WRI Indonesia is looking for Plastic Waste and Ocean Manager

Program Overview

By 2030, Indonesia emerges as a true maritime power as envisioned in the current administration’s “global maritime axis” doctrine. A sustainable blue economy is given a central part in this shift of paradigm and geopolitical role. Indonesia will be known globally as a champion for conservation, restoration, and sustainable management of its seas, having been able to tackle the many environmental issues affecting its ocean and seas, such as marine and coastal pollution, climate change, IUU, overfishing, and habitat destruction, among others.

One of the key to achieve the abovementioned vision is by developing an integrated management/governance of Indonesian seas and its ocean that recognizes the multiple uses and activities across space and time, especially on the issue of plastic waste management. Our goal is to improve ocean health and wellbeing that is directly and negatively impacted by plastic pollution and marine debris. This effort will need to be supported by objective and scientifically robust data and analysis which can inspire action, coupled with the fulfilment of enabling factors as a catalyst for change and mobilization of resources. In WRI Indonesia, we work on four main areas: (1) Seeking collective actions through convening such as the National Plastic Action Partnership and the New Ocean Economy; (2) Developing the Indonesian Marine Pollution Database; (3) Integrating restoration and conservation into sustainable coastal management; and (4) Enabling high level leadership to enable Indonesia’s access towards global blue carbon financing facilities.

Job Highlights

The Plastic Waste and Ocean Manager will play a key role in developing, implementing, and managing cross programmatic initiatives within ocean and plastics waste contexts across the Climate, Energy, Cities and the Ocean portfolios. The Manager will provide strategic leadership and guide engagement with donor agencies and foundations, also work with Deputy Program Directors and the Program Director to translate WRI Indonesia country strategy into action. He/she is tasked to proactively manage and grow WRI Indonesia ocean portfolio in a broader Southeast Asian framework while overseeing prospect research, donor relations, proposal writing, and internal project framing. The Ocean & Plastic Waste Manager needs to have a strong programmatic vision and commitment to implement WRI’s mission, culture, and values – integrity, innovation, urgency, independence, and respect. Team-oriented thinking and passion on high-frequency stakeholder engagement are a must and should be combined with an ability to effectively respond to complex situations involving numerous and sometimes competing organizational constituencies. The Manager will work to improve the capacity of the government and build relationship with civil societies and private sectors at the national, priority provinces/districts, and village-pilot level. The Manager is also tasked to enhance the quality of data and information and improve data-communication among sectoral in national-subnational level agencies.

What You Will Do

Programmatic excellence (30%)

National Plastic Action Partnership (NPAP)

The Government of Indonesia has made significant step by committing to reduce plastics pollution to the ocean by 70% by 2025. Recognizing the urgent need to take bold, unprecedented action on plastic pollution, Indonesia became the first nation to join Global Plastic Action Partnership (GPAP) in March 2019. The initiative aims to tackle one of the most difficult and pressing challenges facing our global commons – plastics pollution – in particular the plastic pollution of rivers, deltas and the ocean. In Indonesia, NPAP is the trusted convening platform that continually brings together top leaders from government (especially through our deep and extensive engagement with Marves), private sectors and civil society organizations to contribute in achieving national ocean plastic reduction target.

High Level Panel for Sustainable Ocean Economy

WRI continues to serve as the Secretariat of the Ocean Panel into September 2025, with headline commitment to ‘sustainably manage 100% of waters under national jurisdiction, guided by Sustainable Ocean Plans, by 2025. WRI Indonesia has worked closely with the Indonesian government since the formation of the Panel, to provide support for the effective elaboration and implementation of Ocean Panel activities.

Marine Trends.

Report on the trends in marine resources and fisheries management in Indonesia. Marine Trends is an extensive report that provides information on trends and issues relating to the economic (e.g., production, export, investment) and ecological performance (e.g., national stock assessment, fisheries effort) in Indonesia's wild capture fisheries and aquaculture, also efforts in protecting marine and coastal ecosystem, as an interlinkage system supporting the sustainability of fisheries/aquaculture sector. This report provides information on the current context of Indonesia’s marine and fisheries sector and is intended to facilitate evidence-based decision making for policymakers, the private sector, civil society organizations, and the community-at-large.

