Senior Communication Specialist for Energy and Sustainable Business (Jakarta based)

Portfolio Overview

World Resources Institute (WRI) is an independent national research organization that turns big ideas into action at the nexus of environment, economic opportunity, and human well-being. WRI Indonesia is affiliated with World Resources Institute (WRI), a global environmental research organization that works with various stakeholders to support policies and practices that are sustainable and profitable. WRI works with leaders in more than 50 countries for more than 30 years with offices in Brazil, China, Europe, Africa, India, Indonesia, Mexico, and the United States.

Launched in early 2014, WRI Indonesia builds on WRI’s 20-year history in the country. The official establishment of the WRI Indonesia office has strengthened our impacts on the ground in recent years. Over time, WRI Indonesia aims to expand its portfolio to include climate, energy, and city and the ocean. Therefore, it is important for the organization to identify and put in place the research building blocks for achieving the vision of WRI Indonesia, supporting science- and data-driven decision-making at national and sub-national levels. We will do this by driving the transition in three critical human-centered systems: i) food-land-water system ii) energy system and iii) cities system.

In the energy sector, WRI Indonesia has built its internal expertise through the establishment of The Energy and Sustainable Business (ESB) Portfolio, which supports net-zero business initiatives by developing research, tools, and climate solutions, while advocating for science-based policies. Our key contributions include the establishment of Corporate Assistance Program under the Kadin Net Zero Hub, a five-month intensive capacity-building initiative aimed at enabling companies to transition toward net zero; our involvement as the main partner to the Green Centre of Industry at the Ministry of Industry in developing the Industrial Decarbonization Roadmap that will serve as a guideline for industries to transition; and our collaboration with PLN to co-develop climate solutions, such as Renewable Energy Certificates (REC) and Green Energy as a Service (GEAS), and ensure these are accessible to the market.

WRI Indonesia employs a matrix working system that promotes collaboration across portfolios. This cross-cutting approach leverages diverse expertise to create innovative solutions that wouldn’t emerge in isolation. For instance, our ESB Portfolio also works with the Transport Portfolio to advocate for net-zero within the transportation government agencies and help them to account for their emissions and climate impact. The ESB portfolio also connects with the climate team to work on cross-cutting issues, such as just transition and critical minerals. A combined portfolio allows WRI Indonesia to advocate for more comprehensive policies that consider the interconnectedness of climate, energy, urban development, and ocean health. This integrated approach has also attracted more funding opportunities and partnerships, as many stakeholders seek solutions that address multiple issues simultaneously.

Job Highlight

The Senior Communications Specialist will play a pivotal role in advancing Energy and Sustainable Business portfolio. This role involves crafting narratives to inform and influence key stakeholders, strengthen the organization’s positioning, and support fundraising initiatives. This position will report directly to the Sr. Manager for Energy and Sustainable Business, with a dotted line reporting to the Communications Manager and Engagement Manager, while work closely with program leads to translate complex issues like energy transition and industrial decarbonization into clear and impactful messaging that resonates with diverse audiences.

A key part of the role will involve understanding the technical and programmatic challenges and opportunities within the portfolio and using that knowledge to design targeted communication strategies. This includes identifying the right channels and platforms for outreach, establishing thought leadership positioning, and ensuring the portfolio's messaging aligns with its mission and impact target. The Senior Communications Specialist will not merely act as support but will be an active contributor to programmatic discussions, leveraging their insights to drive engagement with media, policymakers, and industry leaders.

The dynamic nature of the energy and sustainability sectors presents challenges, such as competing news priorities and the complexity of the topics. The Senior Communications Specialist must be adept at managing these challenges while maintaining an organized pipeline of communication products. The position holder should be proactive in guiding the program team in transforming research outcomes into engaging content tailored for targeted stakeholders.

This position will be based in Jakarta, with office-flex working arrangement. In support of WRI's DEI commitment, you are responsible for actively participating in these collaborative efforts by integrating equity into your work, our workplace, and the organizational culture.

