Competitiveness, Technology and Innovation 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

We are looking for a dynamic professional with strong technical knowledge, management capacity, leadership, critical thinking, and extensive experience in promoting the creative industries, firms’ development, competitiveness, and innovation in Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC). Our goal is to improve the competitiveness of firms and enhance productivity in the LAC region through the application of innovative technologies. 

As Competitiveness, Technology and Innovation Specialist you will play a key role in pursuing and accomplishing the strategic objectives of the CTI division in Jamaica, which are to increase the investment of the private sector in innovation and technological development; promote innovative entrepreneurship and the creation of new companies; boost the productivity of firms and their capabilities to enable them to form networks and compete in international markets; create and strengthen the capacity of its institutions and the environment for innovation and productive development.

You will work for the Competitiveness, Technology and Innovation (CTI) Division of the Productivity, Trade and Innovation Sector (PTI) of the IDB. The strategic objectives of the division are to increase the investment of the private sector in innovation and technological development; promote innovative entrepreneurship and the creation of new companies; boost the productivity of companies and their capabilities to enable them to form networks and compete in international markets; create and strengthen the capacity of its institutions and the environment for innovation and productive development.

What you’ll do

• Conduct diagnostic studies and policy analysis to identify opportunities, challenges, and trends in the creative economy, entrepreneurship, and innovation across Latin America and the Caribbean.
• Provide technical assistance to governments in drafting programs, policies, and regulations that foster innovation, entrepreneurship, and the growth of the creative economy.
• Conceptualizes, prepares, conducts, and leads the development, design, and preparation of new projects in the area of creative economy, entrepreneurship, local productive development, and innovation policies.
• Generate synergies and collaborations with other IDB Group teams, such as IDB-LAB and IDB-invest, and divisions, such as TIN and HUD, in order to design and implement innovative project proposals, ensuring alignment with IDB Priorities and client country needs.
• Monitor, execute, and evaluate CTI portfolio and technical cooperation assistance in the country.
• Maintain close liaisons and coordination with policymakers, private sector leaders, international organizations, research institutions, and non-governmental organizations involved in the fields of creative economy, innovation, entrepreneurship, productivity, and competitiveness policies in LAC.
• Design, coordinate and promote new approaches and initiatives to foster entrepreneurship, productivity and the competitiveness of firms in the creative industries sector and their capacity to innovate.
• Develop strategic frameworks and action plans to integrate the creative economy into the broader development agenda of the CTI Division and the Bank.
• Facilitate policy dialogue between government agencies, private sector actors, and civil society to foster partnerships and collaboration in the areas of innovation, entrepreneurship and the creative economy.
• Ensures that IDB lending operations are based on diagnostics with solid empirical evidence and rigorous analysis and those results are measurable and evaluable.
• Contribute to the improvement of Bank policies, sector and country strategies through the design and development of technical notes to advise senior management about the creative economy, entrepreneurship, innovation, local productive development, digital transformation, and competitiveness policies.

What you'll need

• Education: Master's degree in Economics, Public Policy, Public Administration, Political Economy, Engineering, Business Administration, or other fields relevant to this position. A Ph.D. degree is preferred.  
• Experience: you have at least 4 years (5 preferred) of work experience relevant to the duties and responsibilities of the position. You are an expert working with multilateral organizations, and the public sector on issues of private sector development. Deep  knowledge and understanding of the region and the challenges that LAC faces in the topics of entrepreneurship, innovation, and economic development. Knowledge and/or experience working with the creative industry is a plus, but it’s not a requisite to apply.
• Languages: Proficiency in Spanish and English, spoken and written, is required. Additional knowledge of French and Portuguese is preferable.

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

International staff contract, 36 months initially, renewable upon mutual agreement.
Work Location: On Site

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.