Senior Policy Analyst

Location: Jakarta, Indonesia
APPLICATIONS CLOSE Monday, 9^th March 2026. Max 5 PM Jakarta Time.

Program Background

The SKALA Program is a significant Australian investment designed to help Indonesia address regional disparities in development. SKALA will contribute to this objective by strengthening selected elements of Indonesia’s large and complex decentralised government system responsible for the delivery of basic services (Layanan Dasar). The SKALA Program’s core approach is to facilitate better collaboration (Kolaborasi) between Indonesian government stakeholders, at national and subnational levels, to help realise synergies (Sinergi) that will trigger improved service delivery. Moreover, SKALA will build on, and take to scale, the successes and learning from Australia’s previous 19 years of support to Indonesia’s decentralised government system. The SKALA Program is to be implemented through the following three pillars:

• Pillar 1: Stronger national level enabling environment for sub-national service delivery.
• Pillar 2: Better sub-national governance for service delivery.
• Pillar 3: Greater participation, representation and influence for women, people with disabilities and vulnerable groups.

SKALA is implemented at the national level with an office in Jakarta and at the subnational level with offices in Aceh, Nusa Tenggara Barat, Nusa Tenggara Timur, Maluku, Gorontalo, Kalimantan Utara, Tanah Papua. In addition to the 3 pillars, SKALA works across 4 general themes of Public Financial Management, Minimum Service Standards, Data and Analysis and GEDSI.

About DT Global Asia Pacific

At DT Global Asia Pacific, we aim to positively impact people’s lives through delivery excellence. As a leading implementing partner across Asia and the Pacific, we co-create locally led solutions in partnership with governments, communities, and stakeholders. We bring together talented teams and deep regional expertise to deliver initiatives that promote inclusive economic growth, essential services, and resilient, secure communities. With over 1,500 staff, experts in 22+ countries and more than 60 years of development experience, we tackle complex community, national and transnational challenges — from governance and justice systems to climate resilience, infrastructure and social equity — with innovative thinking and a commitment to long-term impact.

For more information, please see www.dt-global.com

The Role
As a consultant, a Senior Policy Analyst will support SKALA by playing a strategic, independent, and delivery-oriented role in supporting governments and institutions to design, refine, and implement public policies. A core part of this role is writing and reviewing policy briefs that translate complex evidence into actionable recommendations for decision-makers, particularly in the issues of Public Expenditure and Revenue Analysis (PERA) and development aspects in Papua. In writing the policy brief and other policy documents, the consultant will collaborate with the policy analyst networks in seven (7) provinces, including Aceh, Nusa Tenggara Barat, Maluku, Gorontalo, Nusa Tenggara Timur, Kalimantan Utara and Papua.

The consultant will be involved in providing technical support to the Policy Partnerships Team and collaborating closely with other teams and staff implementation to draft policy briefs, papers and concept note.

• Leading a formulation of policy briefs on PERA and Fiscal Policy Analysis

  The consultant contributes to PERA studies by analysing public expenditure patterns, revenue structures, intergovernmental fiscal transfers, and budget execution. This includes assessing efficiency, equity, and alignment of spending with development priorities—such as health, education, infrastructure, and social protection—particularly in high-needs regions like Papua or other SKALA provinces. They translate fiscal evidence into policy-relevant insights on budget quality, targeting, and results.

• Contextual Analysis of Papua Issues

  In Papua, the consultant integrates fiscal analysis with socio-economic, geographic, and political-institutional realities, including issues affecting Orang Asli Papua (OAP), service delivery in remote areas, special autonomy (Otsus) financing, and capacity constraints at subnational levels. Political-economy analysis is used to ensure recommendations are realistic and sensitive to local dynamics. Four (4) SKALA core themes are a key, including: Public Financial Management (PFM), Minimum Service Standard (MSS), Data Analytics, and Gender Equality, Disability and Social Inclusion (GEDSI).

• Writing Policy Briefs

  The consultant drafts high-quality policy briefs that extract PERA findings and Papua-specific evidence into concise, decision-oriented documents. This includes:

1. Clearly framing the policy problem (e.g., quality of spending, service delivery gaps)
2. Presenting key problem identification
3. Policy and regulation
4. Alternative policy recommendation

• Reviewing and Quality Assuring Policy Briefs

  The consultant review policy briefs produced by policy analyst networks to ensure analytical rigor, consistency with PERA findings, accuracy of data, and clarity of messages. This involves strengthening arguments, aligning recommendations with fiscal realities and legal frameworks, and ensuring briefs are tailored to policymakers’ needs.

• Policy Dialogue and Stakeholder Engagement

  The consultant facilitates discussions with central and local governments, and development partners to validate findings, refine recommendations, and build ownership.

• Supporting Policy Uptake

  They support follow-up actions by linking policy briefs to reform roadmaps, budget discussions, and implementation monitoring.

Click on the link or copy paste it to access the full Terms of Reference for this position: 

TOR – Senior Policy Analyst

About You

Specific Responsibilities        

Under the guidance of the Policy Partnerships Lead and in close coordination with the Senior Manager Policy Analyst and other implementation team, the consultant will be involved the following tasks:

