Chief, Office of the Institutional Integrity

Job Description

The IDB is based in Washington, D.C., and is now reviewing candidates for the Executive position of Chief, Office of Institutional Integrity (OII).

ABOUT THE IDB

At the Inter-American Development Bank, we are devoted to improving lives. Since 1959, we have been a leading source of long-term financing for economic, social, and institutional development in Latin America and the Caribbean. We do more than lending though. We partner with our 48 member countries to provide Latin America and the Caribbean with groundbreaking research about relevant development issues, policy advice to inform their decisions, and technical assistance to improve on the planning and execution of projects. For this, we need people who not only have the right skills but also are passionate about improving lives.

OUR CULTURE

Our people are committed and passionate about improving lives in Latin America and the Caribbean, and they get to do what they love in a diverse, collaborative, and multicultural work environment. We are the first Latin American and Caribbean development institution to be awarded the EDGE certification, recognizing our strong dedication to gender equality. We encourage women, afro-descendants, Indigenous peoples, the LGBTQ+ Community, and persons with disabilities to apply. We will ensure that individuals with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodation to participate in the job interview process. If you are a qualified candidate with a disability, please e-mail us at diversity@iadb.org to request a reasonable accommodation to complete this application.

THE OFFICE OF INSTITUTIONAL INTEGRITY

The Office of Institutional Integrity (OII) is an independent office that supports the entire IDB Group (the IDB, IDB Invest, and IDB Lab). OII is responsible for the detection, investigation, and prevention of prohibited practices in operations, transactions, and other activities financed by the IDB Group. OII, through its advisory functions, plays a key role in the fulfillment of the IDB Group’s fiduciary duties to its shareholders and donors, by raising awareness and devising and implementing practical actions and tools to assess, prevent, and mitigate integrity risk. OII is responsible for integrating anti-corruption standards into IDB Group-financed public and private sector projects in Latin America and the Caribbean, focusing on prevention, compliance, training, and capacity-building as part of its anti-corruption work. OII is a key component of the IDB Group’s sanctions system, together with the Sanctions Officer, and the Sanctions Committee, and its Executive Secretary. The IDB Group’s sanction system articulates the roles of the aforementioned parties; The IDB’s Office of Institutional Integrity (OII) as the investigating body for allegations of prohibited practices in IDB Group-financed activities, the results of which are submitted to the Sanctions Officer, who in turn determines whether to sanction a firm or an individual. In any instance, wherein the Sanctions Officer believes there is sufficient evidence, the case is escalated to the Sanctions Committee for final judgment and imposing of the appropriate sanctions.

OII liaises with its counterparts at International Financial Institutions that agreed on the Uniform Framework for Preventing and Combating Fraud and Corruption, to work towards the establishment of a unified and harmonized approach to combat corruption in the activities and operations of such institutions, as well as to assess and prevent integrity risks. Additionally, OII works closely with other IDB Group units with operational and fiduciary responsibilities and coordinates with the other oversight and risk management offices of the IDB Group.

OII operates under the supervision of a Chief, who is responsible for managing and representing OII, and ensuring it fulfills its role. The responsibilities of OII are carried out by three functional teams: prevention in sovereign operations; prevention in private sector operations; and investigations. The head of each of these teams reports directly to the Chief of OII.

FUNCTIONAL RELATIONSHIPS

The OII Chief is an IDB staff member and reports directly to the President and to the Audit Committee of the IDB Board of Executive Directors. Through Service Level Agreements, OII also provides advice on integrity risks for IDB Invest and IDB Lab. Periodically, the OII Chief meets with the Audit Committees of the Board of Executive Directors of the IDB and the Audit and Risk Oversight Committee of the Board of Executive Directors of IDB Invest, to provide information necessary for the Committees to discharge their responsibilities.

The OII Chief and OII personnel shall enjoy complete independence in the exercise of OII’s mandate and responsibilities, free from all forms of influence or perception of influence; shall maintain objectivity, impartiality, and fairness; and shall conduct their activities competently and with the highest levels of ethics and integrity.

WHAT YOU WILL DO

Directing a team of approximately 25 full-time staff members and complementary contractual employees in Washington, D.C., the responsibilities of the Chief, Office of Institutional Integrity, include:

