POSITION INFORMATION

Position                                          : Program Director

Project Name                                : Environment and Climate Action

Location                                         : Jakarta

Job Type & duration of Contract : Full-time staff, initial contract for a year with potential extension

Closing Date                                  : April 28, 2025

PROGRAM BACKGROUND

The Asia Foundation, supported by a diverse range of government and philanthropic donors, manages innovative programs to promote environmental governance (mostly in the land use and forestry sectors) and contribute meaningfully to global climate action efforts.

Key areas of work include:

·        Strengthening governance frameworks through partnership with civil society organizations (CSOs),

·        Advancing regulatory reforms (including budgetary reform) in land-based and forestry management and other environment and climate-related areas.

·        Enhancing transparency, accountability, and good governance in spatial planning and land use,

·        Promoting the strategic use of legal and justice sector instruments to improve land, forest, and natural resource management,

·        Empowering women, youth, and indigenous communities to manage land and forest rights sustainably, promoting climate awareness and actively engaging in restoration and rehabilitation initiatives.

·        Programs are implemented across multiple provinces in Indonesia, 

·        Building engagements with national and sub-national government stakeholders, donor communities, and civil society organizations.  

·        Led program/business development of environment and climate resilience sectors and report writing to donors and government stakeholders.

RELATIONSHIP

Internal Relationship

·        The Program Director will be responsible for managing an annual budget of approximately USD 5,000,000, supervising a core team of at least 11 staff members, including the Deputy Program Director, Senior Program Officers, Program Officers, Program Assistants, and Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning (MEL) officers; and coordinating with approximately four support units, including grants and finance teams.

·        Provide leadership and overall management of the Environment and Climate Action team based in The Asia Foundation’s Jakarta office.

·        Maintain regular engagement and coordination with members of the senior management team in the Foundation’s Jakarta office.

·        Collaborate closely with program and thematic staff across The Asia Foundation’s offices in the United States, Asia, and the Pacific region.

External Relationship

·        The Director will oversee partnerships with around 35 implementing partners (NGOs/CSOs) and maintain active collaboration with 3-5 national ministries and 12 – 15 provincial government offices.

·        Engage with current and prospective grantees, providing strategic guidance and oversight to ensure alignment with program objectives.

·        Maintain active collaboration with Indonesian government agencies and legislatures at the national, provincial, and district levels to support policy dialogue and program implementation.

·        Build and sustain relationships with policymakers in both government and parliament at all levels to promote evidence-based policy reforms.

·        Strengthen partnerships with specialists and experts from international and local civil society organizations (CSOs), think tanks, and research institutions working on environment and climate action issues.

·        Coordinate closely with donor representatives responsible for environmental and climate portfolios, ensuring alignment with donor priorities and reporting requirements.

·        Develop and maintain strategic communication with media outlets to support public awareness, transparency, and amplification of program impacts.

 

SUMMARY OF JOB RESPONSIBILITIES

The Program Director will provide overall leadership, strategic direction, and operational oversight for The Asia Foundation’s Environment and Climate Action programming in Indonesia. The Director is responsible for ensuring the effective design, implementation, monitoring, and evaluation of activities; managing financial and operational functions; and overseeing engagement with government counterparts, civil society organizations, donors, and other key stakeholders.

The Program Director will represent the Foundation externally, drive innovation in environmental governance programming, and contribute to the broader institutional objectives of The Asia Foundation at both country and regional levels.

This position reports to The Asia Foundation’s Country Representative and is a member of the Foundation’s senior management team.

Specific Duties and Responsibilities:

·     Provide strategic leadership and overall management of the Environment and Climate Action program portfolio, ensuring alignment with organizational priorities and donor requirements.

·     Supervise program implementation teams, including program, grants, and administrative personnel, ensuring high performance, accountability, and professional development.

·     Lead the development of detailed annual work plans, budgets, and activity schedules and ensure their timely execution in accordance with project goals and timelines.

·     Monitor program activities against performance frameworks, Theories of Change, and work plans, ensuring quality assurance, adaptive management, and integration of lessons learned.

·     Foster collaboration and network building among civil society organizations, government counterparts, academic institutions, and other key actors involved in environmental governance and climate action.

·     Facilitate policy dialogue and multi-stakeholder engagement to support evidence-based reforms and strengthen environmental governance mechanisms.

·     Identify programmatic risks and implement effective mitigation strategies to ensure program continuity and success.

·     Promote an inclusive, environmentally responsible, and gender-sensitive work culture, both within the Foundation and across implementing partners.

·     Ensure compliance with all financial, operational, and reporting requirements in accordance with The Asia Foundation’s policies and donor regulations.

REQUIREMENT

·        Minimum of 10 years of progressively responsible experience managing complex programs in environmental governance, climate action, development, or governance sectors, preferably in Indonesia.

·        Prior experience working with international development organizations or donor-funded programs (such as UK, US, or other government projects) is strongly preferred.

·        Advanced degree (master’s or equivalent) in Environmental Sciences, Forestry, Public Policy, Law, Political Science, Development Studies, Gender Studies, or related fields.

·        Demonstrated expertise in environmental governance, particularly in land use and forestry sectors, transparency and accountability, civil society engagement, and policy advocacy.

·        Proven ability to engage effectively with government stakeholders at national and sub-national levels, as well as with non-governmental and private sector partners.

·        Strong leadership, interpersonal, and communication skills, including experience in public speaking, external representation, and building multi-sectoral partnerships.

·        Excellent verbal and written communication skills in both English and Bahasa Indonesia.

·        Deep understanding of gender, social inclusion, and Indigenous rights issues in the context of environmental governance and climate action.

·        Strong financial management skills, including experience developing and managing large program budgets.

·        Demonstrated ability to lead teams, mentor staff, and foster a positive, inclusive, and collaborative working environment.

·        Willingness and ability to travel frequently, including to remote and underserved regions across Indonesia.

HOW TO APPLY

Applicants should submit their application and CV through the electronic form provided at https://forms.office.com/r/tQWm7NUyEN by April 28, 2025, at 5:00 PM Jakarta time. Please ensure that all required fields are completed accurately.

Important: The Asia Foundation does not require any payment or request sensitive personal information during the recruitment process. Please ensure that the form you complete is accessed from a credible source, such as The Asia Foundation’s official website or Devjobsindo.org. Beware of fraudulent job offers claiming to be from The Asia Foundation. If you encounter any issues or have questions, please contact us at [email protected].

THE ASIA FOUNDATION IS COMMITTED TO CREATING A DIVERSE AND INCLUSIVE WORK ENVIRONMENT AND ENCOURAGES QUALIFIED CANDIDATES FROM ALL BACKGROUNDS, INCLUDING WOMEN, INDIGENOUS PEOPLES, AND MARGINALIZED COMMUNITIES, TO APPLY. IF YOU ARE PASSIONATE ABOUT ADVANCING ENVIRONMENTAL GOVERNANCE, CLIMATE ACTIONS, AND INCLUSIVE DEVELOPMENT AND MEET THE REQUIREMENTS OUTLINED ABOVE,

ONLY SHORTLISTED CANDIDATES WILL BE CONTACTED FOR FURTHER ASSESSMENT.