Project Officer, Climate Finance

Primary Purpose

Under the FINCAPES project, the University of Waterloo will work with Government of Indonesia, local university partners, civil society, and selected industry actors to help Indonesia to quantify and reduce climate-exacerbated flooding, strengthen local capacity to conserve and restore critical peatlands, mangroves and biodiversity, and support efforts to optimize climate finance policies and programs.

In support of these objectives, the project will collaborate with Purnomo Yusgiantoro Center (PYC) to establish a Centre of Excellence for Applied Research on Climate Finance Policy. The FINCAPES Project Officer – Climate Finance (PO-Climate Finance) will collaborate with PYC, the FINCAPES Field Director, the uWaterloo Technical Lead for Climate Finance, Climate Finance Technical Experts and/or consultants, relevant Government of Indonesia agencies, and other project stakeholders to promote and support research on climate finance policies, including studies on carbon taxes, carbon pricing, carbon cap & trade, mandatory and voluntary carbon markets, the Indonesian energy transition, and energy efficiency.

The PO-Climate change will also liaise with the Project Director from time to time as needs dictate. The position will require the PO-Climate Change to work closely, and intensively with PYC partners to plan, support and oversee  climate finance policy study activities, with particular focus on the impact of climate finance policies on selected industries and the Government of Indonesia’s energy transition process.

The Officer will also be required to liaise and sometimes collaborate with Government of Indonesia representatives at the national, provincial, and local levels, and work in cooperation with relevant NGOs, CSOs and women’s organizations. From time to time, in instances where natural synergies and or opportunities for constructive collaboration exist, the PO-Climate Change will likely collaborate with the FINCAPES Project Officer – Nature-based Solutions. The PO-Climate Finance position will be technically and administratively challenging, and provide broad opportunities for learning, industry-university collaboration and making positive contributions to the Government of Indonesia climate change adaptation and mitigation efforts.

Key Accountabilities

Develop and maintain a productive working relationship with Purnomo Yusgiantoro Center partners to help develop and implement:

• Assist uWaterloo and FINCAPES colleagues to develop, agree and finalize required summary documents to guide planning, budgeting, and implementation of FINCAPES activities
• Participate in, and support efforts to prepare standard operating procedures for FINCAPES activity planning, management, oversight, and monitoring undertaken under the FINCAPES Climate Finance component 

Support Activity Planning, Implementation and Management, including but not limited to:

• Collaborate with PYC, FINCAPES colleagues, the uWaterloo technical lead for Climate Finance, the FINCAPES Environment & Climate Change Specialist, and relevant technical consultants to help Identify and develop a slate of capacity building activities over the next three years, and support and facilitate annual work planning efforts.
•  Work with PYC to help form and operationalize the Multistakeholder Climate Finance Think Tank and related working groups.
• Work with PYC and FINCAPES colleagues to identify strategic industries to liaise with and respective climate finance priorities, challenges, and policy issues.
• Provide logistical and administrative support to help optimize the effectiveness of capacity building, research, and education/communication activities under the Climate Finance component.
• Collaborate with PYC partners, FINCAPES colleagues, uWaterloo faculty members, and technical consultants to help develop and strengthen the Centre of Excellence for Climate Finance Policy Research.
•  Work with PYC partners, FINCAPES colleagues and uWaterloo faculty to design, develop, implement, and monitor the Climate Finance Policy Collaborative Study Program.
• Assist in mainstreaming gender equality and social inclusivity in all project activities undertaken as part of the Climate Finance component.
• Provide logistical, administrative, and technical support to help design, implement and monitor capacity building activities.

Support and facilitate activity monitoring and evaluation, including but not limited to:

• Work with PYC and FINCAPES colleagues to monitor implementation of planned activities and provide input and recommendations to improve project progress and results.
• Work with PYC and FINCAPES colleagues to provide logistical, administrative, and technical support for collection of qualitative and quantitative data required for semi-annual and annual progress reporting.
• As and if required, provide logistical, administrative, and technical support to facilitate the FINCAPES mid-project review process.
• Collaborate with the Indonesia-based FINCAPES Social Media/Knowledge Management Officer, and the Canada-based FINCAPES Senior Project Officer to document project results, lessons learned, and the impact of project activities on project stakeholders. 

Support Progress and Financial reporting, including but not limited to:

• Work with PYC partners and the FINCAPES Field Finance Manager to help track and report on financial progress including disbursement of funds, collection and submission of all required receipts and documentation, and application of FINCAPES financial norms and standard operating procedures.

*All employees of the University are expected to follow University and departmental health and safety policy, procedures, and work practices at all times. Employees are also responsible for the completion of all health and safety training, as assigned. Employees with staff supervision and/or management responsibilities will ensure that assigned staff abide by the above, and actively identify, assess, and correct health and safety hazards, as required. 