• Provide executive direction and establish accountability standards for decision-making and performance within OII; including planning, developing, and implementing effective work programs of OII utilizing outside resources where appropriate (such as specialized firms or consultants), and ensuring that the prevention, private sector, and investigative teams and their activities are effective and cost-efficient.
• Establish the long-term strategic direction, objectives, and case management plans for OII in coordination with the sanctions system and implement best international practices for the assessment, prevention, and mitigation of integrity risks, as well as the detection and investigation of fraud, corruption, and other prohibited practices.
• Determine strategy in the preparation and presentation of cases to the sanctions system, or in the negotiation of mutually agreed resolutions of cases, ensuring the highest standards of quality and greatest impact of the results.
• Coordinate with other actors of the IDB Group sanctions system and with OII’s counterparts at other International Financial Institutions the development of procedures governing the process of anti-corruption investigations and other remedies applied because of investigative findings, thus working to enhance the integrity of IDB Group operations and mitigate any integrity and reputational risks. Also, providing and supporting the implementation of recommendations on improvements to mechanisms, practices, regulations, and policies that enhance the integrity of IDB Group operations, as well as assistance in carrying out measures to identify and prevent the risk of prohibited practices, and other integrity and reputational risks.
• Support the project teams and Management in the IDB Group’s public sector (sovereign guaranteed) and private sector (non-sovereign guaranteed) operations to minimize integrity and reputational risk, including providing an integrity assessment and mitigation strategy for private sector operations based on integrity due diligence.
• Oversee the Anti-Money Laundering/Combating the Financing of Terrorism (AML/CFT) compliance function for the IDB and coordination of the implementation of the AML/CFT Framework and provide advice to the IDB Group on the management of Money Laundering/Financing of Terrorism (ML/FT) risk.
• Maintain strong partnerships with other IDB Group functions responsible for oversight, accountability, ethics, and integrity, in order to provide consistent and effective institutional integrity support to stakeholders and establish the IDB Group as a leader among similarly situated institutions in the areas of preventing integrity risk and investigating fraud, corruption, and other prohibited practices.
• Seek and maintain collaboration and harmonization efforts with peer integrity and compliance offices in other multilateral development banks, as well as formal and informal cooperation relationships with national and international authorities responsible for areas such as anti-corruption, financial crime prevention or prosecution, and fair competition.

WHAT YOU WILL NEED

Education: Juris Doctor, MBA, MPA, or other Master’s degree or equivalent (Licenciatura/advanced degree) in a related field. Law degree is desirable.

Experience: Proven track record of 12+ years of relevant experience in anti-corruption, compliance, investigation, or a combination of these areas. Demonstrated experience in having contributed to the design, development, and implementation of relevant policy reform and the strengthening of good governance, and/or managing and delivering best practice integrity risk management or investigative services in or for large, complex organizations, private companies, or government agencies. International experience in these areas is strongly preferred.

Professional skills required: Working knowledge of international standards, policies, and mechanisms to effectively reduce integrity risks and promote transparency and accountability. Comprehensive knowledge of compliance and prevention mechanisms, and/or investigative practices, procedures, and principles, sufficient to interpret and analyze complex concepts and apply these in innovative ways. Extensive understanding of integrity risk mitigation and forensic techniques, specifically as they relate to financial transactions, procurement, and operational contexts. Skills and knowledge should include an extensive understanding of financial and operational risk on a global scale, preferably with a background in developing countries.

Comprehensive management/leadership skills: The ability to lead and motivate a professional workforce in the context of an international public sector organization with increasing service expectations and to manage resources efficiently and effectively, fostering a culture of financial sustainability and accountability.

Languages: Fluency in English and proficiency in Spanish are required (if candidate is not Spanish-proficient, should commit to learning; language training available). Command of another official Bank language (French and/or Portuguese) is considered an asset.

Core Competencies:

• Unquestionable integrity and the highest ethical standards.
• A strong technical background and expertise/knowledge of compliance, integrity risk prevention, and investigation and enforcement of integrity violations.
• Strong organizational and analytical ability.
• Top management experience–an outstanding people manager who models inclusive behaviors and promotes diversity, efficiently managing resources.
• Effective and proactive communications skills and the ability to clearly explain complex conceptual information in an easily understood manner.
• Collaborative attitude: ability to work in close coordination with other IDB Group units.
• Solid interpersonal skills: ability to maintain effective relationships while dealing with highly sensitive issues.
• Sound judgment and the ability to develop innovative approaches; and
• Change management experience in a complex organization(s).

OPPORTUNITY SUMMARY

• Type of contract: The OII Chief’s appointment shall be for a fixed-term of 5 years, with the possibility to be considered for reappointment for a second and final 5-year term. The functions to be carried out will be limited to performing the position of the Chief, Office of Institutional Integrity. After your service as the Chief, Office of Institutional Integrity, you will not be eligible for employment in the IDB Group in any capacity.
• Location: Washington, D.C.
• Citizenship: You are a citizen of one of our 48-member countries. We may offer assistance with relocation and visa applications for you and your eligible dependents.
• Consanguinity: You have no family members (up to fourth degree of consanguinity and second degree of affinity, including spouse) working at the IDB Group.

The OII Chief will be subject to the IDB Personnel Policies, the IDB Code of Ethics and Professional Conduct, and IDB policies. The IDB offers a competitive benefits & compensation package, including relocation expenses (if applicable).

WHAT WE OFFER

• Contract type and duration: International staff contract, 36 months initially, renewable upon mutual agreement.
• Compensation: competitive
• Vacations: 24 days + 8 personal days
• Health insurance: Bank subsidizes employee premium.
• Pension plan
• Visa: we sponsor a visa to work in the United States of America for the employee and the family
• Relocation grant if applicable

Deadline: April 16, 2023

About the Organization

The Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) is the largest and leading source of financing for regional development in Latin America and the Caribbean among multilateral organizations. The IDB has a Country Office in each of the 26 borrowing countries, whose main responsibilities are: a) develop a close relationship and dialogue with public and private sector institutions to identify country development needs and goals attuned with its demand and context; b) Develop, implement, and monitor Bank's country and regional strategies; c) Formulate and coordinate the design and execution of projects; d) Oversee the delivery of country and regional operational programs and measure performance of sectors and support services.