Duration: Full time (initial phase to June 2024)

Location: Preferably Bangkok, Thailand. Open to applicants residing in P4I’s other partner countries (Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Philippines, Timor-Leste, Vietnam)

Reports to: P4I Energy Lead

Closing date: 27 August 2023

About P4I

Partnerships for Infrastructure (P4I) is an Australian Government initiative partnering with Southeast Asia to drive sustainable, inclusive, and resilient growth through quality infrastructure. P4I partners with Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Philippines, Thailand, Timor-Leste, Vietnam and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).

P4I works with partners to strengthen infrastructure decision-making and practice across the transport, energy, utilities and telecommunications sectors. P4I’s focus is on the early stages of the infrastructure lifecycle, including planning and prioritisation, financing strategy, and procurement.

The 4 main services offered by P4I are linkages with Australian government agencies and other institutions, technical and policy advice, infrastructure project advice and knowledge-sharing and learning. As the foundation of quality infrastructure, P4I also integrates gender equality, disability, and social inclusion, and disaster risk reduction and climate change considerations into all activities.

Delivered through a single team, P4I is led by the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) in collaboration with EY, Adam Smith International, The Asia Foundation and Ninti One.

P4I has a regional program office in Bangkok, with staff also located in Australia and each partner country. More information about P4I is available at www.partnershipsforinfrastructure.org

The Role

Decarbonising the energy sector is critical to Southeast Asia realising its energy transition and achieving its climate commitments. Through P4I, Australia works with partner governments to provide capacity building, technical assistance, knowledge sharing and research studies to enable the clean energy transition.

The P4I Deputy Energy Lead will be responsible for supporting the P4I Energy Lead in overseeing the strategy and delivery of P4I’s energy workstream across the region. The role supports the Australian Government’s priority of developing sustainable, inclusive, and resilient growth in Southeast Asia through the development of quality infrastructure. This will be achieved through the creation of strong partnerships amongst Australian and Southeast Asian government agencies and institutions.

Applicants with the right to work in Thailand are preferred for this position.

The anticipated salary is 100-140,000 THB/month or equivalent.

Responsibilities

The position holder will:

• Support the P4I Energy Lead to drive and implement P4I initiatives to build Australia’s profile and cooperation on energy across Southeast Asian, and to support the region’s clean energy transition.
• Support the Energy Lead in co-ordinating P4I’s energy portfolio across the activity lifecycle, from initial inception through to delivery, performance monitoring and evaluation, working closely with Australian embassies and, where relevant, with Australian whole-of-government partners.
• Work with P4I’s government-to-government team and Australian energy partners to originate and coordinate delivery of P4I energy activities to enhance engagement among Australian and Southeast Asian energy entities.
• Support the Energy Lead in the design and implementation of P4I’s energy programming to align with P4I’s Performance Management Framework and DFAT’s development program objectives. This could also include assisting in the preparation of annual workplans and other sectoral strategies.
• Work with P4I’s Disaster Risk Reduction and Climate Change (DRRCC) team to integrate key issues, such as climate and disaster governance, resilience and climate finance into energy programming, in line with P4I’s DRRCC Action Plan.
• Work with P4I’s Gender Equality, Disability and Social Inclusion (GEDSI) team to integrate gender equality, disability and social inclusion into energy programming, in line with P4I’s GEDSI Strategy.
• Work with P4I’s Performance team to develop appropriate activity and/or strategy objectives, put appropriate monitoring mechanisms in place, and participate in analysing progress and effectiveness. This includes contributing to preparation of P4I progress reports.
• Work with other P4I teams to promote knowledge sharing on the energy transition across the region, including through knowledge products, participating in or speaking at events, working with research organisations, or other activities.
• Contribute to ad-hoc briefings requested by the P4I Program Executive, Australian Posts in the region, or DFAT in Canberra.

Selection Criteria

• Qualifications in a relevant discipline (i.e., development, engineering, economics, program management, public policy, engineering, etc).
• At least 8 years of experience in the energy sector, including experience working in Southeast Asia or in development programming and demonstrated networks in one or more Southeast Asian countries or with ASEAN.
• Understanding of Australia’s development programming objectives and interests in the Indo-Pacific, particularly related to energy and climate.
• Commitment to and experience managing compliance with environmental and social safeguards, GEDSI and DRRCC, in the context of infrastructure development.
• Excellent analytical skills, including the ability to work with partner governments on sensitive issues.
• Excellent communication, liaison, and coordination skills, with demonstrated ability to operate effectively in a complex, multi-stakeholder organisation.
• Fluency in English required, with Lao language ability an asset. Strong writing, presentation, and facilitation skills.
• Sound judgment working in a complex environment, with the ability to use initiative balanced with a good understanding of risk.

How to Apply

Interested applicants are requested to submit a CV and a short covering note in an email with subject “[Candidate Name] – Senior Program Manager Energy” to recruitment@partnershipsforinfrastructure.org.

Applications must be submitted by 11:59pm (Bangkok time) on Sunday 27 August 2023.

Due to the high volume of applications for P4I positions, only short-listed applicants will be contacted.

This position will be recruited through Adam Smith International (ASI). ASI is committed to continually improving the diversity of our workforce through the attraction, retention, and development of a diverse range of talented people. Women, people with disabilities, Indigenous and ethnic minority groups, and nationals of P4I’s partner countries are encouraged to apply. We want people to be comfortable bringing their whole self to work and recognise that inclusion brings further opportunities for innovation and creativity.