INTRODUCTION
The Caribbean Development Bank (CDB) is seeking to recruit a Project Manager, CARIFORUM-EU Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) and the CARICOM Single Market and Economy (CSME) Standby Facility for Capacity Building. The Programme will be located in the Private Sector Division (PSD) of the Office of the Vice-President (Operations). The successful candidate will be based at CDB’s office in St. Michael, Barbados.
THE DIVISION
The Private Sector Division (PSD), situated within the Office of the Vice President (Operations), is at the forefront of advancing private sector–led growth and competitiveness in the Caribbean. PSD originates and implements a portfolio of capital and technical assistance projects designed to strengthen enterprises, foster innovation, facilitate trade, and promote inclusive economic development.
PSD’s strategy follows two mutually reinforcing tracks:
- Strengthening the MSME sector through tailored support mechanisms, intermediary and direct lending, and innovative partnerships; and
- Building a broader enabling ecosystem for private sector development across BMCs, including support for public–private partnerships (PPPs) and Regional Cooperation and Integration (RCI) initiatives.
THE ROLE
The Project Manager (PM) will report to the Coordinator, RCI, and will provide strategic oversight, leadership, and technical guidance across all aspects of the Facility, ensuring that programme activities achieve tangible development outcomes while adhering to governance, compliance, and donor requirements. The responsibilities of the PM are organised across six key functional areas as follows:
- Programme Planning, Strategy, and Coordination: Coordinate program strategies, plans, and frameworks to ensure coherent, effective delivery across countries and stakeholders.
- Risk Management, Governance, and Compliance: Manage program risks through identification, assessment, and mitigation, while ensuring compliance with governance, financial, and contractual framework
- Stakeholder Engagement and Partnerships: Manage relationships with donors and partners, fostering strategic collaborations to support program delivery and resource mobilisation.
- Project Design, Appraisal, and Technical Guidance: Oversight of project development, appraisal, and implementation, including providing technical guidance to ensure quality, relevance, and achievement of intended outcomes.
- Monitoring, Evaluation, and Reporting: Oversee results-based monitoring mechanisms, performance tracking, and reporting to ensure accountability, learning, and informed decision-making.
- Leadership, Team Management, and Performance Oversight: Provision of leadership and direction to teams, including performance management, capacity development, and fostering a high-performing work environment.
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
The PM will provide strategic leadership and oversight in the following areas and will be required to:
Programme Planning & Strategy
- Lead development and coordination of programme strategies, plans, and implementation frameworks.
- Prepare and manage the Annual Work Programme, Programme Implementation Plan, and operational procedures.
- Ensure cross-divisional collaboration to deliver programme objectives effectively.
Risk, Governance & Compliance
- Identify, assess, and manage programme risks, ensuring mitigation measures are implemented.
- Monitor contract compliance, value-for-money, and adherence to CDB and donor governance frameworks.
Stakeholder Engagement & Partnerships
- Represent CDB with the EU, grant recipients, consultants, and regional partners.
- Develop and maintain strategic partnerships to support programme implementation and resource mobilisation.
Project Design, Appraisal & Technical Guidance
- Supervise project development and implementation, providing hands-on guidance.
- Conduct project review meetings, support corrective actions, and ensure alignment with results frameworks.
Monitoring, Evaluation & Reporting
- Oversee results-based monitoring systems and programme performance tracking.
- Coordinate timely reporting to donors, Steering Committees, and CDB management.
Leadership & Team Management
- Manage the project team (Project Officer, Project Assistant and independent consultants).
- Lead capacity-building, performance assessment, and high-performing team culture.
QUALIFICATIONS & EXPERIENCE
The ideal candidate will be a technically strong development practitioner with experience in programme implementation, regional development issues, and donor-funded operations. Success in the role requires sound judgement, excellent coordination abilities, and a commitment to supporting institutional strengthening and private sector–focused outcomes across the Caribbean.
The successful candidate must have:
- A Master’s degree in Economics, Finance, Management, International Trade, International Relations, Integration Studies, Business Administration, or a related discipline.
