Citizen Security - and Research Specialist

Citizen Security
- Knowledge and Research Specialist

Job Description Citizen Security
- Knowledge and Research Specialist City:
Washington DC Company: IDB Posting End Date: 10/16/2026 11:59 PM EST

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.

The Citizen Security Division (IFD/CIS) is strengthening its knowledge and evidence agenda to support countries in Latin America and the Caribbean in addressing crime and violence challenges through evidence-based interventions. The team works across key areas including social prevention, police performance, criminal justice systems, and rehabilitation.

In this context, the team seeks to systematically connect rigorous evidence (qualitative and quantitative) with policy dialogue, ensuring that lending and technical cooperation are grounded in the highest standards of scientific knowledge and contribute to expanding the Bank’s portfolio and impact

This role will lead the articulation between cutting-edge research and Bank initiatives, ensuring that evidence informs the design, implementation, and scaling of citizen security interventions. The role will also contribute to positioning the Bank as a leading knowledge institution in citizen security in the region, while maintaining a strong pipeline of high-quality research.

• Lead and conduct high-quality applied and academic research on citizen security and justice, ensuring methodological rigor (quantitative and qualitative).
• Develop and implement the knowledge agenda in collaboration with the IFD´s Sector Economic Advisor, aligned with priorities, regional challenges, and emerging evidence gaps.
• Coordinate and quality assure research produced by internal teams and external partners, ensuring publication at high academic standards and policy relevance.
• Promote innovation in research methods, including impact evaluations, quasi-experimental methods, and the use of new data sources and technologies.

• Lead and/or support the integration of evidence into new and existing initiatives, ensuring interventions are grounded in tested approaches.
• Provide technical guidance to teams to ensure initiatives incorporate robust theories of change, measurable outcomes, and evaluation components.
• Act as a key advisor in identifying what works and scaling effective interventions and strengthening the impact.

• Support policy dialogue with governments by providing evidence-based recommendations and analytical inputs.

• Position the Bank as a regional leader in citizen security knowledge, strengthening its visibility and credibility.
• Build and maintain partnerships with academic institutions, think tanks, and international organizations to foster joint research and dissemination.
• Lead dissemination strategies, including publications, policy briefs, and participation in global and regional forums.

• Strengthen internal capacities by advising and mentoring teams on evidence-based design and research methodologies.
• Promote knowledge sharing through seminars, workshops, and internal learning initiatives.
• Facilitate synergies between research, initiatives, and communications to maximize development impact.