Posting End Date: 11/9/2026 11:59 PM EST
Location
Post of duty: Madrid, Spain.
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 a Human Resources Principal Specialist, Global Talent & Strategic Partnerships, based in the IDB Office in Madrid, Spain. In this role, you will serve as a focal point in Europe for global talent attraction and selected strategic partnerships, helping build stronger pipelines of high-caliber talent from non-regional member countries while strengthening institutional outreach and engagement in key non-regional member countries markets.
The position will be seated within the Office of the Vice Presidency for Human Resources and Digital Transformation (VHR), working closely with the Human Resources Department (HRD) and the Global Partnerships Office (GPS). You will report directly to VHR, with a close functional reporting relationship to GPS and relevant headquarters teams to connect regional outreach with institutional priorities and ensure coherence, scale, and impact.
What you’ll do
In close coordination with HRD and GPS, as appropriate, you will:
- Talent attraction strategy. Design and lead a proactive talent attraction strategy for the non-regional member countries moving beyond transactional recruitment toward sustained pipeline development for senior, highly specialized, and hard-to-source profiles.
- Regional talent attraction. Lead implementation of the talent attraction strategy across non-regional markets, expanding the volume, diversity, and quality of candidates from non-regional member countries and connecting talent pipelines with IDB Group workforce priorities.
- Global Talent Partnerships. Strengthen and expand the Global Talent Partnership Program through structured, long-term relationships with specialized talent firms and platforms, international development and cooperation agencies, global consulting firms, technology and AI companies, professional associations, and other strategic talent partners.
- Senior talent identification. Leverage relationships with governments and institutions in non-regional member countries to identify and engage senior-level candidates, positioning the IDB Group as a compelling platform for experienced leaders and global development professionals.
- Academic and professional outreach. Position the IDB Group, as an employer and institutional partner of choice across leading universities, graduate programs, research institutions, think tanks, and professional networks, designing targeted job fairs, career seminars, institutional presentations, and outreach campaigns in coordination with HRD and GPS.
- Flagship special talent programs and knowledge partnerships. Leverage institutional partnerships to strengthen internships, Externally Funded Consultants, Associate Professional Officers (APO), secondments, and other priority talent initiatives that promote mobilizing talent, knowledge, technology, and specialized expertise into the IDB Group workforce, aligned with IDB strategic priorities.
- Global talent and mobility coordination. Promote coherence across global talent attraction, mobility, and partnership initiatives, connecting opportunities with headquarters priorities and maximizing synergies, visibility, and institutional impact.
- European partnerships and business development. In close coordination with the GPS Manager and the Representative in the Office in Europe (GPS/EUR), support relationships and ongoing dialogue with governments and key partner institutions; identify partnership and business opportunities around knowledge and talent; and contribute to resource-mobilization efforts through partner engagement, business intelligence, country briefs, and partner profiles, in coordination with the Resource Mobilization Division (GPS/REM).
- Outreach, missions, and partnership intelligence. Support preparation of briefing materials and the coordination of outreach activities, missions, visits, conferences, and follow-up actions involving European partners and IDB senior management; monitor and report on partnership, outreach, and talent-attraction activities; and support BID for the Americas engagement in Europe with public- and private-sector counterparts in coordination with GPS, the Productivity, Trade, and Innovation (PTI) Sector, IDB Invest, and relevant headquarters teams.
What you'll need
- Education: Master’s degree (or equivalent advanced degree) in Human Resources, Business Administration, International Relations, Public Policy, Organizational Development, Economics, or other fields relevant to the responsibilities of the role.
- Experience: At least 7 years of relevant professional experience, preferably 10 years of experience, in roles involving strategic partnerships, international relations, business development, institutional engagement, talent and/or organizational initiatives, or other areas relevant to the responsibilities of the position. Demonstrated experience developing and managing relationships with senior stakeholders across governments, international organizations, the private sector, academia, or other strategic partners, as well as designing and implementing initiatives involving multiple stakeholders and countries, is required. Experience working in international and multicultural environments, and the ability to represent an organization effectively and engage credibly with senior internal and external stakeholders, is highly desirable.
- Languages: Proficiency in English and Spanish, spoken and written, is required. Additional knowledge of French and Portuguese is preferable.
Equivalent combinations of education and relevant professional experience may be considered in accordance with the Institution's assessment.
Requirements
Citizenship: You are a citizen of one of our 48-member countries. In case you are eligible to work in job location(s) without the need for sponsorship, you will be considered a National. We may offer assistance with relocation and visa applications for you and your eligible dependents when applicable.
Consanguinity: You have no family members (up to 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
- National or International staff contract, 36 months initially, renewable upon mutual agreement.
Please note that the applicable contract modality (National or International) will be determined by the IDB Group. This determination will be based on the location of the position, as well as the selected candidate's nationality, residency status, and/or authorization to work without the need for sponsorship of the IDB Group in the country of assignment.
What we offer
The IDB Group provides benefits that respond to the different needs and moments of an employee’s life. Depending on the contract modality, these benefits may include:
- A competitive compensation package.
- 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.
- 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.
Our culture
At the IDB Group, 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 accommodations@iadb.org.
