The IDB Group is looking to improve lives in Latin America and the Caribbean by leveraging data to accelerate decisions safely and consistently across the institution. This involves turning scattered datasets into strategic, reusable assets.
Requirements
- At least 5 years in data science/analytics/applied research, demonstrating strong skills in statistical modeling, econometrics, machine learning, and quantitative analysis.
- Proven experience building data systems and analytical products in international development organizations (e.g., MDBs/UN/INGOs/governments) and/or the private sector (e.g., tech, consulting, civic tech), including work with national statistical offices or government data producers.
- Experience integrating traditional and non-traditional data (e.g., surveys + admin + geospatial/mobile) and taking solutions from prototype to pilot/production.
- Apply statistical/econometric and machine learning techniques (e.g., causal inference, prediction, classification, segmentation, small-area estimation, nowcasting) to support evidence-based and policy.
- Develop interactive visual products (Power BI, Tableau, Plotly/Dash/Streamlit) and clear storytelling to make technical results accessible to non-technical audiences.
- Work with data governance specialists to uphold privacy-by-design, ethical AI practices, and compliant sharing (e.g., data-use agreements, tiered access).
- Continuously explore and evaluate new tools (including AI/LLMs), keeping a pragmatic focus on impact, robustness, and maintainability
Responsibilities
- Co-design reusable analytical products (from notebooks to production pipelines)
- Apply statistical and machine learning methods
- Translate findings into clear, policy-relevant narratives
- Work closely with data engineers and data governance specialists to ensure solutions are FAIR-aligned (Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, Reusable), privacy-preserving, and ready for pilot-to-production adoption by multiple teams
- Analyze complex, multi-source datasets (surveys, admin records, geospatial/satellite, mobile, open data) to detect patterns and produce actionable insights
- Build reusable components: features, model pipelines, and production-grade dataflows (in collaboration with data engineers) with version control, testing, and basic MLOps
- Implement data quality checks (schema, range, duplication, drift) and document data lineage/assumptions to ensure reproducibility and auditability
Other
- Engage with stakeholders (operations, country teams, researchers) to frame decision problems and turn them into analytical backlogs with clear success metrics.
- Contribute to capacity building (playbooks, brown-bags, office hours) with country counterparts and internal teams; promote “build once—reuse many” practices.
- Familiarity with LAC context and working in multilingual, multi-stakeholder environments is highly desirable.
- Proficiency in English and one of the other IDB official languages (Spanish, French, or Portuguese) is required.
- Citizenship: You are a citizen of one of our 48-member countries.
