Job Abstract

Human Resources Principal Specialist/Lead Specialist - Team Lead: HR Services

(Benefits Administration, HR Service Center, and Payroll & Taxes)

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 looking for a dedicated, energetic, and team-oriented Human Resources Principal / Lead Specialist to lead the HR Services (HRS) team within the Compensation, Benefits and HR Services Division of the Human Resources Department (HRD/COB). The HRS serves as the central hub for employee hiring services, benefits administration, and HR inquiries. It also manages payroll and tax reimbursement for the IDB Group. The successful candidate will lead a multidisciplinary team, oversee the activities of third-party agents in Costa Rica, and will report to the HRD/COB Division Chief.

What you’ll do:

As the Leader of the HRS team, you will be responsible for ensuring operational excellence and delivering an outstanding employee experience across the HRS portfolio. Your role will focus on leveraging technology and refining the operating model to optimize resources allocation and enhance impact.

Services:

• Supervise and provide technical direction to the team managing employee hiring services, benefits administration, visas, relocations, employee records and HR general requests through a service center, ensuring high quality, consistent and efficient customer service.
• Serve as liaison with the U.S. Department of State, for the issuance and renewal of G-IV visas for staff and their dependents, G-V visas for household staff, and employment authorizations.
• Lead the Payroll and Tax Reimbursements team, maintaining robust processes and systems for effective operation across Headquarters and the Bank's Country Offices.
• Ensure all services are delivered accurately and efficiently in compliance with regulations and standard operating procedures. Design and strengthen internal controls and serve as a technical point of contact for internal and external auditors. Ensure timely implementation of audit/non-audit recommendations.
• Assess the implications of new Bank policies and procedures and tax laws that affect HRS processes and systems. Ensure HRS catalog and services are documented and updated in the HRD Knowledge Base.
• Lead the design, development, testing, and implementation of enhancements to HRS processes and systems.

Administration:

• Oversee HRS operations in Costa Rica Service Center (CRSC), optimizing staffing levels and resource allocation.
• Design and refine key performance indicators (KPIs) for HRS to enhance performance and resource utilization.
• Spearhead the HR Shared Services strategy, establishing strategic objectives, measures, targets and driving significant strategic goals.
• Manage Service Level Agreements with HR internal clients, IDB Invest and IDB Lab.
• Conduct ongoing optimization analysis to continuously assess and improve the HRS impact.
• Serve as a role model of inclusive and adaptive leader, embrace, and promote IDBG values.

What you’ll need:

• Education: Master’s Degree or equivalent education in Business Administration, Accounting, Human Resources, Finance, Project Management, or related disciplines.
  • Experience: Minimum 10 years of relevant experience. Experience in a leadership role in an HR shared service center environment.
  • Prior experience in human resources is crucial, especially in areas such as HR operations, employee relations, benefits administration, payroll, or talent management. Candidates with previous experience supervising multi-disciplinary HR teams is required.
  • Proficiency with HRIS (Human Resources Information Systems), payroll software, and other HR technologies is required. Ability to leverage data and analytics for decision-making and process improvement.
  • Experience developing customer-centric HR programs and change management, such as implementing new HR systems or policies.
  • Proven ability to innovate and lead impactful initiatives.
  • Excellent negotiation and influencing skills; demonstrated ability to exercise sound judgment.
• Languages: Oral and written proficiency in English and Spanish is required.

Core and Technical Competencies

• Focus on clients
• Communicate and influence
• Innovate and try new things
• Mentor and develop
• Promote Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging

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 the 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 staff contract, 36 months initially, renewable upon mutual agreement.

What we offer

The IDB Group provides benefits that respond to the different needs and moments of an employee’s life. These benefits include:

• A competitive compensation package, including an annual base salary expressed on a net-of-tax basis.
• Leaves and vacations: 24 days of paid time off 8 personal days sick leave gender- neutral parental leave.
• Health Insurance: IDB Group provides employees and eligible dependents with a robust medical benefits program that covers medical, dental, vision, preventive care, and prescription drugs.
• Pension plan: defined benefit pension plan that provides financial security and support employees in planning for their future.
• We offer assistance with relocation and visa applications for you and your family when it applies.
• Hybrid and flexible work schedules.
• Health and well-being: Access to our Health Services Center that provides preventive care and health education for employees.
• Development support: We offer tools to boost your professional profile, such as mentoring, 1:1 professional counseling, training and learning opportunities, language classes, mobility options, among others.
• Other perks: Lactation Room, Daycare Center, Gym, Bike Racks, Parking, Spouse Career Program, and others.

Our culture

At the IDB Group, we work so everyone brings their best and authentic selves to work, willing to try new approaches without fear, and where they are accountable and rewarded for their actions.

Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging (DEIB) are at the center of our organization. We celebrate all dimensions of diversity and encourage women, LGBTQ people, persons with disabilities, Afro-descendants, and Indigenous people 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 reasonable accommodation to complete this application.

Our Human Resources Team reviews carefully every application.

About the IDB Group

The IDB Group, composed of the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), IDB Invest, and the IDB Lab, offers flexible financing solutions to its member countries to finance economic and social development through lending and grants to public and private entities in Latin America and the Caribbean.

About IDB

The Inter-American Development Bank is devoted to improving lives. Established in 1959, the IDB is a leading source of long-term financing for economic, social, and institutional development in Latin America and the Caribbean. The IDB also conducts cutting-edge research and provides policy advice, technical assistance, and training to public and private sector clients throughout the region.

Follow us:

https://www.linkedin.com/company/inter-american-development-bank/

https://www.facebook.com/IADB.org

https://twitter.com/the_IDB