Unit Chief for the Amazonia Forever Regional Program

This is an international staff role based at our Headquarters in Washington, D.C. We offer visa and relocation support.

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

The Amazonia Forever Unit has rapidly positioned itself as a strategic leader in advancing sustainable development across the Amazonia region. In just three years, it has mobilized over $4.2 billion in operations across eight countries, launched innovative financing mechanisms, including Indigenous-led funds. Coordinated the first loans under the Green Climate Fund and the Amazon Bioeconomy and Forest Management Fund. Through regional networks, knowledge platforms, and global partnerships, the Unit has strengthened institutional capacities, promoted inclusive growth, and elevated the IDB’s leadership in Amazonia-related development.

We are seeking a strategic leader to serve as Unit Chief for the Amazonia Forever Regional Program. This role is central to advancing sustainable and inclusive development across the Amazonia region, which is home to nearly 40% of South America’s landmass. The Unit Chief will lead cross-sectoral efforts, manage funding mechanisms, and coordinate with internal and external stakeholders to ensure impactful and cohesive development strategies.

This position will report to the Manager of the Southern Cone Department. It will advise and support the Vice Presidency of Countries and Regional Integration, as well as the CSC, CAN, and CCB Managers, in the preparation, development, and implementation of national and regional dialogues, strategies, and activities related to the Amazonia Forever Program.

What you’ll do

As Unit Chief, you will lead and manage the Amazonia Forever Regional Program within the Bank and its funding mechanisms and coordinate the external partners and networks that are part of the Program.

Regional Dialogues & Country Engagement

• Coordinate high-level dialogues across Amazonia-region countries, in close collaboration with Country Representatives, to identify shared priorities and build consensus around strategic development goals.
• Align Amazonia Forever Program goals with Country Strategies, ensuring coherence across sectors and countries.
• Engage diverse partners and stakeholders to shape initiatives within the Amazonia Forever Program.
• Advise senior management on the formulation of operational strategies, policies, and guidelines tailored to the Amazonia region.
• Promote implementation of the program’s five key pillars: Combating deforestation and strengthening environmental control and security, Bioeconomy and creative economy, People-centered development, Sustainable cities, infrastructure, and connectivity, and Sustainable, low-carbon agriculture, livestock, and forestry.
• Integrate cross-cutting themes: inclusion of women, Indigenous peoples, Afro-descendants, and local communities; climate, biodiversity, and forest conservation; and institutional capacity and rule of law.
• Collaborate with the IDB Global Partnerships Department to mobilize resources from donors and partners.
• Coordinate and manage various funding mechanisms, including donor resources and IDB’s own funds.
• Leverage Amazonia Forever’s financial instruments to support strategic solutions for regional development challenges.

What you'll do (continue)

Stakeholder Engagement & Community Dialogues

• Coordinate inclusive engagement with civil society, indigenous and Afro-descendant communities, and traditional Amazonian populations in collaboration with IDB Civil Society Unit.
• Strengthening partnerships with national and international organizations, donors, and private sector actors.
• Lead the knowledge and innovation agenda of the Amazonia Forever Program, working in close coordination with the Southern Cone, Andean, and Caribbean Departments to ensure regional integration and strategic alignment.
• Promote experimental programs and pioneering research to support sustainable development.
• Oversee development and dissemination of knowledge products aligned with program priorities.

Institutional Partnerships & External Representation

• Coordinate joint initiatives with IDB Invest and IDB Lab.
• Ensure integration of cross-cutting themes such as climate resilience, sustainability, and social inclusion within IDB Group.
• Represent the IDB in global forums and multilateral platforms to promote the Bank’s leadership in Amazonia-related development.
• Build and strengthen partnerships with other MDBs, international agencies, and private sector actors to support coordinated regional efforts.

What you'll need

• Education: You hold an advanced degree (master’s or equivalent) from an accredited university in a field of the social sciences or humanities that is relevant to sustainable and inclusive development.
• Experience: Experience related to advancing sustainable and/or inclusive development in the region.
• Languages: Proficiency in English, and Spanish or Portuguese.

Professional Experience

• You have extensive experience conducting strategic-level technical dialogues with diverse groups (e.g. public sector, private sector, civil society, Indigenous and/or traditional communities), including dialogues in matters related to your work.
• Experience facilitating dialogues and negotiations that directly involved more than one country is a plus.
• You have experience in connecting strategic-level discussions with realities at the operational level.
• A working understanding of multi-lateral development banks is advantageous.
• You have demonstrated understanding of the fundamental economic, socio-cultural, and environmental characteristics of the Amazonian territories within the countries that are the focus of the Amazonia Forever Regional Program.

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

• Staff: 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: a defined benefit pension plan that provides financial security and supports 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, which 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.

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