Required Qualifications

Education: University degree or equivalent combination of education and experience

Experience:

• At least five years of experience working with international capacity development partners
• At least five years of experience working with a multidisciplinary team mandated to develop and apply innovative capacity building activities to strengthen relevant human resources
• Successful experience collaborating with Indonesian universities to affect positive socioeconomic change.
• Ability to learn quickly and develop a network of contacts working in the fast-changing fields of climate finance, and the energy transition.
• Successful experience applying the financial policies and practices in force at University of Waterloo, or an equivalent organization.
• Proven ability to develop and maintain mature, competent, and professional relations with Government of Indonesia agencies, Indonesian university partners, and uWaterloo colleagues (or the equivalent).
• Demonstrated ability to successfully work collaboratively with a variety of stakeholders at different levels and to represent uWaterloo and the project in a professional manner.
• Ability to develop and maintain cordial relations with project partners, while ensuring that planned activities reflect approved work plans and financial norms and procedures are respected.
• Demonstrated ability to promote adherence to project financial management and administrative procedures
• Superior ability to work and plan proactively and undertake innovative problem-solving.
• Strong Indonesian language speaking/reading/writing and proven ability to communicate clearly and effectively in English
• Demonstrated capacity to work both in a self-directed manner, and collaboratively with other FINCAPES team members, university staff, and project stakeholders.
• Ability to undertake domestic travel, sometimes in challenging circumstances.
• Strong organizational skills coupled with the ability to handle multiple tasks, meet tight deadlines, and excel in a fast-paced environment characterized by changing priorities and arrangements.
• Demonstrated ability to thrive in and contribute to an integrated, collaborative, and multicultural and multidisciplinary team environment, and to apply a positive team approach to collaborating with colleagues.
• Capacity to work effectively in a wide range of cultural and political settings.
• Evidence of sound judgement, professional integrity, tact, and the ability to positively influence and motivate others.
• Experience working with Canadians and uWaterloo representatives a strong asset.

Knowledge/Skills/Abilities

• Advanced experience and abilities with Microsoft Outlook Express, Microsoft Word, Microsoft EXCEL, Microsoft PowerPoint, Zoom and TEAMS, and intermediate competence using data management systems (Drop Box, Google Drive, and MS OneDrive or Sharepoint).
• Ability to demonstrate leadership, diplomacy and integrity when dealing with internal and external
• stakeholders, with the goal of advancing the FINCAPES project and uWaterloo’s profile
• Ability to communicate effectively with colleagues, clients, and external stakeholders, including the media

Nature and Scope

• Contacts: Internally, communications and liaison with the Canada-based uWaterloo FINCAPES team, and the Indonesia-based FINCAPES employees, consultants, and service providers to facilitate efficient, successful planning and implementation of FINCAPES work plans.  Externally, communications and liaison with and a wide range of Indonesian Government, university, civil society, and consultants/service providers to support smooth implementation of planned activities and optimized project results. 
• Level of Responsibility: As the principal administrative counterpart with Purnomo Yusgiantoro Center partners, the Project Officer – Climate Finance plays a critical role in helping to plan, support and monitor Climate Finance-related activities, and constantly updating FINCAPES management on related progress. The PO-Climate Finance thus plays several critical coordination and liaison roles including assisting with progress monitoring and supporting timely and accurate financial reporting from PYC partners. 
• Decision-Making Authority:  As the project’s “eyes and ears” for the Climate Finance component, the PO-Climate Finance will be counted upon to make many important operational decisions, seeking advice and input from the FINCAPES Field Director, uWaterloo Technical Lead for Climate Finance, or the FINCAPES Field Finance Manager as and when needed.
• Physical and Sensory Demands: Typical demands of living and working in Jakarta, with occasional field visits to regional and/or rural locations in Indonesia
• Working Environment: Travel: For the most part, based in the greater Jakarta area, with occasional travel to other regions. Working Hours: May occasionally work outside of normal operating hours, particularly when working in the field; occasional work under stress to meet tight planning or reporting deadlines. May occasionally experience last-minute requests with short delivery deadlines (e.g., updates on progress). Risks – physical and psychological: technically and administratively challenging key tasks and roles, with broad opportunities for learning and professional growth. Risks - physical and psychological while travelling: In Jakarta: typical demands and challenges of working and travelling about in a large, crowded tropical city, including traffic jams, pollution, and occasional inclement weather. Some travel to field locations may be physically challenging, with available amenities simpler than in urban centers in Indonesia  

How to Apply

Submit your application through the following link: bit.ly/recruitment-po-cc

Application Deadline: 2 May 2025, 17.00 WIB (Close of Business)