The Junior Professional Program

Thank you for your interest in the Junior Professional Program.  Applications will be received from October 15, 2003 through January 15, 2004 for the 2004 selection.

The Inter-American Development Bank is an international financial institution created in 1959 to help accelerate the economic and social development of its member countries in Latin America and the Caribbean. The Bank, whose headquarters is in Washington, D.C., is today a major source of external public financing for most of the countries of the Latin American region. The Bank is owned by its 46 member countries. Twenty-eight of these countries, known as the regional members, are in the Western Hemisphere, and 18, known as the non-regional members,  are in Europe, Asia and the Middle East.

 

The Bank, as an international organization, is committed to the principle of equal opportunity for all persons based solely on their individual merits, without any consideration as to their race, color, religion, sex or disability.

 

The Junior Professional Program (JPP) is a starting point for careers at the Inter-American Development Bank. The program is designed for exceptionally qualified and motivated Junior Professionals.

 

The Bank has traditionally sought skills in areas such as economics, finance, engineering, business, management, law, education, health, and public administration. New areas of emphasis, which have emerged and are also of interest to the Bank include: trade, labor, modernization of the state, governance, the environment, and women in development.

 

 

Number of Participants and Length of Program

Each year the Bank determines the number of participants in the Junior Professional Program based upon budgetary allocations; between five and ten Junior Professionals will normally be on board at any one time.

 

Participants selected for the Program are offered a 24-month contract with the Bank. Junior Professionals begin with two twelve-month assignments in different Departments, and are treated as full-fledged staff members with specific responsibilities. Junior Professionals may be assigned to the Country Offices as part of the Program.

 

After the first assignment, the Junior Professional may apply to an appropriate posted vacancy and be selected as a regular staff member following a competitive process. Any Junior Professional not selected for a regular staff position at the end of two years will be terminated in accordance with contract stipulations.  Notwithstanding, it should be understood, however, that the Bank reserves the right to terminate the contract of the Junior Professional at any time in accordance with the terms and conditions of Staff Regulations of the Bank.

 

Eligibility Requirements

Participants in the Program can be external or internal applicants meeting the following requirements:

 

·                    be citizens of member countries of the Bank;

·                    not older than 31 years of age as January 1st of the selection year. When a candidate is 

            selected from within the Institution, the maximum prescribed age is 35;

·                    be fluent in one of the Bank's working languages (English or Spanish), and have a

            working knowledge of a second official language of the Bank;

·                    have a Master's or equivalent degree level from an accredited university by January 1st 

            of the application year;

·                    have one or more years of professional experience in business related to the Bank; and,

·                    be exempt from any military obligation for the duration of the Program.

 

Applicants whose members or close relatives are presently employed or in the process of becoming IDB employees are not eligible. This restriction applies to candidates within and including the 4th degree of consanguinity and the 2nd degree of affinity.

 

 

INCOMPLETE APPLICATIONS WILL NOT BE CONSIDERED. It is of utmost importance that you include the graduation date of your Masters Degree or Ph.D.

 

The Selection Process

A preliminary selection of candidates is made within the Human Resources Department based on the main requirements indicated above and based on specific needs of the Departments or units in the Bank which have requested the placement of a Junior Professional

 

 

Selection of Participants

The Human Resources Department is responsible for ensuring that an adequate pool of highly qualified candidates for the Program is identified through a process of competitive recruitment consisting of postings, the placement of ads in widely read-publications in universities and in member countries, and by means of extensive interviewing.

Emphasis is placed on the following characteristics when recruiting Junior Professionals:

 

·                    Flexibility and capacity to work in different areas of the organization;

·                  Strong analytical skills as evidenced by academic successes and other personal achievements; interpersonal, team and communication skills indispensable for working in a multicultural setting; and,

·                    Desire and readiness to serve in field assignments.

 

Selection of participants in the Program is made by a senior level Selection Panel of staff members appointed by the President of the Bank to serve for a two-year period. The number and names of participants are decided exclusively by the Selection Panel.

 

Only the strongest candidates will be selected for interviews and will be contacted by telephone. If applicants have not heard from the Human Resources Department by the last day of June of the selection year, it will be reasonable to assume that they were not selected for that year's program. Applicants are asked not to call Bank staff for information on their application status.

 

Conditions of Employment

The Bank pays transportation costs for finalist candidates coming from outside the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area or from other countries for interviews and/or employment.  For candidates selected to participate in the Program who are not citizens or residents of the United States, the Bank will request a G (IV) visa before the American Consulate in the country of origin. Candidates holding J-1 or H-1 visas will be requested to obtain authorization from sponsors. If the finalist candidate is unable to obtain the visa, or release from sponsor to work at the IDB, the offer of employment will be voided.

 

Training

Candidates chosen for the Junior Professional Program are expected to assume the functions, responsibilities and workload assigned to them by their designated supervisors in the Departments of assignment. Junior Professionals are eligible to participate during their time in the Bank's training activities, i.e., orientation, languages, computers, etc.

 

Junior Professionals may select a "mentor" for the duration of the Program. The mentor will help orient and facilitate participation and maximize the Junior Professional's contribution to the Bank, as well as his/her personal and professional growth. The "mentor" will normally be a Senior Bank officer and will not necessarily have to come from the Department where the Junior Professional is assigned.

How to Apply

If you meet the requirements you may download the "Personal History Form" (HUR 503-E, 5/95), and send it with your resume and cover letter to the following address:

Inter-American Development Bank, Stop E0515
Attention:  Junior Professional Program
1300 New York Avenue, NW
Washington, DC  20577

Official application forms "Personal History Form" (HUR-503-E, 5/95) and cover letters must be received by the Bank no later than January 15 of the selection year.

2003