Chief of the Environmental and Social Solutions Division – Washington DC (1 Position)
JOB DETAIL
Chief of the Environmental and Social Solutions Division
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, and rewarding environment.
About this position:
This is a strategic managerial position to lead the Environmental and Social Solutions Division and a team of highly qualified professionals, whose work has a direct impact on the lives of millions of people in Latin American and the Caribbean.
The Environmental and Social Solutions Division (ESG) is responsible for the assessment and management of Environmental and Social (E&S) impacts and risks, and the application of IDB E&S policies in Bank operations. ESG also develops and disseminates knowledge to enhance the management of impacts and risks in such a way as to benefit clients and partners and to champion sustainable development in the region.
What you’ll do:
You will coordinate with the Vice Presidency for Sectors and Knowledge (VPS) and its Sector Departments, the Vice Presidency for Countries and Regional integration (VPC) and its Country Departments, the Office of Risk Management (RMG) and other areas of the IDB Group, as needed, to:
- Provide thought leadership and vision on the Division’s business orientation, leading the development and implementation of its strategy and annual business plan.
- Lead highly skilled interdisciplinary and multi-cultural professionals, located in both headquarters and country offices within the region, to implement E&S policies and practices to strengthen the ability to effectively meet business needs.
- Establish goals and expectations for the Division’s personnel, provide feedback and technical guidance to optimize performance, and promote information sharing within the Division, contributing to coherence, consistency and collaboration between employees.
- Ensure that the Division provides timely, technically-sound, and risk-based operational advice to the Bank’s project teams and clients, in all phases of the project cycle, so that the IDB E&S policies are followed.
- During project preparation, supervise the ESG team on the due diligence and analysis of E&S impacts and risks of IDB financed operations, as well as the design of risk management plans and the inclusion of effective and feasible measures to avoid, minimize, and mitigate adverse impacts of operations.
- During project execution, oversee the ESG team on the supervision, monitoring, and reporting of implementation of E&S risk management measures, at project and portfolio levels, reporting on compliance outcomes and trends.
- Provide strategic leadership to ensure the effectiveness and efficiency of environmental and social standards management processes, systems, tools, metrics, indicators of success, as well as plans, guidance notes, and training material.
- Coordinate with and advise Sector Departments and Country Offices on the analysis and response to complaints filed under the Independent Consultation and Investigation Mechanism (ICIM) and the IDB Grievance Protocol, as well as the preparation and implementation of related action plans and reports.
- Work to ensure we follow the most sophisticated international standard methodologies.
- Develop and implement knowledge transfer programs on E&S risk management for IDB employees and executing agencies.
- Provide technical input and support the development of the IDB Country Strategies, as needed.
- Ensure proper coordination between functional areas within VPS, the IDB, and the IDB Invest and leverage opportunities for synergies.
- Advise on the application of E&S policies and related guidance and procedures.
- Promote partnerships and collaboration on topics associated with the application of the E&S policies.
What you’ll need:
Education: Master’s or equivalent in a field related to addressing environmental or social impacts, including environmental policy, engineering, anthropology, sociology, law, or another relevant field.
Experience:
- At least 10 years of proven experience related to the key responsibilities of the position. Experience in management positions in international financial institutions would be highly valued.
- Strong understanding of client needs and challenges, of different country/regional areas, market idiosyncrasies, and drivers of change in LAC, and how to optimally achieve our objectives.
- Good understanding of the operational framework of public sector and/or multilateral institutions (including their special governance, mandates, safeguards, and human resources structures).
- Excellent communication skills that allow you to establish and maintain trust and credibility with institutional partners, at all levels across the IDB Group, including Senior Management, the Board of Executive Directors, various institutional committees, and particularly with clients. The ability to generate networks is essential. Solid change management experience in complex organizations is a plus.
- Have critical thinking, analytical and problem-solving skills, and effective monitoring of metrics and results.
- Can attract, select, and empower versatile and diverse staff; an outstanding, effective people manager who models inclusive behaviors and promotes diversity and inclusion.
Languages: Proficiency in English is required and in Spanish desired. Additional knowledge of Portuguese and/or French is a plus.
Key Skills:
- Coach and develop.
- Promote Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging.
- Build Lean and Versatile teams.
- Lead change and Transformation.
- Create Partnerships.
Requirements:
Citizenship: Citizen of one of our 48-member countries. We may offer assistance with relocation and visa applications for you and your eligible dependents.
Consanguinity: Have no family members (up to 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
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.
- 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 which 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.
- Hybrid and flexible work schedules.
- Health and wellbeing: Access to our Health Services Center which provides preventive care and health education for employees.
- Development support: We offer tools to boost your professional profile such as mentoring, 1:1 professional counselling, training, and learning opportunities, language classes, mobility options, among others.
- Other benefits: 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, willing to try new approaches without fear, and where they are accountable and rewarded for their actions.
Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging (DEIB) are at the Center of our organization. We celebrate all dimensions of diversity and encourage women, LGBTQ+ people, persons with disabilities, Afro-descendants, and Indigenous people to apply.
We will ensure that individuals with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodation to participate in the job interview process. If you are a qualified candidate with a disability, please e-mail us at diversity@iadb.org to request reasonable accommodation to complete this application.
Our Human Resources Team reviews carefully every application.
About the IDB Group
The IDB Group, composed of the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), IDB Invest, and the IDB Lab offers flexible financing solutions to its member countries to finance economic and social development through lending and grants to public and private entities in Latin America and the Caribbean.
About IDB
The Inter-American Development Bank is committed to improving lives. Established in 1959, the IDB is a leading source of long-term financing for economic, social, and institutional development in Latin America and the Caribbean. The IDB also conducts innovative research and provides policy advice, technical assistance, and training to public and private sector clients throughout the region.
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Primary Location: HQ-US-Washington DC