What You Will Do

STRATEGY

• Develop, support, and manage advanced communications strategies that go beyond traditional support functions to inform and influence key stakeholders and enhance organizational positioning.
• Conduct in-depth communication analyses to identify the “right” segments of stakeholders and craft strategies to engage and influence them effectively.
• Lead efforts to position WRI Indonesia’s Energy and Sustainable Business Portfolio as a thought leader in the energy transition and industrial decarbonization topic, crafting narratives and strategies that challenge opposition and align with organizational goals.
• Craft and execute communication strategies that strengthen WRI Indonesia’s Energy and Sustainable Business Portfolio influence and ensure its voice is prominent in relevant national and international discussions.
• Support the program team in leveraging and integrating communication strategies into programmatic goals and approaches to improve the portfolio's positioning in fundraising and advocacy, while at the same time working with the Communications Manager to ensure a seamless integration of the program’s communications strategies within the wider institutional communications strategy.
• Develop and implement strategies that enhance WRI Indonesia and its Energy and Sustainability Portfolio’s visibility and credibility among donors, partners, and the public.

ANALYTICS AND INSIGHTS

• Produce communication analytics and reports that provide insights into stakeholder engagement, message effectiveness, and strategic opportunities.
• Use data-driven insights to refine communication strategies, ensuring they are aligned with WRI Indonesia’s Energy and Sustainable Business Portfolio objectives and the evolving external environment.
• Develop metrics to assess the impact of communication activities on the Energy and Sustainable Business Portfolio goals of enabling industrial energy transition and net zero business through research, tools, climate solutions development, & science-aligned policy, and provide regular reports to senior leadership.
• Proactively conduct research and stay updated on current developments, and connect them with the modalities and research topics being explored by the programmatic team
• Provide strategic guidance and support to external partners (i.e., government, companies, donor) to develop their capacity to advance their communication technique and strategic thinking, to strengthen their communication techniques and strategic thinking, particularly in crafting and delivering their industrial decarbonization narratives.

OUTREACH AND ENGAGEMENT

• Under the guidance of the Engagement Manager, co-lead the strategic outreach initiatives that position WRI Indonesia and its Energy and Sustainable Business Portfolio as a leader in the energy transition and industrial decarbonization topic
• Represent WRI Indonesia in the public-facing event, relevant to the topic of energy transition and industrial decarbonization
• Under the guidance of the Engagement Manager, develop and maintain high-level relationships with key stakeholders, including government officials, donors, and industry leaders
• Oversee the development of high-quality communication materials that reflect WRI Indonesia’s Energy and Sustainable Business Portfolio thought leadership and strategic priorities.

What You Will Need

• Bachelor’s degree in fields such as communications, marketing, business, social or environmental studies, journalism, or English language or literature. A master’s degree is preferred.
• Proven professional experience of a minimum of 5 years in strategic communications, with a strong emphasis on analytics, stakeholder engagement, and environmental issues.
• Exceptional communication skills, with a strong emphasis on writing, editing, and messaging for diverse audiences, enabling the creation of professional-quality communication products from complex technical and research material.
• Strong background in strategic thinking, with the ability to craft and implement sophisticated communication strategies that align with organizational goals.
• Demonstrated experience in developing and implementing communications strategies that inform and influence key stakeholders and enhance organizational positioning.
• Ability to identify communications related reputational risks and devise strategies to manage them under supervision of manager.
• Ability to simultaneously oversee multiple communications projects involving multi-unit teams, setting the broad direction and incentivizing and guiding staff to deliver.
• Ability to stays current with communications trends or latest issue, and to effectively manage communication product pipeline.
• International experience or prior work in a global organization preferred.
• Proven ability to work effectively in a fast-paced environment, both independently and as part of a global team.
• Strong interest and experience in energy transition and industrial decarbonization issues, with a deep understanding of the Indonesian context.
• Curiosity, creativity, strong listening skills, and wide-ranging reading habits across a variety of fields and media are highly desirable.
• Fluency in both Bahasa Indonesia and English, with a strong emphasis on written and spoken communication.

Contract Arrangement

Full-time with fixed-term employment agreement with 3 (three) months of consultancy will be in place prior to the start of the fixed-term employment.

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

Shortlisted candidates will be required to complete a test and/or submit two writing samples to demonstrate their skills and suitability for the role.

How to apply: In order to be formally considered, please submit an updated resume and cover letter through WRI career portal.

Application close: 1700 (DKI Jakarta local time), 3 November 2024. We will close the advert earlier when the best candidates are identified at earlier dates. 

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

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, gender diverse communities, 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.