Data Architect Consultant

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 looking for an analytical, technically proficient and communicative data architect to join the Regional and Sectoral Data Group within our Research Department.

The Regional and Sectoral Data Group (RSD) coordinates and supports the efficient management and governance of regional and sectoral data generated or obtained through research, knowledge, and operational work that is not produced in the Bank’s systems nor owned by the Bank but falls under the responsibility and/or custody of the IDB. This includes both traditional (censuses, surveys, administrative records) and non-traditional data sources (social networks, digital footprints, satellite imagery, etc.), which are extensively used across various departments, including VPS, VPC, and SPD.

The Regional and Sectoral Data (RSD) Group plays a crucial role in preserving interoperability and accessibility of the IDB’s data assets to sustain internal processes, operations, and analytics. To support these efforts, the team requires a data architect to design, coordinate and implement data infrastructure, interoperability mechanisms, and governance best practices that enable institution-wide data accessibility, sharing, and analytics.

This role will work closely with the Data Technology Group in the Transformation and Technology Department (TTD) to ensure alignment between data governance policies, IT infrastructure, and business intelligence needs. Additionally, the Data Architect will provide the technical foundation for the team to develop its intelligence products for external audiences, ensuring that these products are scalable, well-structured, and marketable.

The position requires strong expertise in data architecture, interoperability, metadata management, cloud technologies, and business intelligence solutions. The Consultant will work with RSD’s evolving data ecosystem, including the implementation of a Databricks based data platform currently in pilot, as well as CKAN, which supports the DataHub (the Regional and Sectoral Data Catalog).

The Data Architect will report to the Head of the RSD.

What you’ll do

• Support the design, implementation, and assessment of RSD’s evolving data architecture, including the ongoing Databricks pilot and its integration with the CKAN-based DataHub, in coordination with the Data Technology Group within the Technology and Transformation Department.
• Ensure metadata management, data lineage tracking, and quality standards are embedded in the architecture.
• Define data models, integration strategies, and API structures to support sectoral and regional data access.
• Ensure compliance with data governance policies by collaborating with the Data Governance Professional to define access, metadata, and security standards.
• Advise on technology selection, infrastructure design, and integration needs for scalable, well-structured, sectoral data solutions intended for external audiences.
• Optimize data accessibility for research, reporting, and analytics, ensuring seamless integration with BI tools like Power BI.
• Stay current with emerging data technologies, cloud architectures, and interoperability solutions.
• Collaborate closely with data engineers, the Data Technology Group and other units within TTD, and external vendors supporting RSD’s data platforms and services to ensure reliable and efficient data operations and timely delivery of deliverables.

What you'll need

• Education: Master’s degree in Data Architecture, Computer Science, Information Systems, Data Engineering, or a related field. Relevant Databricks and Apache Spark certifications are desirable, such as: Databricks Certified Data Engineer Associate or Professional; or Databricks Certified Associate Developer for Apache Spark 3.0.
• Experience: At least 5 years of experience in data architecture, data engineering, or related roles. Experience in the implementation and management of data solutions using Databricks is a must. Desirable experience with metadata management platforms and data catalogs, including CKAN or similar solutions. Familiarity with APIs and their use for data integration and interoperability between systems is considered an asset.
• Experience designing and implementing data architectures with a focus on interoperability, governance, and scalability.
• Strong proficiency in Databricks, Apache Spark, Python and SQL for implementing and managing data solutions.
• Experience working with data governance frameworks, metadata management, data lineage, and security policies, including familiarity with CKAN or similar platforms.
• Hands-on experience in building APIs, ETL pipelines, and data integration frameworks.
• Ability to work with cross-functional teams, including IT, data governance, and business intelligence teams.
• Technical knowledge of cloud platforms with the ability to collaborate with cloud infrastructure and technology teams.
• Technical Proficiency in data storage (Snowflake, BigQuery, Redshift, Databricks), metadata & governance tools (Microsoft Purview, Collibra, Informatica Axon), ETL/data integration (Apache Airflow, dbt, Talend), and programming languages (Python, SQL, Java, Scala).
• Soft Skills including strong problem-solving abilities, excellent communication and stakeholder engagement, and the ability to translate complex technical concepts into business-friendly language.
• Languages: Proficiency in English and one of the other Bank official languages (Spanish, French or Portuguese) is required.

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 consultant Full-Time, 12 months (up to 48 months, subject to eligibility).

What we offer

The IDB Group provides benefits that respond to the different needs of an employee’s life. These benefits include:

• -A competitive compensation package.

  -Leaves and vacations: 2 days per month of contract + gender-neutral parental leave.

  -Health Insurance: The IDB Group provides a monthly allowance to supplement the purchase of health insurance.

  -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.

  -Development support: We offer learning opportunities to boost your professional profile, such as seminars, 1:1 professional counseling, and much more.

  -Health and well-being: Access to our Health Services Center that provides preventive care and health education for employees.

  -Other perks (country specific): Lactation Room, Daycare Center, Gym, Bike Racks, Parking, spouse career support, 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.