Developing Ocean Accounts

Measuring and valuing marine & coastal ecosystem services is central to understand ocean contributions to people and economy within and beyond GDP. The growing appetite in countries on ocean accounts calls for: Readily available dataset on coastal ecosystem extent, condition, and service factors e.g., blue carbon, etc; Guidance for policymakers and other stakeholders on how to apply the data; and use cases on applying ocean accounts for policy planning and evaluation.

Engagement and Outreach (40%) 

The engagement and outreach proportion will mainly focus on NPAP work and gradually develop other ocean portfolio when needed.

1. Provide leadership on strategic management of the NPAP partnership focusing on NPAP 5 Task Forces (each Task Forces comprises 20-30 members), more than 150 Members organization, and a wider community. Key coordinating partner in the government is the Coordinating Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Investment. This includes:  

• Provide leadership on coordinating NPAP team for the NPAP Task Force Co-chairs and members engagement and outreach, based in the region, facilitating their participation in the task force meetings. 
• Serve as facilitator of the Indonesia NPAP Task Force, including: proposing the agenda and work plans for discussion.  
• Contribute to the design and execution of the proposed annual meeting of GPAP in collaboration with the GPAP Secretariat. 
• Contribute to the design and execution of NPAP events to officially launch the Task Force reports and/or roadmap. 
• Contribute to the preparation and execution of the national and global communication activities of GPAP. 

2. Support in identifying strategic investment partners and investment opportunities for plastic action.  

3. Maintain regular communication between WRI Indonesia and the GPAP Secretariat to help create visibility over key activities, outcomes and expenses as well as to provide guidance and support in times of key events and milestone activities. 

4. On an operational basis the Manager liaises with the GPAP Secretariat at the World Economic Forum in Geneva to insure coordination between the national, regional and global activities of GPAP. 

 

Fundraising/Business Development (30%) 

1. Support the Climate Energy Cities Ocean Deputy Director in developing strategy and proposal development for fundraising purposes as necessary. 
2. Expand the funders base of the portfolio to include private sectors, bi-lateral institutions, multinational foundations, and family foundations.
3. Explore ways to enable membership-fee based funding model for the initiative.
4. Identify and work on new sources of support (or new program areas within foundations), including emerging environmental and/or development-focused foundations.
5. Work with WRI's DC-based Development team to co-develop and implement strategies to initiate or expand institutional relationships with top foundation donors and prospects, engaging WRI Global and leadership as needed.
6. Identify potential partners and co-develop fit for purpose business models for archipelagic setting that transcends beyond the business-as-usual current models; proactively seek ways to collaborate in strategic joint ventures and consortium with private sectors and nonprofit sectors to turn the models into project on the ground.

 What You Will Need

• Legally be able to work in Indonesia
• Minimum 7 - 10 years of full-time work experience in relevant field, with program implementation and project management experience.
• Experience working in sustainable ocean issues 
• Direct hands-on experience in project management (e.g. planning, budgeting) and grant management (e.g. due diligence, financial monitoring) and managing multi-donor agency.
• A master’s degree in marine science, marine economics, Social Science, Environmental Science, Natural Resources Management or other sustainability-related field.
• Strong professional network in Indonesia both with public and private sector
• Demonstrated ability to work across the public and private sector 
• Strong management and organizational skills 
• Excellent English and Bahasa Indonesia both verbal and written  
• Excellent oral and written communication skill 
• Excellent organizational and facilitation skills 
• Candidate must be self-motivated, detail-oriented and organized thinker with an ability to juggle multiple priorities, handle assignments independently, and work under tight deadlines.
• High integrity, passion for sustainable development, and good sense of humor preferred. 
• Advanced skills of Microsoft Office, Internet, and virtual meeting tools
• Proven skills to effectively manage a team across time zones.
• Highly organized and systematic with strong time management skills and ability to juggle competing priorities and deadlines required.
• Detail-oriented and organized thinker who can juggle multiple, competing priorities.
• Ability to travel domestically and internationally when needed.

 Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience working with complex issues related to policy or research.
• Ability to write and speak in an organized, clear, and articulate manner for a wide range of audiences including local governments, local private sector and smallholders, local NGOs, local communities, and partners.
• General familiarity with economic and quantitative data related to ocean, fisheries, blue carbon, and/or sectoral contexts
• Experience working in or closely with government agencies in Indonesia

 

Performance Standard

• Partnership with key stakeholders are built, managed and strengthen
• Program managed and implemented based on agreed deliverables and timeline 
• Sustainable funding mobilized for ocean plastic issues. 
• Effective teamwork and communication;
• Project management, grant management, and stakeholder management activities are expected to be carried out timely and satisfactory with minor supervision;
• Capability of setting priorities, working under constraints, and managing several project activities simultaneously;
• Ability to work well with internal and external participants;
• Organizes internal and external meetings, workshops, conferences and other dissemination;
• Supports the decision-making process by providing project information, status, and content to decision makers;
• Demonstrates substantial knowledge of initiative focus and program goals;
• Reviews online posting and working papers;
• Co-authors blogposts and knowledge products;
• Can see hidden problems in organization;
• Recommends solutions to problems with confidence;
• Applies creativity and innovation as appropriate;
• Looks beyond the obvious and demonstrates initiatives;
• Integrates ideas and input from different sources to find solutions;
• Sets and continually manages project expectations with team members and other stakeholders;
• Capable of managing a small team while keeping up with daily tasks;
• Demonstrates advanced abilities to provide clear directions and expectations within and outside project teams;
• Uses positive influence to improve communications among team, partners and donors;
• Promotes a culture of teamwork that balances individual initiative with team accomplishments

Contract Arrangement

Full-time with fixed-term employment agreement up to 31 December 2023 with 3 (three) months of consultancy contract apply before the fixed-term employment agreement started.

What we offer

• Salary that is commensurate with experience and skills
• Competitive and comprehensive benefit package
• Access to the WRI global network
• Opportunity to join and/or get involved in different working groups
• A workplace that strives to put diversity and inclusion at the heart of our work
• A chance to have an impact and to develop your career within a mission driven organization

 

Must have authorization to work in Indonesia to be eligible for this position.

Final candidates might be required to take a writing test and to produce two writing samples when needed.

How to apply: In order to be formally considered, please submit an updated resume and cover letter through WRI Career Portal World Resources Institute Careers - Plastic Waste and Ocean Manager (jobvite.com)

Application close: 1700 (DKI Jakarta local time), 31 March 2023. We will close the advert earlier when the best candidates are identified at earlier dates. 

This is a locally engaged position; Indonesian nationals are encouraged to apply.

About Us

Founded in 1982, World Resources Institute (WRI) is an independent, nonprofit global research organization that turns big ideas into action at the nexus of environment, economic opportunity, and human well-being. We are working to address seven critical challenges that the world must overcome this decade to secure a sustainable future for people and the planet: climate change, energy, food, forests, water, sustainable cities, and the ocean. WRI has a global staff of over 1,800 people with work spanning 60 countries. We have offices in Africa, Brazil, China, Europe, India, Indonesia, Mexico, Colombia and the United States, as well as a growing presence in other countries and regions.  

The foundation of our work is delivering high-quality research, data, maps, and analysis to solve the world’s greatest environment and international development challenges and improve people’s lives. We work with leaders in government, business, and civil society to drive ambitious action and create change on the ground. Equally important, we bring together partners to develop breakthrough ideas and scale-up solutions for far-reaching, enduring impact.

Our mission and values:

WRI’s mission is to move human society to live in ways that protect Earth’s environment and its capacity to provide for the needs and aspirations of current and future generations.

 

Our values are shared ideals that bind us together: Integrity, Innovation, Urgency, Independence, Respect. 

 

Our culture:

WRI is committed to advancing gender and social equity for human well-being in our mission and applies this principle to our organizational and programmatic practices. We are committed to providing equal opportunities in employment, we embrace all diversity and encourage women, the LGBTQ+ community, persons with disabilities, Afro-descendants, and Indigenous people to apply. Recognizing our strong commitment to gender equality, WRI has also been awarded EDGE certification.

 

WRI Indonesia is national entity (Yayasan) associated with the World Resources Institute (WRI), a global environmental research organization that turns big ideas into action at the nexus of environment, economic opportunity, and human well-being. WRI work with various stakeholders in the natural resources sector to support policy and management that are both profitable and sustainable. WRI work with leaders in more than 50 countries for more than 30 years, with offices in Brazil, China, Europe, India, Indonesia, Mexico, and the United States.

 

Launched in early 2014, WRI Indonesia builds on WRI’s 10-year history in the country, and strengthens our impact on the ground. In the short-to-medium term, WRI Indonesia aims to expand its presence and portfolio to include projects in the climate, energy, as well as city and transportation programs.