Deputy Director, Research and Statistics

INTRODUCTION

The Caribbean Development Bank (CDB) is seeking to recruit a national from its Member Countries to fill the position of Deputy Director, Research and Statistics (DDRS) in the Economics Department.  The successful candidate will be based at CDB’s Office in St. Michael, Barbados.

THE DEPARTMENT

The Economics Department is accountable for the formulation of country strategies to guide the Bank’s financial and Technical Assistance (TA) operations in the Borrowing Member Countries (BMCs).  It is also responsible for monitoring and analysis of economic, social and political developments in the BMCs and relevant international sectors; conduct, and production of macroeconomic and financial analyses; and training in economic management.

THE ROLE

Reporting to the Director, Economics Department (DED), the Deputy Director, Research and Statistics (DDRS) is mainly accountable for the Bank’s social and economic research pursuits.  This includes identifying, initiating, executing, commissioning and supervising, and disseminating information to advance the work of the Bank in the areas of social and economic development in the Caribbean, either on a stand-alone basis, or in conjunction with other units in the Bank or with external agencies and entities. 

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

The job will require the DDRS to:

1. Guide the production of semi-annual updates for BMC's regional forecast. 
2. Investigate and analyse specific social or economic issues (including but not limited to political, private sector, industrial sector and environmental issues) affecting Caribbean development generally or affecting specific BMCs, with the objective of producing a set of implementable policy recommendations or action plans to address such issues.
3. Enhance the reputation and visibility of the Bank as a development institution and as a provider of sound economic and social analysis and policy advice. Facilitate requests from BMCs for advice and support in designing and implementing research or data collection programmes, processing and interpreting data, drawing policy conclusions, and formulating policy recommendations for social and economic development policy purposes. Assist in the building of capacity for data capture and analysis.
4. Assess the major development challenges in the region and the developments in the global environment and utilise this knowledge to inform proposals for research and to provide guidance to Bank staff and BMC officials.
5. Keep abreast of and be conversant with theoretical, analytical and methodological developments in Economics, and in conjunction with DED, conduct technical investigations in support of the social, economic and sector work of the Economics Department.
6. Commission and manage research projects in macroeconomic, social and sectoral areas including the preparation of terms of reference for consultants, supervising their performance and safeguarding the quality, utility, timeliness and cost effectiveness of research projects.
7. Arrange seminars and workshops for Bank staff and for staff of BMCs on the range of development and policy issues to guide policy and project work in the Bank and in BMCs in order to optimise resource use for sustained growth and development in BMCs, and to promote the implementation of Bank strategies and the achievement of its objectives.
8. Develop strong partnerships within and outside the Region by collaborating on, or by promoting dissemination of best-practice information and encouraging other research agencies and institutions to undertake research projects that are consistent with the development needs of BMCs. 
9. Manage the statistical function of the Department including the staff allocated to the Division, assigning work and evaluating the performance of staff on an ongoing basis, designing training programmes and recommending appropriate action to address deficiencies in performance.
10. Prepare the administrative budget and work programme for the Division for review and approval by the DED; monitor the budget, manage the output of the Division and provide support for the Bank’s project and programme work.

SELECTION CRITERIA

The DDRS should demonstrate excellent representational skills that will enhance the profile of the Bank both regionally and internationally.  

The successful candidate should have:

• An advanced degree, preferably a Ph.D., in Economics, Public Finance, Public Policy or a related field.
• Significant experience in the development and application of economic strategy and policy including field experience on issues relevant to the post.  Experience at a senior economist level with responsibility for managing, and mentoring economists and other social scientists.
• Experience in implementing and/or leading research especially in the area of policy development, and/or development projects.
• Sound knowledge of the economics of small open economies.

Function-Specific Competencies

The DDRS should demonstrate strong proficiency in the following areas:

• Ability to fully establish and develop a research management function within ED.
• Ability to establish new and innovative ways to measure development and inclusive growth in the BMCs.
• Ability to grow inter- and intra-agency coordination and discussion of research activities and results.
• Ability to provide advice and guidance to high level policy makers on macroeconomic management policies and microeconomic aspects of public expenditure management.
• Ability to convey a high level comprehension of global economic trends and the opportunities and challenges they present for sustainable reduction of poverty in CDB’s BMCs.
• Ability to anticipate and identify major emerging issues and policy implications.

ORGANISATIONAL COMPETENCIES

The successful candidate should demonstrate a strong proficiency in the following competencies: 

Acting as a Champion for Change – the ability to identify problems and opportunities for change, implement solutions where appropriate; maintain effectiveness when experiencing major changes in work tasks or the work environment; and support people in their efforts to try new things.

Acting Decisively - Moves quickly to make decisions and commits to a straightforward course of action; comfortable making decisions based on partial information; willing to take risks to maintain momentum; shows a strong bias toward action.

Championing Customer Needs - Calls attention to issues that impact customer satisfaction; views situations from customers' perspective; encourages people to think about customers when making decisions and develops and sustains productive customer relationships.

Developing Talent - Invests time and resources into building the capabilities of team members; helps people define career goals and establish development plans to achieve them; gives people constructive, developmental feedback and advice.

Driving for Results - Bottom-line oriented and pushes self and others to achieve results. Keeps current on project status; makes sure people are aware of project status and what they need to do to keep things moving; redirects project resources and activities to overcome setbacks; elevates project concerns to senior levels of leadership when appropriate.

Managing Performance - Clearly defines and communicates roles and responsibilities; holds people accountable for accomplishing objectives; recognises and rewards people who achieve results and deliver on performance expectations; provides effective feedback.

Managing Risk - Effectively balances risks and opportunities; thinks through potentially positive and negative outcomes; seeks ways to mitigate risks.

Setting a Strategic Vision - Identifies and articulates the strategic goals and direction of the company, Division, or group; establishes connections between short-term and long-term objectives and directions. Communicates the vision throughout the organisation through distinctive strategies, goals and action plans that maximise competitive advantage. Inspires and motivates entire Division (s) or department(s) to adopt the vision. 

TERMS OF APPOINTMENT

This is a full-time position with the successful candidate being contracted on a two-year basis in the first instance, with the possibility of renewal.  The salary is competitive and commensurate with qualifications and experience.  A pension plan, life and medical insurances are included in the benefits package.

Before you proceed to apply, please consider the following requirements: 

• You must be a national of one of CDB’s member countries.

• You will be required to produce evidence of any educational and professional qualifications to support your application if you are selected for an interview.

• All appointments are subject to satisfactory background checks and references.

CDB fully respects the need for confidentiality of the information supplied and assures you that we will not discuss your background and interest with anyone, including references, without your prior consent.

The deadline for submission of applications is December 17, 2023 at 11:59 pm AST. 

The Caribbean Development Bank is an equal opportunity employer and values diversity. We encourage all qualified candidates to apply regardless of their racial, ethnic, religious, cultural background, gender, sexual orientation, or disabilities. Women are strongly encouraged to apply.

The Bank provides reasonable accommodation to individuals with disabilities participating in the job application or interview process. Please contact us to request such accommodation.