Economist Specialist - Institutions for Development

Inter-American Development Bank; Washington (District of Columbia); On-site; USD 110,000 - 170,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive compensation

Health Insurance

Pension plan

Relocation assistance

On-site with telework

Well-being programs

Job summary

IDB Group in Washington, DC seeks an Economist Specialist to conduct applied economic research and generate policy-relevant evidence shaping public policies across Latin America and the Caribbean.

You will work in the Institutions for Development Sector (IFD) under the Vice Presidency for Sectors and Knowledge, contributing to research outputs, policy notes, and knowledge dissemination while collaborating with a broad network of knowledge coordinators.

Qualifications

• Masters degree is required; PhD strongly preferred.
• 4–5 years of progressive professional experience in empirical research, policy analysis, or economic development.
• Fluency in Spanish and English is required; knowledge of French/Portuguese is preferable.

Responsibilities

• Conduct high-level empirical research in public economics, applied microeconomics, and development economics.
• Lead and contribute to flagship institutional publications, research papers, and policy notes with at least 60% of time on research.
• Support the Sectoral Economic Advisor in managing and ensuring quality of research and analytical products.
• Review and provide feedback on outputs with knowledge coordinators across divisions.
• Assist in preparing responses to VPS and VPC requests with rigorous technical support.
• Provide economic analysis for regional and country operations and policy dialogues.
• Design and execute empirical evaluations, randomized controlled trials, and econometric modeling.
• Collaborate with internal and external partners to advance the sector's research agenda.
• Disseminate findings through seminars, forums, workshops, and journals.
• Support knowledge management initiatives and training sessions.

Skills

Empirical research

Policy analysis

Econometric modeling

Development economics

Education

Master's degree

PhD in Economics/Public Policy

Job description

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 a rigorous, innovative, and driven Economist Specialist . As an Economist, you will conduct cutting-edge applied economic research, generate high-impact empirical evidence, and provide technical guidance to shape public policies across Latin America and the Caribbean.

You will work in the Institutions for Development Sector (IFD) in the Vice Presidency for Sectors and Knowledge. This team is responsible for designing, supporting, and executing analytical and operational agendas that strengthen public sector governance, state capacity, digital transformation, citizen security and crime prevention, and efficient financial markets.

What You’ll Do

• Conduct high-level empirical research in public economics, applied microeconomics, and development economics, focusing on citizen security, state capacity, digitalization, and financial markets.
• Lead and contribute to flagship institutional publications, research papers, and policy notes produced by the sector, devoting at least 60% of professional time to research activities.
• Support the Sectoral Economic Advisor (SEA) in managing, coordinating, and ensuring the quality of research and analytical products across IFD divisions, acting as a key technical resource to support the broader department in knowledge matters under the SEA’s direction.
• Work closely with the network of knowledge coordinators across divisions to review, comment on, and provide continuous technical feedback on analytical outputs and departmental knowledge initiatives.
• Assist in preparing responses to Vice Presidency for Sectors (VPS) and Vice Presidency for Countries (VPC) requests, ensuring rigorous technical and economic backing.
• Provide technical assistance and economic analysis for regional and country operations, technical cooperations, and policy dialogues related to state modernization and financial development.
• Design and execute empirical evaluations, randomized controlled trials, and econometric modeling using administrative and survey data to measure the impact of public interventions.
• Collaborate with internal colleagues, external academic networks, and multilateral partners to advance the sector's strategic research agenda.
• Disseminate research findings through academic seminars, policy forums, workshops, and peer-reviewed international journals.
• Support institutional knowledge management initiatives, training sessions, and technical workshops organized by the sector.
• Perform other institutional and analytical tasks assigned by the Sectoral Economic Advisor to support the production, management, and dissemination of knowledge.

What You'll Need

• Education: Masters degree required, PhD in Economics, Public Policy, or a closely related field strongly preferred
• Experience: At least 4 years (5 preferably) of progressive professional experience in empirical research, policy analysis, or economic development, with a strong publication record or pipeline in applied microeconomics or public economics.
• Languages: Proficiency in Spanish and English, spoken and written, is required. Additional knowledge of French and 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

• Staff: 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 office amenities (as available): 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 [e-mail].