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 seeking a proactive and analytical Education Knowledge Specialist or Senior Associate to support the generation, management, and strategic use of knowledge across the IDB’s education agenda. As a key member of the Education Division, you will contribute to the production of cutting-edge research andknowledge products that inform policy dialogue, evidence-grounded project origination and operations in the education sector.

You will be based in Washington, DC, and work within the Education Division, part of the IDB’s Social Sector, in close collaboration with country offices and regional teams. The Education Division supports education systems across Latin America and the Caribbean by generating frontier knowledge,strategically disseminating research, and translating findings into operational guidance throughcontinuous dialogue with governments, civil society, and the Bank’s technical and financial partners.

What you’ll do

• Design, develop, and implement moderately complex research studies and projects requiring advanced technical expertise to support the Education Division’s strategy, operations, and policy dialogue
• Conduct and coordinate frontier research and analysis on key education issues, generating evidence to inform projects, technical cooperation, and sector strategies.
• Contribute to the identification, design, and implementation of education projects, programs, and studies by integrating global, regional, and country-level evidence to support evidence-grounded project origination.
• Co-lead or contribute to education knowledge products, analytical workstreams, or studies of moderate complexity in collaboration with multidisciplinary teams.
• Develop, adapt, and apply analytical tools, methodologies, and evaluation frameworks to strengthen the quality, impact, and evaluability of EDU operations.
• Translate research findings into actionable insights, policy recommendations, and high-quality knowledge products that support decision-making within the Education Division.
• Provide technical guidance, quality assurance, and mentoring to junior staff and consultants on education research, analysis, and knowledge products.
• Support the development of country-level narratives and profiles to strengthen education policy dialogue with governments and partners by providing rigorous analysis, data, and evidence-based perspectives aligned with EDU priorities.
• Promote knowledge dissemination through internal newsletters, blogs, and presentations. Support the coordination of high-level events and strategic seminars.
• Support and maintain publication pipeline tracking, coordinate peer reviews, and track impact metrics.
• Collaborate under moderate supervision across EDU and with other sectors to ensure alignment between knowledge generation, operations, and institutional priorities.

Those demonstrating deeper subject-matter expertise gained through experience will be considered for Specialist.

What you'll need

Education: Master’s degree (or equivalent advanced degree) in education, economics, public policy, public administration, sociology, or other fields relevant to the responsibilities of the role.

Experience: At least three (3) years of relevant progressive professional experience in education-related analytical work, research, or knowledge generation in developing countries. Experience with policy analysis, sector diagnostics, or applied research is required.

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

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 Group, 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.