Disaster Risk Management Senior Specialist

Disaster Risk Management Senior Specialist Job Description Disaster Risk Management Senior Specialist City: Washington DC Company: IDB Posting End Date: 5/28/2026 11:59 PM EST 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 an experienced, highly motivated, and impact-driven Disaster Risk Management Senior Specialist to join our team in our Headquarters in Washington D.C. The successful candidate will support the development, coordination, and implementation of disaster risk management projects, strengthen country capacities in disaster risk reduction, preparedness, and financial resilience, ensure the high technical quality of DRM knowledge and operational products, and represent the IDB in regional networks. The ideal candidate will have extensive international knowledge in disaster risk reduction, preparedness, and disaster risk finance experience. You will be part of the Disaster Risk Management Unit within the Climate Change and Sustainable Development Sector (CSD), which provides strategic guidance and analytical and operational support on DRM to the institution and its clients. The Unit leads the development of the IDB’s Disaster Risk Management Action Plan and the Ready and Resilient Americas initiative. What you’ll do Assess and advise on DRM policies, strategies, and programs, ensuring the adoption of best practices and adaptability to Latin American and the Caribbean countries’ needs. Apply and enhance the IDB's Index of Governance and Public Policy in Disaster Risk Management - IGOPP and other complementary instruments for assessing disaster risk management (DRM) governance gaps in Latin America and the Caribbean. Lead the preparation and continuous update of regional, country and sectoral disaster risk profiles, analyzing hazards, vulnerabilities, and exposure to inform the DRM agenda. Lead or support the formulation, supervision, and evaluation of DRM lending and non-lending operations, with autonomy and technical rigor. Monitor and evaluate the DRM project portfolio, including technical cooperation, grants, and loans, ensuring alignment with results frameworks and operational quality. Provide technical advice to the countries on integrating innovative financial instruments for resilience (e.g., debt swaps, guarantees, resilience bonds) into DRM agendas. Advance IDB’s positioning as a knowledge leader in DRM. Co-lead, with regional specialists, the Bank’s operational response in the event of a disaster, coordinating emergency support and damage and loss assessments to inform reconstruction efforts. Oversee the preparation, execution, and supervision of emergency instruments (such as technical cooperation), ensuring effective collaboration with national and local entities and other Bank sectors. Map and engage key stakeholders, including government agencies, development partners, civil society, and the private sector, to strengthen partnerships and foster cross-sectoral collaboration. Facilitate dialogue and coordination with executing agencies, project implementation units, and other relevant partners. Organize and participate in workshops, field visits, and missions related to the DRM portfolio. Contribute proactively to communication strategies, ensuring the dissemination of results and lessons learned in accessible formats. Prepare reports, talking points, and technical notes for internal and external audiences. What you'll need Education : Master's degree (or equivalent advanced degree) in economics, disaster risk management, law, engineering, finance or other fields relevant to the responsibilities of the role. PhD is preferred. Experience : At least five (eight preferred) years of relevant professional and international experience in disaster risk management projects (design and implementation) in one or more Latin American and Caribbean countries. Demonstrated experience in innovative finance for disaster resilience is highly desirable. Excellent interpersonal, problem-solving, and team skills with the ability to find balanced, pragmatic, and implementable solutions in a multi-disciplinary context. Experience managing strategic alliances and policy dialogue with governments, donors, and international organizations is a plus. 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. 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. On‑site position with the occasional flexibility of teleworking. 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 office amenities (as available) : Lactation Room, Daycare Center, Gym, Bike Racks, Parking, spouse career support, 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 View email address on click.appcast.io . #J-18808-Ljbffr