Consultant as Oil Palm Agronomist

Program Overview

WRI Indonesia is an independent research organization that turns big ideas into action at the nexus of environment, economic opportunity, and human well-being. At WRI Indonesia, we aim to bring innovations in research and business approaches in order to create the enabling conditions for Indonesia to achieve robust economic growth while respecting environmental and social values. We seek to contribute to the accomplishment of ambitious sustainable development goals through working with leaders in public and private sectors, as well as collaborating with civil society organizations, in turning big ideas into action.

Within our Agriculture, Forest and Land Use (AFOLU) Program, we envision critical ecosystems such as forests and peatland across Indonesia to be governed fairly and sustainably. We believe sustainable land use management is key for Indonesia to meet its climate goal, in line with keeping the global climate target below the 1.5 degree Celcius warming treshold, while providing sustainable livelihoods to forest-dependent communities and conserve biodiversity in the landscape. We intend to achieve this through safeguarding the remaining forest and peatland from deforestation, degradation, and fragmentation; maintaining forests and peatland quality through sound stewardship; and restoring degraded ecosystem to improve its productivity, conservation value, and ecosystem services.

To effectively eliminate deforestation from key commodities production and provide robust stewardship for the remaining forest and peatland, we work together with various level of government, private sector, and civil society to mainstream the ethical supply chain principles, and support forest-dependent communities to secure their land rights. We aim to achieve this through research, policy advocacy, and creation of a community of practice to mainstream sustainable land use management.

Smallholder Empowerment Program

WRI Indonesia believes that empowering oil palm smallholders is key to producing sustainable palm oil in Indonesia. Empowered smallholders have the ability to control and manage their oil palm business properly and sustainably. With this capability, smallholders' welfare and the environment's quality are expected to improve. Therefore, increasing the inclusiveness of smallholders in sustainability and empowerment programs is indispensable to a better and greener palm oil supply chain in the country.

Collaborating with Unilever, WRI Indonesia aims to improve the sustainable palm oil supply chain and the welfare of smallholders in Riau Province. This is done through a series of capacity-building and empowerment. In 2023, we aim to increase the knowledge and skills of at least 4,000 smallholders to implement oil palm Best Management Practices (BMP) in order to improve their productivity.

Job Highlight

The Oil Palm Agronomist is responsible for providing training on oil palm Best Management Practices (BMP) for smallholders in Riau Province and assisting them to implement the practices. Depending on the situation and condition, the assistance will be done both directly (by supervising the BMP implementation on the ground and providing technical advice) and indirectly (by supporting smallholder groups’ businesses that have an impact on increasing productivity, e.g., chemical and organic fertilizer businesses).

This position will be based in Rokan Hulu, Siak, and Kampar Districts, Riau Province, and reports to Riau and West Sumatera Senior Program Lead as well as works with the other AFOLU Program teams to support the implementation of WRI Indonesia AFOLU strategy.

Responsibilities

Engagement (80%)

• Develop oil palm BMP training modules for smallholders.
• Facilitate training on oil palm BMP for smallholders in Rokan Hulu, Siak, and Kampar Districts.
• Assist smallholders in implementing BMP, both directly (by supervising the BMP implementation on the ground and providing technical advice) and indirectly (by supporting smallholder groups’ businesses that have an impact on increasing productivity, e.g., chemical and organic fertilizer businesses).
• Work in partnership with government agencies, smallholder groups, and WRI Indonesia AFOLU team in Jakarta and Riau Province.

Program Management (20%)

• Assist the Riau and West Sumatera Senior Program Lead to monitor and manage project deliverables together with other WRI Indonesia key personnel and its partners in the area of agronomy.
• Support in the development of work plan and reports related to the Smallholder Empowerment projects.

Qualification

• Legally able to work in Indonesia.
• Bachelor’s degree in agronomy is preferred. Other relevant fields is accepted with supporting experience (e.g. soil science, plant protection).
• Minimum five year of work experience in a relevant field.
• Having a direct hands-on experience in conducting training and implementation of oil palm Best Management Practices is a plus.
• Good communication and interpersonal skills, working with people from a variety of backgrounds.
• High attention to details, well organized, and strong analytical skills.
• Self-motivated and able to work independently and as a team player.
• Ability to travel when needed.
• Knowledge of Microsoft Office Suite is imperative.

Preferred Qualifications

• Local candidates are preferable (Riau as home based).
• Having experience in engaging directly with smallholders.
• Professional fluency in Bahasa Indonesia and English.

Performance Standard

• Responsibilities are expected to be carried out in timely and satisfactory fashion with minor supervision.
• Must be capable of setting priorities.
• Ability to work well with internal and external participants.
• Good communication skills for correspondence purposes, reports, and knowledge products.
• Ability to work well in group/team as well as working individually.
• Ability & willingness to do business travel to meet project goals.
• Working knowledge of Microsoft Office 365, SharePoint.

Deliverables

1. Oil palm BMP training module.
2. Monthly report on activities related to BMP training, technical assistance, and BMP implementation by smallholders.
3. Administration related documents (TOR, minutes meeting, etc.) from any Smallholder Empowerment related activities.

Duration

1 March 2023 – 31 May 2023

Terms of Payment

Daily rate-based consultant with a maximum of 60 working days for the whole contract period or 20 working days per
month in average.

Contract Arrangement

Individual consultancy contract (Part-time, limited term)

What we offer:

• Consultant rate that is commensurate with experience and skills
• Travel insurance for both domestic and international for any travel duty as assigned by WRI Indonesia
• Access to the WRI global network
• A workplace that strives to put diversity and inclusion at the heart of our work

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.

Application close: 17.00 (DKI Jakarta local time), 27 February 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.