NZMATES – LOCAL STAKEHOLDER ENGAGEMENT OFFICER

NZMATES Program Summary

The New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (MFAT) has, through its Aid Programme provided funding for the New Zealand – Maluku Access to Renewable Energy Support (NZMATES) programme. New Zealand-based renewable energy company Infratec Ltd.. has been tasked with the delivery of the NZMATES programme. Infratec has engaged with YMCI to jointly implement this five-year programme.

The main goal of NZMATES is to improve social well-being and economic development on Seram Island in Maluku province by supporting, accelerating, and enabling the sustainable development and utilization of the areas’ renewable energy (RE) resources (mainly hydro, solar, wind, and biomass) for the benefit of local communities. NZMATES will partner and collaborate closely with PLN and EBTKE on increasing the use of renewables and improving energy access through grid-connected and off-grid RE projects. NZMATES aims to promote and boost RE projects’ identification, attractiveness and viability, social and environmental assessments, technical considerations, and triggering and facilitating investment and funding from government, private sector, or other donors.

The NZMATES Team will be based in Ambon and will provide support to fill gaps in knowledge, resources, and research, and will ensure that projects are aligned with the Government of Indonesia and community development framework and objectives. The proposed support for RE projects will include assistance for project identification and appraisal, technical and social assessments, finance matching, and for strengthening the long-term sustainability of renewable energy projects. NZMATES is also intended to enhance local public and private sector capacity and offer opportunities for direct training, technical exchange programmes, and interaction between Maluku educational institutions and NZ renewable energy specialists.

General Position Summary

The Local Stakeholder Engagement Officer (LSEO) will be part of the NZMATES Team, based at Mercy Corps Indonesia’s office in Ambon, and travel occasionally within Indonesia. The LSEO will support the NZMATES Team in building relationships with stakeholders in Ambon, Jakarta, and elsewhere in Indonesia, communicating the work of NZMATES, and in providing guidance on local context, cultural norms, political dynamics, and regulatory requirements. The LSEO will have an understanding and carry out research on the energy sector institutional framework.

The LSEO will take a proactive approach to building a network of local stakeholders and fostering good relationships with government (province and district level), the private sector, civil society, universities, and other stakeholders involved in the energy sector. The LSEO will support drafting terms of references, establishing, and arranging of NZMATES Project Steering Group (PSG) in Jakarta and Technical Committees (TC) in Ambon. This includes tasks such as supporting the description on how to operationalize collaborations, actively engage with project partners, define decision-making processes, and communicate with key players, among other responsibilities. The LSEO will build and sustain close relationships with project partners key staff in PLN, EBTKE, and ESDM Dinas, and will support mapping and understanding internal relations and processes. The LSEO will provide logistical and linguistic support on stakeholder meetings and will support with translating documents.. The LSEO will work closely with the Programme Manager and will be responsible with maintaining positive relationships with key players.

The LSEO will also lead communications work at NZMATES, including website updates, social media, and media engagement. This person will support the NZMATES Team with guidance on local context and in-country briefings for any international visitors, and advice on political dynamics and regulatory frameworks, including permits, policies, formal and customary laws, relevant to renewable energy and development.

Qualifications

·   University Degree (or equivalent experience) in communications, social sciences, law, business, public/international relations, or similar field;

· Minimum 5 years’ experience in communications, socio-economic development, public relations, and/or related fields;

·   Strong communications skills, networking, and experience working as part of a multi-disciplinary team;

·  Experience with engaging, networking, collaborating, working together, and communicating with   government officials, in particular with PLN, ESDM, and BAPPEDA in Ambon and at national level; 

·  Experience engaging and communicating with civil society, educational institutions, and private sector stakeholders in the energy sector;

·  Experience with researching and understanding of (electricity) sector regulatory/institutional/legal framework;

·  Experience with website content management, social media, and media engagement;

·   Ability to foster positive and effective working relationships with variety of energy stakeholders;

·    Experience working in Maluku province and understanding of local context;

·    Fluency in English verbal and written communication;

·   Ability to anticipate and solve problems; meet deadlines, work under pressure, work independently on multiple tasks with limited supervision, work cooperatively with team members and partners;

·     Strong familiarity with Word, Excel, PowerPoint, social media and website content management;

·     Willingness to travel occasionally to Jakarta, Seram and other locations within Indonesia;

·      Experience in establishing PSGs an TCs is desirable;

·      Experience working in socio-economic development, energy access or environment sector preferred;

·     This role is open to all applicants. Women and people from Maluku are especially encouraged to applyThis role is open to all applicants. Women and people from Maluku are especially encouraged to apply..

Please send your CV together with form on this link with position applied on the email subject to hrd@id.mercycorps.org 

Vacancy will be closed 20 May 2018 and only short listed candidates will be contacted for interview.

We look forward to hearing from those who are interested in taking this opportunity to grow and develop with us.