HR Principal Specialist Compensations and Benefits

Inter-American Development Bank; Washington (District of Columbia); Hybrid; USD 140,000 - 230,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Pension plan

Relocation assistance

Teleworking flexibility

Paid time off

Job summary

IDB Group in Washington, DC seeks a seasoned HR Principal Specialist (Team Leader) to drive compensation and benefits across international staff. You will design programs, oversee annual merit cycles, and provide insights to executive leadership to attract, retain, and motivate top talent.

Requirements include a Master’s degree and 7+ years in compensation/benefits, with strong English skills and knowledge of Spanish, Portuguese, or French as a plus.

Qualifications

• Master’s or equivalent degree in Business Administration, HR, Organizational Development, or related field.
• At least seven (7) years of progressive work experience relevant to compensation and benefits roles.
• Strong writing/drafting and advisory capabilities; ability to interact with senior leadership.

Responsibilities

• Develop, socialize, and present annual compensation, benefits, and recognition proposals to senior management and Boards of Executive Directors.
• Lead the annual merit and variable pay cycle with end-to-end oversight of execution and payouts.
• Support management decisions with analyses, white papers and recommendations in rewards topics.
• Enhance HR analytics focused on compensation, dashboards, and monitoring metrics.

Skills

English proficiency

Other language skills

Strong writing/drafting

Education

Master’s or equivalent degree

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

The Human Resources Department (HRD) is responsible for the administration and development of human resources at the IDB Group. It also oversees the implementation of the People Strategy, building and implementing programs and methodologies in direct support of our results-based business model, and focusing on the development of the Bank’s talent and technical skills capacity. HRD is looking for a ground-breaking, seasoned HR Principal Specialist (Team Leader) to lead the Compensation and Benefits Policies Group. This team is part of the Compensation, Benefits and HR Services Division and the position reports to the Division Chief. This position strategically designs and executes the compensation and benefits programs of the Bank in accordance with the Total Rewards Framework, supporting the attraction, motivation, and retention of the best talent. The Division analyzes, designs, and coordinates compensation, payroll, and benefits programs for international and national staff specified to Headquarters and the Country Offices. The organization’s Human Resources Services Center, responsible for administration of key benefits program, also reports through this Division.

What you’ll do

• Develop, socialize, and present the annual compensation, benefits, and recognition proposals to senior management and the Boards of Executive Directors, ensuring alignment with institutional objectives and compensation strategy, including market competitiveness, internal equity, sustainability, and pay-for-performance principles. Oversee the process of conducting regular competitive compensation and benefits analysis for all organizations of the IDB Group, ensuring alignment with the compensation framework and methodology established for each organization.
• Lead the annual merit and variable pay cycle for the IDB Group, including end-to-end oversight of execution, payout governance, and the delivery of clear, timely, and effective communications on salary increases and variable pay outcomes for Country Offices and Headquarters managers and staff.
• Support and enable management decision-making, as needed, through the presentation of analyses, white papers, and accompanying recommendations in the area of rewards and related topics, collaborating with Board members, executives, and management at all levels.
• Contribute to the design, implementation, and continuous enhancement of HR analytics, with a focus on compensation and rewards-related metrics, dashboards, and monitoring mechanisms to periodically assess the effectiveness of policies and practices in supporting talent attraction, retention, engagement, and performance outcomes.
• Lead cross-divisional and multidisciplinary initiatives addressing a broad range of reward design and modernization projects, supporting the People Strategy of the IDB Group and reinforcing its talent management, competitiveness, and employee value proposition objectives.
• Serve as employee performance supervisor by setting expectations, supervising progress, providing regular feedback and mentorship, and conducting annual performance evaluations.
• Monitor the quality of output, achievement of goals, and annual objectives for the Compensation and Benefits Policies Group within the Division.

What you'll need

• Education: You hold a master’s or equivalent degree in Business Administration, Human Resources, Organizational Development, or related field.
• Experience: At least seven (7) years of progressive work experience relevant to the duties and capabilities of the position. Strong technical background includes extensive knowledge of leading-edge compensation and benefits programs, systems, and practices. Demonstrated knowledge and understanding of strategic implications of compensation and benefits policies and programs in organizations with international scope of operations. Broad experience in advisory or advising capacity through engagement with mid-size or large organizations. Strong writing/drafting skills are crucial.
• Languages: Oral and written proficiency in English required; knowledge of Spanish, Portuguese or French is a plus.

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 Staff contract, 36 months initially, renewable upon mutual agreement.

What we offer

• 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 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].