• leads or contributes to the socialization of PERA findings studies by analysing local public expenditure patterns, revenue structures, intergovernmental fiscal transfers, and budget execution. This includes assessing efficiency, equity, and alignment of spending with development priorities—such as health, education, infrastructure, and social protection—particularly in high-needs regions like Papua or other SKALA provinces.
• integrates fiscal analysis with socio-economic, geographic, and political-institutional realities, including issues affecting Orang Asli Papua (OAP), service delivery in remote areas, special autonomy (Otsus) financing, and capacity constraints at subnational levels. Political-economy analysis is used to ensure recommendations are realistic and sensitive to local dynamics. Four (4) SKALA core themes are a key, including: Public Financial Management (PFM), Minimum Service Standard (MSS), Data Analytics, and Gender Equality, Disability and Social Inclusion (GEDSI).
• drafts high-quality policy briefs that extract PERA findings, key themes of basic services and Papua-specific evidence into concise, decision-oriented documents.
• builds the capacity of policy analyst networks comprising the functional positions, academics, NGO think tanks, CSOs, etc., to understand the use of data and evidence, analyse problems, provide policy recommendations, etc. 
• review policy briefs produced by policy analyst networks to ensure analytical rigor, consistency with PERA findings, accuracy of data, and clarity of messages. This involves strengthening arguments, aligning recommendations with fiscal realities and legal frameworks, and ensuring briefs are tailored to policymakers’ needs.
• facilitates discussions with central and local governments, and development partners to validate findings, refine recommendations, and build ownership.
• Work collaboratively with SKALA to identify process improvement opportunities to ensure that the output of this work is delivered on time.
• Perform other tasks as requested by SKALA.  Other Duties
• Comply with DFAT, DT Global and SKALA policies on gender, disability, fraud and anticorruption, child protection, PSEAH and the environment.
• Ensure compliance and adherence to various operational policies, guidelines and manuals issued by DT Global and SKALA.
• Proactively identify and report risks and manage risks within your level of accountability.
• Undertake other duties as required by the Program  Job Requirements
• Work environment involves only infrequent exposure to disagreeable elements and minor physical exertion and/or strain.
• Work may require long, and flexible hours as needed. Travel is based on need

Deliverables

• High-quality policy briefs – concise, decision-oriented documents that translate complex analysis into actionable recommendations aligned with PERA study findings, Papua-related issues and the four SKALA thematic areas. 
• Reviewed and quality-assured policy products – edited and peer-reviewed policy briefs or reports that ensure analytical rigor, clarity, consistency, and policy relevance.
• Updated practical guide on policy brief writing for basic services at the central and local levels. The guide is designed as a capacity development resource for government counterparts and includes policy analysis toolkits, guidelines, case studies, quizzes, and training curricula.
• Coaching and mentoring outputs, including knowledge transfer notes, feedback on drafts documents, and learning briefs to strengthen institutional capacity.
• Progress and final reports, including inceptions reports, periodic progress updates, and final consultancy reports summarizing key findings, deliverables, and recommendations.   

Relationship Management

The consultant will be working closely with Policy Partnerships Unit including with technical experts and government counterpart, i.e.: BSKDN, Ditjen Bangda, Ditjen Otda – the Ministry of Home Affairs, The National Institute of Public Administration LAN), etc. This position will report to Policy Partnerships Lead.

Selection Criteria

• Advanced degree (PhD) in public policy, economics, public administration, development studies, political science, or related field. 
• Strong academic grounding in policy analysis, public finance, governance, or development economics is highly desirable.
• Minimum 10-20 years of progressively responsible experience in policy analysis, policy advisory, or applied research in basic service delivery and regional autonomy.
• Familiarity working with the Ditjen Bangda Kemendagri, Ditjen Otda Kemendagri, BSKDN Kemendagri, and The National Institute of Public Administration (LAN).
• Demonstrated experience working with government institutions at national and/or subnational levels.
• Proven track record in conducting and delivering policy studies such as PERA, public expenditure reviews, sectoral diagnostics, or governance reforms.
• Strong quantitative and qualitative analytical skills, including data analysis, fiscal analysis, and evidence synthesis.
• Ability to assess policy options, trade-offs, and implementation risks.
• Familiarity with results-based management, monitoring and evaluation, and political-economy analysis.
• Demonstrated excellence in drafting clear, concise, and decision-oriented policy briefs for senior policymakers.
• Experience in reviewing and quality-assuring policy products to ensure analytical rigor, coherence, and policy relevance.
• Ability to translate complex technical findings into accessible policy messages.
• Excellent interpersonal skills and written and verbal communication skills.
• Proven ability to engage and coordinate with diverse stakeholders, including line ministries, local governments, civil society, and development partners.
• Strong facilitation and consensus-building skills in policy dialogues, workshops, and consultations.
• Experience mentoring junior policy analysts and building institutional capacity through coaching, training, and knowledge transfer.
• Ability to lead analytical teams and manage multiple workstreams under tight deadlines.
• Excellent problem-solving skills.

HOW TO APPLY
Click the ‘Apply Now’ button.

Please submit
1) Your CV
2) A cover letter addressing the selection criteria

APPLICATIONS CLOSE Monday, 9^th March 2026. Max 5 PM Jakarta Time.
  
Encouraging applications from people with disabilities 
As part of our commitment to inclusion, we actively encourage applications from people with disabilities (PWDs). We are also committed to providing reasonable accommodation throughout the recruitment process and in the workplace to support the success and well-being of employees with disabilities. Candidates requiring any adjustments to participate equitably, may contact SKALA People & Culture unit at recruitment@skala.or.id and we will work with the candidate to find the right solution. This information is strictly confidential; used solely to strengthen our inclusive hiring efforts and ensure we provide any support needed. Your disclosure will not impact on recruitment decisions. 
   
Should this role be of interest, we encourage you to apply as soon as possible.  Kindly note only shortlisted applicants will be contacted.  

DT Global is committed to child protection and safeguarding the welfare of children in the delivery of our international development programs. We are committed to Safety and the Prevention of Sexual Abuse and Harassment (PSEAH), and bribery prevention. DT Global is an equal opportunity employer and we encourage women, men, people with diverse backgrounds and people living with disabilities to apply. This program is funded by the Australian Government and Managed by DT Global.