Science, Technology and Innovation Lead Specialist/Sr. Specialist

Science, Technology and Innovation Lead Specialist/Sr. Specialist

Country Office of Colombia (CTI/CCO)   

The Competitiveness and Innovation (CTI) Division, a division of the Institutions for Development Sector (IFD), seeks a dynamic professional with strong technical knowledge and extensive experience in promoting enterprise development, competitiveness and innovation in Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC). The Division’s mandate is to improve the competitiveness of firms and enhance productivity in the LAC region through the application of innovative technologies to firms.             

Key Responsabilities:

• Lead and participate in interdisciplinary and multicultural teams to advance policy dialogue on innovation, competitiveness, and entrepreneurship, as well as mantaining high quality technical relations within the private sector and public institutions. The specialist will be expected to lead the development of projects to strengthen and implement productive development and innovation policies, and improve the business environment.

• Monitoring, execution and evaluation of loan portfolio and technical assistance in Colombia and Ecuador; as well as the identification, design and preparation of new financial operations intended to improve the functioning of member countries innovations systems.

• Develop and produce high quality knowledge products of direct application to the development of innovation and firm productivity enhancing policies and programs.  The specialist will be expected to lead policy analysis and sector work on, for example, entrepreneurship and enterprise development, promotion of clusters and value chains, and other productive development policies.

• Maintain close liaisons with policymakers, private sector leaders, international organizations, research institutions, and non-governmental organizations involved in the fields of innovation and competitiveness policies in LAC.

• Conduct competitiveness, technology and innovation policy analysis and impact assessments to provide advice to borrowing member governments and private entities and to Bank staff. 

• Provides support to member countries in the areas of business development and innovation, technology diffusion, competitiveness and productivity.

• Develop and/or maintain a network of institutions in the region and around the world in the competitiveness, technology, and innovation sector.

• Design and promote new approaches and initiatives to foster entrepreneurship and the competitiveness of firms and their capacity to innovate.

• Contribute to the improvement of Bank policies, sector and country strategies through the design and development of position papers and technical notes to advise senior management about entrepreneurship, innovation and competitiveness policies.

• Represent the Bank in high-level political, policy and technical meetings and networks.

• Help to increase private sector investment in innovation and technological development. 

Qualifications

Education: Master's degree in Economics, Telecommunications, or other fields relevant for this position (Ph.D. preferred.)
Experience: At least 10 years of work experience relevant to the duties and responsibilities of the position. In depth knowledge and understanding of the region, economy of telecommunications, and the challenges of telecommunications development are required.
Languages: Written and spoken command of Spanish and English. Portuguese or French would be a plus.
Travel: Approximately 90 days of travel per year.   

Technical competences 

1. Technical Sector Dialogue: Engages in policy dialogue based on solid knowledge of the sector, development challenges of client countries, and IDB policies, strategies and guidelines. 

2. Sector Development:Takes actions to promote sector priorities based on country and regional needs and key IDB priorities. 

3. Economic and Sector Work: Develops and applies economic and/or sector analytic work to support the preparation of country, sector and regional strategies and country dialogue, loan operations and technical assistance programs. 

4. Project Analysis and Design: Conceptualizes, prepares and participates in the approval of projects and programs (loans and technical cooperation), in coordination with other team members and the respective authorities. 

5. Change Management: Formulates and implements integrated change proposals to contribute to sector modernization and transformation in borrowing countries. 

6. Project Supervision: Effectively supports the execution of projects and programs to maximize their results. 

7. Monitoring and Evaluation: Designs and implements effective monitoring and evaluation methodologies for projects and programs. 

8. Knowledge Management and Dissemination: Effectively shares and disseminates economic/sector knowledge and learning experience to enhance the relevance of the IDB to borrowing countries and the region.

Core Competencies:

1. Collaboration, Teamwork and Inclusion: Works cooperatively with others independent of background (e.g., gender, ethnic origin, religion, disability, sexual orientation, background, perspective) or organizational role, and takes a team-based and inclusive approach to projects and decision making
2. Innovation and Creativity: Develops imaginative ideas and solutions through creativity, experimentation and critical thinking.
3. Communication and Influence: Communicates effectively and leverages relationships and strategies to influence others.
4. Client Focus: Understands client needs and provides services that meet their expectations for quality and performance; meets the Bank’s expectations for ethical behavior.          

Excellent Benefits
Comprehensive Relocation Package (if applicable) 
Competitive Salaries

The IDB is committed to diversity and inclusion and to providing equal opportunities in employment. We embrace diversity on the basis of gender, age, education, national origin, ethnic origin, race, disability, sexual orientation, religion, and HIV/AIDs status. We encourage women, Afro-descendants and persons of indigenous origins to apply. 
   
*The level of responsibilities and grade of the position offered will be commensurate with the background of the selected applicant.

Primary Location

: COF-Colombia

Job Posting

: Sep 4, 2014, 7:00:00 AM

Closing Date

: Sep 19, 2014, 6:59:00 AM

To Apply
Applications and updated CV should be submitted to https://iadbcareers.taleo.net/careersection/external/jobdetail.ftl?job=1400005256