Communications Officer, Indonesia Energy Transition

About Us

The International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) is an award-winning independent think tank working to accelerate solutions for a stable climate, sustainable resource management, and fair economies. Our work inspires better decisions and sparks meaningful action to help people and the planet thrive. We shine a light on what can be achieved when governments, businesses, non-profits, and communities come together. IISD’s staff of more than 300 experts come from across the globe and from many disciplines. With offices in Winnipeg, Geneva, Ottawa, and Toronto, our work affects lives in nearly 100 countries.

Scope

IISD’s Energy Program (www.iisd.org/energy) aims to support governments around the world in systematically shifting public financial flows to accelerate the transition from fossil fuels to clean energy while promoting social welfare and overall sustainable economic development. IISD’s Energy Program is a diverse and dynamic team of more than 40 experts based in the IISD Winnipeg, Geneva, Ottawa, and Toronto offices, as well as remotely in India, Indonesia, South Africa, and other countries supporting governments in clean and just energy transitions.

At an international level, our work program delivers cutting-edge research and practical policy support for energy policy reforms in developed and developing countries, including shifting public financial flows from fossil fuels to clean energy and implementing commitments to go beyond fossil fuels in a socially just way. 

At the national level, our approach is hands-on, through country-level research and outreach in Canada, India, Indonesia, and South Africa. IISD has actively worked to provide evidence and analysis related to Indonesia’s energy sector for more than a decade.

About the Position

In consultation with the Communications Manager, the Communications Officer will help shape new communications strategies for the national team in Indonesia, ensuring effective outreach around energy-policy-related issues, such as subsidy reform, carbon pricing, and fiscal policy. In addition, they will work with international colleagues to support initiatives in Southeast Asia, particularly in the Philippines and Vietnam.

As a member of the wider Energy Program communications team, they will work closely with the Communications Manager and senior communications officers, as well as the program’s Indonesia-focused policy experts.

The Communications Officer will help shape, update, and implement communications strategies, advising the team on communications best practices, as well as coordinating work with internal and external partners and agencies. They will write and edit editorial content related to the work of the program and use digital channels and tools to reach and engage target audiences.

The Communications Officer’s key areas of responsibility will include (but not be limited to):
 

Creative Content 

• Draft, edit, and coordinate production of a wide array of written communications materials, including press releases, articles, social media posts, newsletters, and other supporting content that make IISD's work accessible to both expert and non-expert audiences. 
•  In collaboration with IISD’s design team, manage the production of digital content, including social media cards, posters, videos, invitations, simple infographics, presentations, and other conference or workshop materials.
  
• Inform, manage, and implement communications plans for a broad range of projects, reports, campaigns, and events. This includes cooperating with internal and external stakeholders, ensuring timelines are adhered to, monitoring and evaluation, and reporting on impact.
  
• In consultation with the Communications Manager, help shape new communications strategies.
• Track current events related to Indonesia’s energy sector and communicate these to colleagues, identifying opportunities for further work and/or public engagement.
  

 Public Engagement and Social Media 

• Contribute Indonesia-specific content to all active social media accounts, ensuring posts are relevant, timely, engaging, and targeted to the needs and interests of key audiences. This may include drafting and/or editing posts, organizing promotions, tracking trending topics and hashtags, and regularly monitoring the feeds of partner organizations to identify opportunities for cross-promotion.

 Media Outreach 

• Engage with journalists and influencers, with a focus on relationship-building, to secure targeted coverage for IISD research and initiatives in key outlets. Build media lists and maintain and update databases of media contacts.
  
• Draft, edit, and disseminate press releases, media briefings, and email pitches for reporters and editors. Draft or support other staff in writing and placing op-eds, letters to the editor, etc.
  
  

 Internal Processes 

• Ensure brand coherence and compliance with existing IISD communications practices.
  
• Maintain strong relationships with program staff to gain a deeper understanding of their research and policy objectives in order to translate their work into key messages that resonate with priority audiences. Provide editorial guidance to IISD’s experts so they have the necessary skills to communicate their work through different channels and act as public ambassadors for IISD.
  

About the Successful Applicant

The successful applicant will be a highly skilled communicator with some experience in media relations and working with external partners. They will be confident in communicating strategically to reach and engage niche and highly targeted audiences. Experience in climate or energy-related communications will be considered a strong asset.

The successful applicant will also have the following qualifications:

• A minimum of a bachelor’s degree or equivalent in a relevant field (e.g., communications, journalism, political science, economics, environmental or development studies, etc.).
• A minimum of 3 years of relevant work experience in journalism or communications.
• Excellent oral and writing skills in English and a track record of written products in English.
• Some experience in media relations in Indonesia or Southeast Asia.
• Excellent organizational, planning, and project management skills.
• Ability to prioritize and work quickly and accurately while being results-focused, with the flexibility to take on both highly complex and basic tasks.
• A strong ability to work comfortably across different cultures and be inclusive and positive with different colleagues.
• Strong computer literacy, including Microsoft Office applications and experience in handling web-based communications and management systems, including WordPress, Mailchimp, and Google Analytics.

Location: Remote-based, anywhere in Indonesia, with a preference for Jakarta. Candidates should be comfortable with moderate travel to support engagement activities.

Salary: Salary commensurate with experience.

Employment type: 100% full-time equivalent staff position, including under an Employment of Record model. Full-time with a six-month probation period. This is a 2-year contractual position with a possibility of extension subject to funding. 

Closing Date: Monday June 16, 2025, 4pm CST

Candidates must hold appropriate work authorization for location where they expect to be based without any sponsorship from IISD.

Application Procedure

All submissions must be in English. 

Applications will only be accepted through Bamboo HR. 

• A CV (no longer than two pages) 
• A one-page letter of motivation 
• IISD Voluntary Self-Identification Questionnaire (optional) 

Only those candidates we wish to interview will be contacted. Resumes will be kept on file for 1 year.

IISD is committed to fostering a more equitable and sustainable world and welcomes candidates who uphold our values of diversity, equity, and inclusion. In addition, to correct the conditions of social injustice and disadvantage in employment around the world, we encourage candidates from historically marginalized groups, including women, Indigenous Peoples, people with disabilities, people from different racial and ethnic backgrounds, and those who identify themselves as 2SLGBTQIA+, to apply for this position. Preference will be given to the equity-deserving groups during the hiring process. We offer reasonable accommodations in our recruitment process and seek applicants’ advice on how best to accommodate their needs. Please self-identify and answer our employment equity questionnaire on our applicant tracking system when you apply.  

IISD does not discriminate on the basis of age, gender, caste, ethnicity, religion, colour, disability, marital status, pregnancy, gender expression or identity, sexual orientation, or any other legally protected status. 

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CompensationSalary commensurate with experience