Transport Sector Specialist

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 Transport Division (INE/TSP) promotes economic development and improves the quality of life of the region’s inhabitants through transportation initiatives delivered in an efficient, sustainable, and safe manner. Guided by its three core objectives, enhancing connectivity and accessibility, advancing sustainable and resilient transport systems, and strengthening institutional capacity and sector governance, the Division recognizes that transportation is fundamental to addressing the main challenges facing Latin America and the Caribbean: resilience, poverty and inequality, and sustainable growth.

The transportation sector has been evolving rapidly, expanding into multiple areas and diversifying significantly in recent years. We are therefore seeking strategic, dynamic, and highly motivated professionals with experience across the various disciplines of the sector to join our transport team at the Washington, D.C. Headquarters and in Country Offices across Latin America and the Caribbean. These professionals will support borrowers, beneficiaries, and executing agencies in the preparation, execution, monitoring, and evaluation of operations.

You will be part of the Transport Division within the Infrastructure and Energy Sector. The team leads the promotion of public policies, the financing of transportation projects, and the delivery of technical assistance across all the region’s transportation sector. In addition, the Division contributes through its own strategic areas in the Transport Sector, which focuses on: (i) institutional transformation; (ii) user-centered public transport; (iii) resilience and green infrastructure; (iv) logistics and regional integration; and (v) enabling private investment.

What you’ll do

• Identify financing opportunities for the Bank in the development of a solid portfolio of projects in the transportation sector and new opportunities to apply innovation.
• Provide technical support and advise the Bank's clients on transportation projects and knowledge management in coordination with other non-sector technical areas, generating valuable contributions to the Bank's operations.
• Design and prepare operations for all modes of transportation, with emphasis on projects that positively impact the economic, sustainable, and social development, perform quality control reviews of project documents, and prepare documents.
• Proactively supervise TSP’s operations, including investment and policy-based projects and technical cooperations, to achieve their expected results, and implement effective project monitoring and evaluation methodologies.
• Conduct technical reviews of procurement activities, provide technical support to the counterparts and project implementing units, conduct field visits, and continuously maintain the dialogue with executing agencies and other relevant partners.

• Promote alignments with partner divisions and units across the IDB Group to propose and develop sustainable and innovative solutions with a cross-sector perspective to respond to client needs.
• Support and lead the dialogue of the transport sector with governmental, national and subnational authorities, as well as representatives of the private sector, with the purpose of developing programs and policies for the transport sector.

• Conceptualize, prepare, implement, and evaluate technical assistance programs to provide client support and promote research and dissemination on a range of topics, including impact evaluation of transport projects; resilient infrastructure; institutional, regulatory, and market structure of transport markets; promotion of inclusion and poverty reduction through enhanced transport systems; funding and financing; regional integration; and private sector participation in the transport sector.
• Take actions to promote the priorities of the transport sector based on national and regional needs and key areas of the IDB.
• Oversee work agendas related to cross sectorial thematics in the transport sector, enhancing the effectiveness and implementation of the transportation projects.
• Conduct research and analysis on innovative solutions to enhance the strategic areas of the Transport Division’s programmatic work, based on institutional transformation, public transport, resilience and green infrastructure, logistics and regional integration, and private investment

What you'll need

• Education: Masters’ level degree (or equivalent advanced degree) in Economics, Engineering, Urban Planning, Architecture, Political Sciences or a related field with a focus on the transport sector.
• Experience: At least four (4) years of specific professional experience in the planning, design, and evaluation of transportation projects are required, while six (6) years of professional experience is highly preferred. Experience in urban planning and in aligning transport projects with climate resilience, inclusion, and digital transformation components is highly desirable. Proven experience and knowledge of the functioning of the public sector—including multilateral organizations, ministries, decentralized entities, and subnational governments—in Latin America and the Caribbean, along with a deep understanding of the realities of the sector, are required. Strong communication and problem-solving skills are essential, and experience in leading or coordinating teams is also desirable.
• Languages: Proficiency in Spanish and English, spoken and written, is required. Additional knowledge of French and/or Portuguese is preferable. 

Requirements

• Citizenship: You are a citizen of one of our . We may offer assistance with relocation and visa applications for you and your eligible dependents).
• Consanguinity: You 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, 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.
• Hybrid and flexible work schedules.
• 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: Lactation Room, Daycare Center, Gym, Bike Racks, Parking, Spouse Career Program, 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 with reasonable accommodation to participate in the job interview process. If you require an accommodation to complete this application, please email us at .