Chief Investment Officer

IDB Lab is the innovation and venture capital arm of the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) Group. We seek a dynamic and experienced leader to oversee the Venture Capital Investments Division.

IDB Lab is the innovation and venture capital arm of the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) Group. It focuses on fostering early-stage innovation with a strong emphasis on technology and entrepreneurship. The primary objectives of IDB Lab are to benefit poor and vulnerable populations and to activate new industries in frontier markets. By mobilizing financing, knowledge, and connections, IDB Lab supports innovative ventures and ecosystems, enabling them to thrive.

In addition to its focus on technology, and entrepreneurship, IDB Lab addresses specific challenges such as climate resilience access to quality essential services and creating greater opportunities for livelihoods. It leverages partnerships between the public and private sectors, civil society, and academic institutions to influence public policy and the entrepreneurial ecosystem. Through its various flagship initiatives, IDB Lab aims to drive social inclusion, environmental action, and productivity in the region, ultimately improving lives in Latin America and the Caribbean.

To align the implementation of MIF IV with the organizational structure of IDB Lab, the Venture Capital Investments Unit has been elevated to a Division (VCI), reinforcing its pivotal role in driving strategic investments that maximize financial and developmental returns. This division leads IDB Lab’s investment strategy, ensuring a balanced portfolio that supports high impact ventures and fosters sustainable innovation ecosystems. VCI is responsible for structuring and managing IDB Lab’s investment pipeline, optimizing capital deployment, and enhancing the organization’s long-term financial sustainability while generating measurable impact in Latin America and the Caribbean.

The Venture Capital Investments (VCI) Division works closely with the Ecosystem Building & Acceleration (EBA) Division to ensure a cohesive pipeline of early-stage ventures, fostering a continuum from ecosystem strengthening to strategic investments. Additionally, it collaborates with the Strategy, Knowledge & Impact (SKI) Division to integrate impact-driven investment strategies and leverage insights for portfolio optimization.

About this position

We seek a dynamic and experienced leader to oversee the Venture Capital Investments Division.

This role will be responsible for managing IDB Lab’s investment portfolio, ensuring impact-driven investment decisions, and strengthening IDB Lab’s venture capital strategy. The Division Chief will provide strategic leadership in developing investment policies, optimizing portfolio performance, and driving alignment with IDB Lab’s impact-oriented investment approach. As Venture Capital and Investments Division Chief, you will report directly to the IDB Lab Chief Executive Officer.

As Venture Capital and Investments Division Chief, you will report directly to the CEO of IDB Lab.

What you’ll do

Direct Equity Operations:

• Oversee and expand the direct equity practice.
• Develop and manage Special Purpose Vehicles (SPVs) for co-investment with venture capital funds in the portfolio.

Loan Operations:

• Oversee, manage and expand the structured loans practice.
• Manage the Social Entrepreneurship Program.

VC Fund Operations:

• Oversee, manage and expand the venture capital funds practice.

Portfolio Management:

• Oversee, and manage the portfolio management practice including attention to special assets requiring intensified oversight.

Other Operational Capacity and Scope:

• Actively participate in business development, especially at a high level of dialogue with industry clients.
• Lead a high-performance team, providing oversight and guidance in strategic, tactical, and operational activities related to the direct equity, loan, and venture capital funds practices and the portfolio management practice.
• Define priorities, work plan, including goals and allocation of capital, and longer-term roadmaps for the reimbursable portfolio.
• Maintain a strategic focus aligned with IDB and IDB Invest to ensure synergies and continuity and impact scaling across investments.
• Originate and supervise the mobilization related to reimbursable products, creating platforms alongside equity investments (fund of funds, direct equity SPV) and loans.
• Report to MIF Donors Committee when required.

What you'll need

• Education: Master’s degree in one of the following areas: Economics, Development Studies, Finance, Business Administration, or related fields relevant to the responsibilities of the role. CFA designation is a plus.
• Experience: At least 10 years of proven experience in venture capital, private equity, or early-stage investment. Track record of handling high-performance teams.  Experience with financial instruments and knowledge of one or more areas under the purview of the Division.
  • Deep understanding of Sustainable Development Goals, development challenges, and client needs across different countries/regions, market idiosyncrasies, and drivers of change in Latin America and the Caribbean.
  • Significant experience in a similar role in an investment firm, venture capital firm, bank, or other multilateral/bilateral development organization. Experience with VC Funds, Corporate VC, or in-house BD/M&A groups covering Series A-B levels, venture debt, and blended finance is desirable.
• Strong financial modeling, valuation, and analytical skills are a plus.
• 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  
• Foster a Digital Innovation Culture
• Leverage Data and Technology for Strategic Decision-Making. Operational Excellence and Client Service
• Embrace an Agile and Adaptive Approach
• Create Partnerships