Head of Regional Development Division - based in Luxembourg

This position is based at our Luxembourg headquarters and requires regular office presence. The EIB offers you the opportunity to live and work in a truly international and multi-cultural environment. We also offer relocation support.

The EIB, the European Union's bank, is seeking to recruit for its Projects Directorate (PJ), Housing, Cities and Region Department (HCR), Regional Development Division (REGDEV) at its headquarters in Luxembourg, a Head of Regional Development Division*.

This is a full at grade 7 for which the EIB offers a permanent contract.

• Internal benchmark Division Head Sector Economist
  
  

Assessment Centres for selected applicants would take place in November.

Panel interviews are anticipated for December.

Purpose

The European Investment Bank (EIB) Group is the financing arm of the European Union, owned by the 27 Member States, and one of the largest multilateral development banks in the world. In 2025, the EIB Group signed €100 billion in new financing and advisory services for over 870 high-impact projects under eight core priorities that support EU policy objectives: climate action and the environment, digitalisation and technological innovation, security and defence, territorial cohesion, agriculture and the bioeconomy, social infrastructure, strong global partnerships and the savings and investments union.

The European Investment Fund (EIF) is the subsidiary of the EIB Group specialised in providing guarantees, securitisation and equity to improve access to finance for small and medium-sized businesses and startups across Europe. Acting as an anchor investor, through its extensive network of partnering banks and investment funds, the EIF mobilises private investment and nurtures the ecosystem of venture capital funds to support innovative European entrepreneurs.

The EIB Group operates across Europe and beyond, with 68 offices worldwide. The EIB employs approximately 4,400 staff, while the EIF employs around 735. This international presence supports the Group’s ability to mobilise investment across markets and regions. At the same time, its activities remain strongly focused on the European Union, with EU Member States accounting for around 90% of EIB lending.

The Projects Directorate (PJ) appraises and monitors projects, assessing their economic, environmental, social and technical sustainability and their compliance with EU and EIB sector policies. It also provides advice to promoters on the preparation and implementation of projects, either directly or through external consultants.

Lead, coordinate and supervise the work of the Regional Development Division, which assesses the viability of multi-sector and multi-scheme investment in regional development programmes and provides advisory support and policy-related inputs to cohesion, just transition, disaster risk management/preparedness, fragility and economic resilience, both inside and outside the EU, in accordance with Bank and PJ procedures.

Operating Network

The Head of Division reports to the Director of the HCR Department and cooperates closely with the other Divisions in the Department and with other Bank services participating in the lending, advisory, policy development, monitoring and governance processes. The HoD leads a multidisciplinary team of economists, engineers, sector specialists and related support staff. The post requires the ability to manage a broad and evolving portfolio covering regional development, cohesion, just transition, disaster risk management/preparedness, economic resilience and multi-sector public infrastructure operations, including Framework Loans and Structural Programme Loans. The jobholder is expected to maintain external contacts with public authorities, regional and local authorities, EU institutions, international organisations and other IFIs/MDBs as appropriate. Some travel and occasional work outside core hours may be required in line with business needs.

Accountabilities

• Foster a culture of respect, openness and transparency, accountability, compliance with applicable regulatory, ethics and integrity rules, collaboration, inclusion, learning, creativity, collaboration and knowledge sharing, innovation and continuous improvement of processes and working methods.
• Plan, organise, manage and control the activities of the Division. Allocate responsibilities, set objectives and evaluate the performance of the Division's staff. Ensure effective cooperation among team members and other Bank staff, as well as the dissemination and cross-fertilisation of information inside and outside the Division, as necessary.
• Select, manage, supervise and develop staff within the Division in order to ensure they have the right competencies, objectives and motivation to implement the relevant strategy and policies and deliver results.
• Contribute to the formulation and implementation of EIB lending, advisory and policy strategies in regional development, cohesion, just transition, disaster risk management/preparedness, economic resilience and related multi-sector public infrastructure areas.
• Ensure that techno-economic, socio-economic, environmental, climate, social, procurement and risk-related aspects of projects and programmes are assessed, monitored and documented to the required quality standards, helping team members identify and resolve potential issues early in the project life cycle.
• Coordinate, supervise and intervene whenever necessary in the appraisal, monitoring and advisory work of the Division, including Framework Loans, Structural Programme Loans and other multi-sector/multi-scheme operations inside and outside the EU.
• Oversee and support the Division’s policy and procedural work, including cohesion-related guidance and reporting, Just Transition and PSLF-related workstreams, disaster risk management/preparedness, recovery and resilience initiatives, and simplification or quality-improvement measures across the project cycle.
• Keep abreast of developments in regional development, EU cohesion policy, Just Transition, disaster recovery and preparedness, public-sector investment programmes and EU external mandate priorities, anticipate their impact on the Bank’s activities and supervise or prepare policy papers in cooperation with other Divisions/Departments within PJ and in other Directorates.
• Liaise closely with the lending Directorates to provide assistance in the early screening of projects/programmes, support strategic origination and help develop new lending and advisory approaches.
• Maintain working relationships with European Commission services, EU Member State and partner-country authorities, regional and local authorities, Managing Authorities, public promoters, other IFIs/MDBs and international organisations active in the Division’s areas of responsibility, and represent the Bank in internal and external fora as appropriate.
  
  

Qualifications

• University degree, preferably at Master’s level, preferably in a relevant domain, typically economics, regional/territorial development, public policy, urban or regional planning, engineering, finance, environmental/social sciences or a related discipline.
• At least 10 years of relevant professional experience, preferably substantial exposure to regional development, cohesion policy, public-sector investment programmes, multi-sector infrastructure or development finance.
• Experience in managing and/or coaching people, ideally in multicultural environments or international organisations would be an advantage (e.g. contribution to determining team resources and skills; establishing objectives; assessing performance; delegating and supervising tasks; guiding, motivating, coaching and providing feedback).
• Experience in the appraisal and monitoring of investment projects and programmes, including Framework Loans, Structural Programme Loans or comparable multi-sector/multi-scheme operations, preferably both inside and outside the EU.
• Good knowledge of EIB’s mission and activities, objectives, strategies, policies and processes, including the project cycle and the tools and methods normally used within the Projects Directorate for assessing and monitoring projects.
• Good understanding of EU cohesion policy, regional development policy, Just Transition, disaster risk management/preparedness, recovery and resilience, EU funds and public-sector investment frameworks.
• Sound understanding of environmental, climate, social, procurement and implementation risks relevant to public infrastructure programmes and the ability to apply a risk-based approach in cooperation with specialised services.
• Fluency in English, both written and spoken. Knowledge of French and/or other EU languages would be an advantage.
  
  

Competencies

Find out more about EIB core behavioural and managerial skills here

To find out more about our eligibility criteria click here

We hire and value talent with unique characteristics, creating a work environment where they can be themselves. We believe that Diversity, Equity and Inclusion makes us a performing and innovative organisation. We encourage all suitably qualified and eligible candidates to apply regardless of their gender identity/expression, age, racial, ethnic and cultural background, religion and beliefs, sexual orientation, disability or neurodiversity.

If you require reasonable accommodation during the recruitment process due to a disability, neurodivergence, or a chronic health condition, please contact the EIB Recruitment team Jobs@eib.org who will manage your request appropriately.

By applying for this position, you acknowledge the importance of maintaining the security and integrity of the Information of the EIB Group. In case of selection for the position you agree to comply with all measures (policies, controls, document classification and management) implemented by the EIB Group to prevent unauthorised disclosure of any information or any damage to the EIB Group reputation.

Deadline for applications: 20th October 2026