IDB Lab – Finance, Risk & People - Division Chief (Chief Financial Officer)
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 Finance, Risk & People Unit has been upgraded to a Division (FRP), strengthening its integral role in ensuring financial integrity, risk management, and organizational effectiveness. This division oversees IDB Lab’s financial strategy, risk governance, and human capital initiatives, ensuring alignment with operational and strategic objectives. FRP is responsible for financial oversight, optimizing risk mitigation frameworks, and fostering a people-centered approach that enhances organizational culture, talent development, and performance across IDB Lab.
About This Position
We are seeking a strategic and results-oriented leader to serve as Finance, Risk & People Division Chief. This role is critical in overseeing IDB Lab’s financial sustainability, risk management frameworks, compliance structures, and human capital development. The Division Chief will be responsible for implementing best practices in financial management, optimizing resource allocation, and driving a data-driven, risk-aware culture throughout IDB Lab.
The Finance, Risk & People division is responsible for overseeing IDB Lab’s financial management, compliance, risk mitigation, and human resources strategy. It ensures long-term sustainability by developing policies that balance operational efficiency with risk appetite, optimizing capital allocation, and fostering a culture that values financial prudence while enabling innovation.
As Finance, Risk & People Division Chief, you will report directly to the CEO of IDB Lab.
What You’ll Do
- Work with the IDB Lab leadership team to efficiently develop budget proposals, formulation and execution aligned with the organization’s strategic objectives.
- Oversee the preparation of IDB Lab financial statements, financial projections, external and internal auditors’ reviews, and quarterly reports to the Donors Committee.
- Present and obtain approval of key financial strategic documents under the FRP Division to the Donors Committee and the Board such as the annual budget and work program, financial statements and financial projections among others.
- Support the successful implementation of IDB Lab’s new capital model in close coordination with the IDB Lab’s Chief Strategy Officer and CEO, and the Donors Committee and the Board.
- Develop and implement comprehensive financial strategies, and data-driven planning and forecasting models to support IDB Lab’s long-term sustainability, and mobilization efforts in close coordination with the operational divisions.
- Identify, assess, and mitigate risks that could adversely impact the organization's financial standing, strategic objectives, or operational effectiveness.
- Oversee the design and execution of risk management frameworks, and compliance, ensuring its alignment with the organization’s financial sustainability and business objectives, and adherence with internal and external regulatory requirements. while fostering an innovation-driven environment.
- Ensure that the company’s risk management policies are effectively implemented and consistently updated to respond to emerging threats.
- Work in close collaboration with the the CEO, and CSO and the Donors Committee to establish a risk-conscious culture within the organization and in line with the strategic objectives as the innovation lab of the Group.
- Lead strategic initiatives to strengthen human resources management, including talent attraction, career development, leadership training, and performance evaluation.
- Collaborate with IDB Group counterparts to align financial and operational strategies with broader institutional goals.
- Manage and regularly review for efficient performance the system of Service Level Agreements (SLAs) with other parts of the IDB Group, the operations of the Service Center, and the use of special funds (such as the Productivity Fund).
What You'll Need
- Education: Master’s degree in one of the following areas: accounting, finance, business administration, economics, information systems, or related field. CFA designation is a plus.
- Experience: At least 10 years of proven experience in sophisticated operations, including the areas of development, finance, risk, and information technology, and preferably in an international environment. Exposure and familiarity with venture capital investments and products. Track record of handling high-performance teams.
- Substantial understanding of planning and executing financial strategies, and in formulating, implementing, and evaluating financial policy, instruments, and services, and risk management, with clear accountability for profit and loss. Expertise in capital markets including the mechanics of investments, funding, swaps, liquidity management, asset/liability management, and derivatives.
- An understanding of the operational frameworks of public sector and/or multilateral institutions (including their special governance, mandates, safeguards, and human resources structures).
- Operational knowledge of project management, knowledge management, impact evaluation and digital transformation. Project Management Professional certification is a plus.
- Significant experience in financial modelling, liquidity management, risk management, accounting and finance.
- Budget knowledge, finance, bank policies and systems, and human resources management.
- Proven track record handling client needs and challenges, of different country/regional areas, market idiosyncrasies, international development agenda and drivers of impactful change in Latin America and the Caribbean.
- Languages: Proficiency in English is required and in Spanish desired. Additional knowledge of Portuguese and/or French is a plus.
Key Skills
- Create Partnerships
- Lead Change and Transformation
- Coach and Develop
- Build Lean and Versatile Teams
- Promote Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging
- Foster a Digital Innovation Culture
- Leverage Data and Technology for Strategic Decision-Making. Operational Excellence and Client Service
- Embrace an Agile and Adaptive Approach
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.
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 reasonable accommodations to participate in the job interview process. If you require an accommodation to complete this application, please email us at accomodations@iadb.org.
Our Human Resources Team reviews carefully every application.
About The IDB Group
The IDB Group, composed of the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), IDB Invest, and the IDB Lab, offers flexible financing solutions to its member countries to finance economic and social development through lending and grants to public and private entities in Latin America and the Caribbean.
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Primary Location: HQ-US-Washington DC
