Research Assistant Consultant

City: Washington DC

Company: IDB

Posting End Date: March 25, 2026

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 currently looking for a research assistant who can contribute to the Knowledge Team within the Migration Unit of the Social Sector and enhance its capacity for analytical studies. You will work in the Migration Unit (MIG) part of the Social Sector (SCL). The team mission is to support migration receiving countries, countries of destination and migration in transit and the host communities through lending operations; regional, sub-regional and national dialogues; regional cooperation to generate public goods; capacity building and training; and applied research.

The Migration Unit’s Knowledge Team (KT) has developed a comprehensive research agenda on migration, to generate knowledge that positions the Bank as a thought leader on migration issues in the region, while also supporting the design and implementation of evidence-based projects. The KT’s main thematic areas have focused on studying a) the profiles of migrants in the region and the main disparities in their access to economic opportunities and public services; b) the regularization and integration of migrants in host communities; c) perceptions of migrants in the region, the shifts in these over time, and effective policies to create a positive perception of migrants; d) migrant impact in destination, transit, and home countries, and the impact of migration policies and programs to enhance migrant social and economic integration and e) impact of climate change on migration. In addition, the KT also has a data program gathering information on migrant flows, remittances, metrics of migrants’ integration, attitudes towards migrants, migration policy indicators, etc.

What you’ll do

Identify, compile, and organize databases.
Support the design, programming and analysis of survey instruments.
Assist in empirical analysis including the application of advanced econometric models using STATA and other econometric packages such as R and Python.
Assist in the preparation of research papers, reports, blogs, and presentations.
Prepare literature reviews.
Participate in academic discussions on research findings.

What you'll need

Education: Bachelor’s degree in Economics with a strong quantitative background. A Master’s degree in Economics is preferred.

Experience: At least two years of professional experience in applied economic research, statistics, applied micro econometrics, preferably using survey data. Strong knowledge of programming in STATA and other econometric packages such as R and Python, LaTeX, ODK or SurveyCTO. Experience using git for version control. Knowledge or experience in migration-related research is helpful. Strong analytical abilities as demonstrated by academic and personal achievements. Initiative in research, ability to work independently, and participation in research teams.

Languages: Proficiency in Spanish and English, spoken and written, is required. Additional knowledge of French and Portuguese is preferable.

Requirements

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, IDB Invest, or IDB Lab.

Type of contract and duration

International consultant Full-Time, 12 months (up to 48 months, subject to eligibility).

What we offer

A competitive compensation package.

Leaves and vacations: 2 days per month of contract + gender-neutral parental leave.

Health Insurance: the IDB Group provides a monthly allowance for the purchase of health insurance

Savings plan: The IDB Group cares about your future, depending on the length of the contract, you will receive a monthly savings plan allowance.

We offer assistance with relocation and visa applications for you and your family when it applies.

On-site position with the occasional flexibility of teleworking.

Development support: We offer learning opportunities to boost your professional profile, such as seminars, 1:1 professional counseling, and much more.

Health and well-being: Access to our Health Services Center that provides preventive care and health education for employees.

Other perks (country specific): Lactation Room, Daycare Center, Gym, Bike Racks, Parking, spouse career support, and others.

Our culture

At the IDB, 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 .

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