Agriculture and Rural Development (Senior) Specialist

About this position

Agriculture in LAC faces unprecedented challenges. To address them, the IDB is looking for a dynamic and energetic teammate, with strong skills and experience, to lead the Bank’s technical dialogue and portfolio development in areas such as agriculture and rural development, either based in a country Office or in our headquarters.

The agriculture sector is called upon simultaneously to contribute to food security; generate income; and reduce environmental harms. To address those challenges, the IDB’s lines of action in the sector include: (i) strengthening agricultural institutions; (ii) focusing agricultural policy support on the provision of public goods; (iii) expanding agricultural financial services; (iv) supporting access to markets; (v) promoting practices that foster climate change resilience and environmental sustainability; (vi) reducing gender and ethnic gaps in agriculture; and (vii) maintaining an active and relevant knowledge agenda to support evidence-based decisions.

In this context, the Agriculture and Rural Development Division (PTI/ARD), as part of the Productivity, Trade, and Innovation Sector (PTI/PTI), spearheads the design and execution of operations (loans, technical operations, investment grants) and policy dialogue of the Bank in the areas of sustainable, resilient and inclusive agri-food systems; rural development; management of natural resources that are key for agriculture such as land and water; and sustainable and productive forest and fisheries management, among others.

What you’ll do

Portfolio management and development:

• Supervise the implementation of operations and technical cooperations, managing risks and promoting results and development effectiveness of operations throughout the project life, while ensuring compliance with parties’ contractual commitments. Lead the preparation and implementation of supervision plans and budgets, in contribution to country-specific planning/work program.
• Lead and/or participate in the design and implementation of monitoring and evaluation activities. Prepare analytical knowledge products on operation's effectiveness and lessons learned.
• Lead and/or participate in the origination, design and preparation of investment projects and technical cooperations that respond to client’s priority and Bank’s priority areas, in close collaboration with the Country Office Representative. Lead the dialogue with the government authorities and coordinate with multisectoral teams (technical, fiduciary, socioenvironmental and operational) to design sectoral operations according to the Bank’s policies.

Technical Sector Dialogue and synergies:

• Lead policy dialogue in the technical areas under the purview of the Agriculture and Rural Development Division.  Contribute to the sector dialogue with government and key partners, identifying potential areas of Bank support to further enrich the sector’s sustainable development. Actively prospect opportunities for technical and/or financial collaboration with donors and other stakeholders, including concessional funding with other organizations. Promotes public-private initiatives, dialogues, networks, and coordination.
• Economic and/or Sector Work & Development: Contribute to the preparation of sector and country strategies and policies, consistent with country needs and sustainable development objectives. Conduct sector-relevant analytic work to inform country dialogues, investment operations and technical assistance programs.
• Knowledge Management and Dissemination: Optimally share and disseminate sector-relevant knowledge and best practices to enhance the relevance of the IDB to borrowing countries and the region. Build and maintain internal and external networks that facilitate knowledge sharing.
• Team management. Identify and supervise technical and operational consultants that contribute to portfolio management and policy dialogue.

The above listed activities will have to be conducted In coordination with Country Office Representative, Chief of Operations, fiduciary, environmental and social specialists, and other specialists from other Bank’s divisions/units according to needs (e.g., climate change, biodiversity, disaster risk management, education, labor markets, financial markets, trade, water and sanitation). The sector specialist is also expected to work closely with IDB-Lab and IDB-Invest.

What you'll need

• Education: Master’s (or equivalent advanced degree) in agronomy, agriculture, sustainable rural development, econonomics, agricultural economics, natural resources management, or related fields.
• Experience: You must have a minimum of five years of relevant professional experience and will be required to demonstrate proven experience in the management and / or supervision of investment projects in agriculture and/or rural development, particularly in LAC countries. Experience with multilateral / multi-donor funding desirable. Experience in design, supervision, and implementation of multi-sectorial projects; in fostering strategic alliances with private sector; and in securing concessional funding to finance sustainable development projects will be positively valued.
• Language: Proficiency in English and in an additional official Bank language (Spanish, Portuguese, or French), spoken and written, 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

• 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.
• 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 supports 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 counseling, training, and learning opportunities, language classes, mobility options, among others.
• Other benefits (country specific): Lactation Room, Daycare Center, Gym, Bike Racks, Parking, Spouse Career Program, and others.