Location:  Southeast Asia or Eastern Australia

Preferred Location:  Jakarta, Manila, Bangkok, Melbourne or Sydney

Status:  Full-Time

Reports To:  Legal and Policy Director

Salary*:  US$66,744 - $101,764

*Dependent on location and experience

The Asia Regional Lead will be responsible for overseeing the planning and implementation of IDI's program in the Asia region. This will include supervising a small team and working closely with local partners to support communities affected by investment projects, especially in the extractives and energy sectors, using our Follow the Money approach to advocacy.

About Inclusive Development International 

Inclusive Development International (IDI) works to advance social, economic and environmental justice by supporting communities around the world to defend their human rights and environment in the face of harmful corporate activities. Through research, case work and policy advocacy, we hold corporations and development finance institutions accountable to their human rights and environmental responsibilities. We also provide training and resources for fellow human rights defenders to strengthen the global movement for corporate accountability. Our strategy revolves around investigations that unravel the investment and supply chains behind harmful industries to help affected communities and social movements pursue winning advocacy strategies. We bring our knowledge—grounded in years of experience supporting communities to defend their rights—to global policy arenas where we advocate to close accountability gaps and make business and human rights standards enforceable. Learn more at: https://www.inclusivedevelopment.net

The Opportunity 

IDI advises and accompanies communities in pursuing their advocacy goals, which can include:

• securing remedies for displacement and other human rights impacts caused by large-scale investment projects;
• stopping irresponsible projects that pose unmanageable human rights, environmental and climate risks; and
• negotiating the terms on which a project can proceed on their land, including agreements to avoid harm and secure development benefits.

The need for this work has become even more urgent in the context of the energy transition in which mining is set to increase exponentially on the lands of Indigenous peoples and other land-based communities.

IDI provides research, training, strategic support and full accompaniment to local civil society partners and communities around the world. The Asia Regional Lead will lead this work in Asia, predominantly in Indonesia, the Philippines and Cambodia. This will include contributing to and overseeing advocacy to prevent harm and secure remedy through a range of strategies, including complaints to international accountability mechanisms, support for strategic litigation, mediation, and engagement with project developers, investors, development finance institutions and governments.

The Asia Regional Lead will also contribute to training and supporting civil society advocates to implement IDI's Follow the Money advocacy approach, and to our policy advocacy to advance a just energy transition and strengthen access to effective remedy for investment-related harms.

What You'll Do 

Case Work 

The Asia Regional Lead will support IDI's case work within Asia. This includes:

• Working with IDI's Legal and Policy team, along with civil society organizations (CSOs) and community partners, to design and implement holistic "follow the money" advocacy strategies to advance community rights and goals
• Supporting communities at risk of displacement, human rights violations and environmental harms to defend their rights and interests, including by filing complaints at a range of accountability mechanisms and accompanying them in advocacy, mediation and negotiation
• Supporting our team and CSO and community partners to collect evidence of human rights risks and violations and adverse environmental impacts
• Drafting or reviewing a range of advocacy materials, and participating in meetings with advocacy targets, such as companies, banks, and investors

Strategic Support and Training

In addition to contributing to IDI's full accompaniment case work, the Asia Regional Lead will also be involved in providing training and strategic support to our CSO partners. This includes:

• Contributing to IDI's training activities, especially the advocacy modules of our Follow the Money training course
• Providing short-term advice and strategic support to CSO partners, including participants of the Follow The Money training course
• Reviewing research investigations into the investment and supply chains behind harmful projects and identifying and communicating viable advocacy strategies

Policy Advocacy 

The Asia Regional Lead will support IDI's policy work, drawing on insights and lessons learned from cases. This may include:

• Representing IDI in policy advocacy forums and civil society strategy meetings, especially in the region
• Drafting and reviewing policy submissions and publications
• Contributing to the development of policy advocacy strategies to advance a just energy transition and strengthen the human rights regulation and compliance of corporate and financial actors

Regional Team Management

• This position supervises, leads and mentors the Southeast Asia Legal Associate and coordinates the work of program consultants.

Fundraising 

• The Asia Regional Lead has an active role in developing and maintaining funder relationships, including in Australia, to support the work of the program. This includes working closely with IDI's Development and Leadership Teams on donor proposals and reporting, as well as events.

