[newdevjobsindo] INOVASI 3 - Policy Adviser

April 10, 2026   Comment  

Background:

Indonesia’s Vision 2045 sets the goal for Indonesia to transition from a resource-based economy towards an advanced service, technology, and knowledge-based economy by the centenary of its independence (2045). The 2025-2045 National Long Term Development Plan emphasises the urgency of Indonesia’s human resource development to fully realise 2045 goals.

Faced however with persistent low student performance that is emblematic of a learning crisis, significant improvement in student learning will be required to reach Indonesia’s 2045 goals. Government of Indonesia (GoI) has started an ambitious program of education reforms. Successive education ministers have set out to modernise the education system through reforming the national curriculum and teaching and assessment approaches, to produce citizens with strong foundational skills, open minds, and inclusive values. 

Australia is a long-term supporter of the Indonesian basic education sector, with continuous investments supporting education quality improvements for the past two decades, including through the INOVASI program (Phase 1 2016-2020; Phase 2 2020-2023) that focused on supporting acquisition of literacy and numeracy foundational skills in early grades classrooms; exploring local problems and solutions; and generating evidence to inform government policy development and practices.

This third phase of INOVASI (2024-2027) builds upon the existing program’s approach and lessons learned and takes the focus on the development of foundational skills through to the end of the primary grades. Phase 3 will engage with priority issues of Australia’s development policy: gender equality, effective inclusion of children with a disability, responses to the climate change challenge in education. It will focus on the challenge of policy implementation and the gaps that exist between national policies and practices at district and school levels and use the well attested-success of INOVASI’s local problem-based approach to continuously support policy development for effective fit between policy and implementation context.

INOVASI Phase 3 is implemented in 25 districts and cities across Indonesia, in the provinces of West Nusa Tenggara, East Nusa Tenggara, North Kalimantan, East Java, West Java, and Maluku. The program also works in Ibu Kota Nusantara (IKN).

The Program is managed by Palladium on behalf of the Government of Australia through the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT).

Purpose of the Position: 

The Policy Adviser  will play a key role ensuring quality and strategic value of INOVASI’s advisory services to governments, maintaining relationships with government stakeholders, and providing sound advice and technical leadership to the internal INOVASI teams. The Policy Adviser will maintain a dedicated focus to achievement of INOVASI End of Program Outcomes and Intermediate Outcomes by identifying and providing strategic and technical leadership on short- and medium-term initiatives that contribute to INOVASI’s outcomes and the continual reform and improvement. The Policy Adviser’s inputs will cover all INOVASI partner provinces, national government and other “scale out” districts and provinces if required. The position may be asked to focus on specific locations or on a technical focus area depending on the program needs and as assigned by the Deputy Director Policy and MERL.

Duties: Under the direction of Deputy Director Policy and MERL, the Policy Adviser will:

1. Support the achievement of the End of Program Outcomes and Intermediate Outcomes by maintaining a direct line of sight between support to the relevant ministries and INOVASI’s EOPOs and IOs, identifying opportunities to support progression against program outcomes by always considering and applying INOVASI Phase 3 principles and strategies.
2. Mentor and develop capacity of other members of the INOVASI Phase 3 team both at the national and subnational levels on effective policy making and system strengthening as well as state-of-the art knowledge and research on policies pertinent to the five program Ios and disability inclusion.
3. Provide trusted and technically sound advice both in writing and verbally to national government partners including by drawing on learning from subnational program activities and/or seeking subnational program team’s input into development of national policy and programming.
4. Provide trusted and sound advice and technical leadership both in writing and verbally to internal INOVASI Phase 3 teams on priority education reform agendas that contribute to INOVASI’s outcomes. Support the brokering of dialogues and collaborative engagements between ministries, departments and levels of government, as well as civil society and community organisations, to inform system and policy development and/or enable the development of coalitions for change.
5. Review key outputs of INOVASI activities and programs as required to ensure they are technically sound, sufficiently cognisant of the policy and institutional realities of the prevailing environment, and provide realistic and actionable recommendations.
6. Work with the program’s GEDSI and Climate Change teams to promote the appropriate consideration of GEDSI in program activities, and to support identification, design and implementation of climate change initiatives that align with education sector priorities.
7. Contribute to the development of external reports, briefs, program activity concepts, and other knowledge products for a range of stakeholders to inform and advance overall INOVASI objectives and individual activity objectives; and collaborate with the communications team to advise and support communications strategy and implementation.
8. Contribute to the identification, preparation and delivery (i.e. content, resources) of presentations at events, either INOVASI-organised or external.
9. Support the development and implementation of scaling and sustainability strategies at national, provincial and district levels.
10. Coordinate with provincial managers and support the compilation of sub-national reports and work plans when required to ensure INOVASI’s regular reports to DFAT and GoI cover up-to-date information related to subnational implementation.
11. Ensure the effective operation of established governance frameworks at provincial and district levels and ensure they are meeting INOVASI and counterparts’ needs.
12. Support close coordination and communication between GoI, DFAT and the INOVASI Management Team.
13. Other duties as may reasonably be required by Deputy Director Policy and MERL, and Policy Manager.

Qualifications and Experience:

The Policy Adviser will possess the following qualifications and experience:

1. Advanced degree in relevant development subject or appropriate tertiary qualification and significant, relevant experience in education.
2. At least 10 years’ relevant and recent experience providing and/or developing technical or policy advice in education within a Government of Indonesia context, either nationally or sub-nationally.
3. Ability to provide leadership and guidance to a multi-disciplinary team and provide leadership to a complex program of work to produce measurable outcomes.
4. Strong knowledge of current education policy environment in Indonesia. Strong networks and relationships across MoECRT, MoRA and Bappenas.
5. Demonstrated ability to be flexible, think clearly and logically, and work well under pressure in a multi-task environment.
6. High-level strategic thinking and analysis skills, excellent written and verbal communication in Indonesian and English and excellent interpersonal skills and ability to work independently and as part of a team in a multi-cultural environment.
7. High degree of professionalism and sensitivity to confidential matters.
8. Experience in a donor environment and knowledge of the Australian Government’s aid program in Indonesia would be an advantage.

 

Working with children

Is this position likely to come into contact with children?                ☒ Yes             ☐  No

INOVASI encourages applications from individuals of all backgrounds, including persons with disabilities, and others from underrepresented groups.

To apply, please click here to submit your resume and cover letter by 17 April 2026 at 23:59, Jakarta Time ensuring you highlight your relevant experience and skills.

Should you experience any issues logging in or submitting your CV, or if you have any questions, please contact inovasi.recruitment@thepalladiumgroup.com

Equity, Diversity & Inclusion - Palladium is committed to embedding equity, diversity, and inclusion into everything we do. We welcome applications from all sections of society and actively encourage diversity to drive innovation, creativity, success and good practice. We positively welcome and seek to ensure we achieve diversity in our workforce; and that all job applicants and employees receive equal and fair treatment regardless of their background or personal characteristics. These include: (but are not limited to) socio-economic background, age, race, gender identity and expression, religion, ethnicity, sexual orientation, disability, nationality, veteran, marital or Indigenous status.

Women are encouraged to apply.

INOVASI has zero tolerance for child abuse and exploitation. All successful candidates will be required to adhere to our Child Protection Policy and will be subject to background checks as a condition of employment.