- At least seven (7) years of relevant professional experience in trade policy development, programme design, and strategic planning, preferably within the context of a regional economic partnership framework.
- At least five (5) years of experience in project design and management, including demonstrated experience in programme administration, preferably within the Caribbean or a comparable small-state environment.
- Demonstrated experience in programme budgeting, financial planning, and resource allocation, with responsibility for monitoring expenditures and results, and ensuring compliance with donor and institutional requirements.
FUNCTION SPECIFIC COMPETENCIES
The PM must demonstrate:
- Ability to design and implement systems to track performance, generate insights, and support decision-making.
- Strong analytical and problem-solving skills; ability to identify trends and recommend actions.
- Capacity to identify, assess, and mitigate risks across the programme portfolio.
- Leadership and coordination of multidisciplinary teams.
- Fluent oral and written communication skills, including the ability to clearly and concisely prepare, present, discuss and defend issues, findings and recommendations at senior levels and to produce complex and compelling briefs, reports and papers.
- Relationship management, and stakeholder engagement skills.
- Ability to foster a high-performing, accountable, and values-driven team environment.
BEHAVIOURAL COMPETENCIES
The PM should demonstrate strong proficiency in the following organisational core competencies:
Acting as a Champion for Change
Actively identifies problems and opportunities for change and implements solutions where appropriate. Maintains effectiveness when experiencing major changes in work tasks or the work environment; and supports people in their efforts to try new things.
Acting Decisively
Moves quickly to make decisions and commits to a clear course of action; comfortable making decisions based on partial information; willing to take risks in order to maintain momentum; shows a strong bias toward action.
Acting Strategically
Aligns day-to-day activities around broader organisational goals and objectives; prioritises resources based on the strategic objectives of the organisation; recognises and rewards people based on how their actions support the broader needs of the organisation.
Championing Customer Needs
Calls attention to issues that impact customer satisfaction; views situations from the perspective of customers; encourages people to think about customers when making decisions and develops and sustains productive customer relationships.
Communicating Effectively
Consistently communicates with clarity and thoroughness to optimise audience understanding. Communicates information in a clear, concise, and timely manner. Demonstrates effective speaking and presentation skills.
Delivering High Quality Work
Critically reviews work processes to ensure quality; addresses problems that could impact quality; makes sure project deliverables and services meet all requirements and expectations; does not make the same mistakes twice.
Displaying Technical Expertise
Keeps his/her technical skills current; effectively applies specialised knowledge and skills to perform work tasks; understands and masters the technical skills, knowledge, and tasks associated with his/her job; shares technical expertise with others.
Driving for Results
Bottom-line oriented and pushes self and others to achieve results. Keeps current on project status; makes sure people are aware of project status and what they need to do to keep things moving; redirects project resources and activities to overcome setbacks; elevates project concerns to senior levels of leadership when appropriate.
TERMS OF APPOINTMENT
This role is a full-time position with the successful candidate being contracted on a two-year basis in the first instance, with the possibility of renewal. The salary is competitive and commensurate with qualifications and experience. The salary for this Grade 20 role starts at USD88,000 per annum net of taxes. The benefits package includes a pension plan, life and medical insurances.
Before you proceed to apply, please consider the following requirements:
- You must be a national of one of CDB’s member countries.
- You will be required to produce evidence of any educational and professional qualifications to support your application if you are selected for an interview.
- All appointments are subject to satisfactory background checks and references.
CDB fully respects the need for confidentiality of information supplied and assures you that we will not discuss your background and interest with anyone including references, without your prior consent.
The deadline for submission of applications is June 15, 2026 at 11:59 pm AST.
The Caribbean Development Bank is an equal opportunity employer and values diversity. We encourage all qualified candidates to apply regardless of their racial, ethnic, religious, cultural background, gender, sexual orientation, or disabilities. Women are strongly encouraged to apply.
The Bank provides reasonable accommodation to individuals with disabilities who participate in the job application or interview process. Please contact us to request such accommodation.