IDB1634 - Director, Economic Research and Policy Department

ROLE PURPOSE

• To provide strategic direction, motivational leadership and operational oversight for the Economic Research and Policy Department. Determine the strategy for the Department, set ambitious objectives and deliver services that enable IDB to achieve its goals.
• To develop and manage policy-oriented research on various aspects of development activities of the Bank as well as manage statistical systems needed to support the operational work of IDB Group.

KEY ACCOUNTABILITIES & ACTIVITIES

Strategy Development and Business Planning

• Lead the formulation, development and implementation of the Department’s strategy aimed at supporting IDB’s goals and responding to emerging trends related to client/customer needs
• Develop, implement and monitor the Department’s business plans, KPIs, and budgets; provide regular management reports that include insight, analysis, and review on the Department performance and results
• Ensure timely delivery of Department’s work program in terms of outputs, outcomes, and impacts
• Identify opportunities and champion initiatives that enable the Department to increase its impact and deliver innovative and differentiated services while encouraging Department members to fully contribute
• Ensure the Department works effectively, proactively and synergistically across IDB Group and externally to ensure the delivery of services/outputs that meet IDB’s interests and for knowledge sharing.

Research Development

• Initiate and develop policy research agenda of the Department.  Supervise the preparation of policy-oriented empirical research on various aspects of socio-economic development, with particular emphasis on the strategic priority areas of IDB’s main activities.  Disseminate research outcomes to assist the IDB Group and member countries. Analyze emerging development challenges and proffer appropriate responses to address them.
• Undertake the preparation of annual flagship economic reports.
• Collaborate with relevant complexes and entities to undertake research and provide policy advice to member countries on socio-economic development challenges. Partner with relevant stakeholders to identify IDB responses to cross-cutting developmental challenges and priority areas for policy development at the IDB level
• Ensure that the Department leads in generating new ideas and critical thinking on a wide range of areas crucial to the economic development of member countries and the transformation agenda of IDB Group to become a knowledge-bank.
• Organize monthly Policy Committee meeting while ensuring that all documents to be discussed are reviewed and consistent with the guideline for Policy Committee.

Statistical Development

•  Initiate and develop the agenda for statistical activities of the Department 
• Develop adequate statistical capability to support research programs of the IDB Group
• Manage the statistical information system on IDB Group operational activities as well as on socio-economic indicators of member countries
• Supervise the statistical capacity building (STATCAP) initiative of IDB to strengthen national statistical systems of member countries
• Design and develop statistical services to meet varying needs of IDB such as conducting of surveys to collect primary data, use of statistical software, statistical analysis, interpretation of results, and reports preparation.

Relationship Management

• Initiate and maintain research collaboration with various complexes in providing policy advice to member countries on socio-economic development challenges
• Maintain partnership with the Operations Complex to strengthen the analytical basis of member country partnership strategies
• Partner with other MDBs, think tanks, and research institutions for joint research activities as well as share knowledge and policy lessons that inform IDB development financing
• Develop adequate statistical capability to support all research programs of the IDB Group

Governance

• Manage the implementation of standards, policies and processes relevant to the Department  
• Ensure that all department services are provided optimally and effectively to support various initiatives of the Bank while ensuring that they are aligned with best practices and guidelines.
• Define clear Department-wide roles, responsibilities and expectations in all Bank’s initiatives and assignments. 

People Management

• Generate commitment, motivation and enthusiasm to the Department’s goals, and guide the Department’s members.
• Provide clear direction and motivation, prioritise tasks, assign and delegate responsibility and monitor the workflow.
• Plan, manage and review individual performance and provide regular feedback, development and coaching.
• Provide opportunities for the Department’s members to suggest, participate in and contribute to improvement, innovation and knowledge sharing initiatives. 

 Knowledge Sharing and Innovation

• Manage participation of the Department in global events such as consultation meetings and conferences.
• Initiate and supervise the preparation of knowledge products and insights that contribute to strengthen IDB operations at the country level (e.g. country diagnostic studies)
• Supervise knowledge dissemination activities in collaboration with relevant Departments/entities within the IDB Group.
• Ensure the organization and knowledge events such as the IDB Annual Symposia and Chief Economist Lecture Series.

Analysis and Reporting 

• Communicate intended results, results achieved, performance, and lessons learnt within the Department as well as to its Management, relevant governing bodies, partners and other key stakeholders.

QUALIFICATON / EXPERIENCE

Degree in any rlevant discipline with an advanced working experience in Economics and Statistics.

• Master with 20 years with exceptional research record.
• Doctorate with 15 years work experience

Languages

• English - Required
• Arabic -  Prefered
• French - Prefered

Specific Technical Skills / Necessary Knowledge

• Deep knowledge of development issues in areas relevant to member countries and IDB mandates.
• Strong research skills in economics and statistics
• Excellent track record of publications in peer-reviewed journals.
• Proven ability to conduct and supervise empirical policy-oriented research in a multilateral development bank settings 
• Excellent knowledge of socio-economic development challenges with record of publications relevant to national / international development issues.
• Track record of preparing flagship publications and disseminating research findings to international audience.