What You'll Bring 

Qualifications

• Law degree or equivalent professional experience
• At least six years of experience in the field of corporate accountability, business and human rights, or environmental justice, including advocacy, engagement and/or negotiation with companies
• Significant experience working with grassroots CSOs and communities in the human rights context in Asia, including facilitating community-led strategy development
• At least three years' experience managing and supervising staff or teams
• Experience developing and maintaining funder relationships and contributing to funder reports and proposals

Competencies 

• Fluency (or, at minimum, professional proficiency) in English; knowledge of a regional language would be desirable
• Excellent research and writing skills, including the ability to write clear and compelling legal and advocacy documents, with high attention to detail and accuracy
• Project management skills and experience
• Excellent interpersonal skills and the ability to foster respectful relationships with a range of actors, including local communities, CSO partners, government officials, companies, and funders
• Excellent management skills, including managing staff and consultants remotely
• Ability to manage time effectively, assess priorities, and maintain an achievable workload, including by setting boundaries with team members and partners
• Ability to travel regularly to remote locations in various countries across Southeast Asia and elsewhere, as needed
• Ability to contribute to organizational fundraising efforts, including relationship building, supporting proposal drafting and funder reporting

What You Can Expect

• Meaningful, intellectually engaging and rewarding work as part of a dynamic and supportive team
• A commitment to your health and wellness and to your growth and professional development
• Opportunities to work closely with senior leadership and contribute meaningfully to IDI's long-term sustainability
• To join an organization that strives to live up to its values of justice, equity, diversity and inclusion—and to create an environment where everyone belongs and contributes fully

Compensation and Benefits 

Inclusive Development International is committed to providing competitive, equitable and transparent compensation. This position is placed within a defined salary band under our Compensation Framework. Actual salary is determined based on experience and geographic zone.

Salary ranges by geographic zone:

Zone 1 Melbourne, Sydney: $88,992 - $101,764 USD

Zone 2 Manila, Jakarta, Bangkok: $66,744 - $76,323 USD

Inclusive Development International offers a comprehensive benefits package, including generous paid time off; paid parental leave; medical, dental, and vision coverage; sabbatical opportunities; professional development fund; wellness fund; and remote work stipend. We believe that investing in our team's growth, learning and well-being is essential to sustaining long-term impact.

Working Arrangement 

The Inclusive Development International team is globally dispersed, with most employees working on a fully remote basis. Our main office is located in North Carolina, USA. We have staff members in Indonesia and various other countries throughout the world. This position works on a remote basis and is open to applicants based in Southeast Asia or Eastern Australia. You will be expected to work flexibly from time to time to accommodate meetings across time zones.

You must have obtained legal authorization to work and live in the country from which you wish to work. Inclusive Development International is unable to sponsor work visas.

Management Responsibilities

Remote management of a team of at least three staff or contractors based across the region, with potential for additional staff or contractors depending on case demands.

Travel 

Regular local and international travel is expected for this position, primarily within Southeast Asia but potentially including Europe and North America.

Application Timeline 

Applications received by May 14 will be considered in our initial round of review. We anticipate beginning interviews shortly thereafter. The position will remain open until filled.

How to Apply

Interested candidates should submit each of the following with their application. English language applications only, please.

• Resume or Curriculum Vitae (CV)
• Tailored Cover Letter
• Writing sample in English preferably relevant to the job description

Incomplete applications will not be considered.

Shortlisted candidates will be asked to complete a writing test as part of our selection process.

We are committed to providing a supportive, inclusive, and accessible work environment. Please let us know if you require accommodations during the application process or interview.

Inclusive Development International is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate based on race, national origin, ethnicity, religion, age, gender identity and expression, sexual orientation, disability, or class.

We are committed to building and maintaining a diverse, equitable, and inclusive team because we know that varied perspectives-shaped by different lived experiences-make us more effective advocates for justice, human rights, and inclusive development worldwide. We welcome and encourage applications from all qualified candidates who share our commitment to equity and global justice, including people of color, Indigenous peoples, LGBTQIA+ individuals, people with disabilities, people of all ages, and people from the regions where Inclusive Development International works.