBs, or similar corporate settings.
• Experience in leading projects—policy and investment loans, private sector operations, technical cooperations—is an important plus.
• Knowledge and understanding of OVE evaluation products and processes is a plus.
• Knowledge of the public and private sector windows of MDBs is a plus.

Leadership and Management

• Experience in managing teams, including supervising, coaching, mentoring, fostering collaboration, and empowering staff.
• Ability to attract, select, and motivate talented and diverse staff.
• Strong empathy and emotional intelligence.

Communication and Representation

• Excellent planning, organizational and communication skills (written and oral).
• Ability to represent OVE within the IDB Group and with external stakeholders and audiences.
• Ability to operate collaboratively across organizational boundaries and different constituencies, while maintaining independence of judgment, including when facing pressure.

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.
• On-site position with the occasional flexibility of teleworking.
• 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.