Indonesia’s energy transition is a key pathway toward achieving the national target of net zero emissions by 2060. As the state-owned electricity utility, PLN plays a central role in realizing this ambition while ensuring that the transition proceeds in a fair, inclusive, and environmentally sustainable manner. The integration of environmental and social considerations into electricity infrastructure developments still requires further strengthening, largely due to existing gaps between national regulations, PLN’s internal practices, and the more stringent standards applied by international financial institutions. To address these challenges, PLN has developed and launched the Environmental and Social Management System (ESMS) as a framework that aligns international safeguard standards with Indonesia’s regulatory context and PLN’s business processes.
KfW Development Bank (KfW)’s Energy Transition Acceleration Programme Pillar 1 project (ETAP) project aims to strengthen PLN’s capacity regarding the implementation of international social and environmental standards in different project phases and their organizational mainstreaming in PLN. A consultant team led by Oxford Policy Management, with PT Hatfield, PT Equator and EnviroPro were contracted to deliver the five-year project (October 2026 – September 2030).
As part of the ETAP project team, OPM Indonesia is looking for an Environmental Safeguard specialist to be based in Jakarta, and line managed by the ETAP Core Team National Social Expert and Biodiversity Expert respectively. The role will be dedicated to delivering ETAP activities but mostly sit within PLN’s office.
The position of Environment Safeguard specialist would be responsible for:
Support the delivery of ETAP project activities:
They will have dedicated technical roles supporting and delivering Task Activities with specific responsibilities outlined in the Activity TORs with the reference to the ETAP inception report. This is expected to include:
- Managing the ESMS KPI monitoring and reporting framework (Task 3), including the KPI dashboard and quarterly reporting of ESMS Implementation.
- Secretarial support to the ESMS Steering Committee or equivalent (Task 2), including logistic support and drafting the ESMS Implementation Update Memo and documenting discussions. This includes synthesizing the Memos within PLN’s planned annual ESMS Implementation Report, published at the end of each year).
- Supporting the development and piloting of new tools and processes to support implementation of the PLN ESMS.
- Supporting the design, piloting and review of priority ESMS training curriculum (Task 4B), including logistic support, organizing training material and managing post-training surveys.
- Carrying out environmental and social due diligence (ESDD) study activities (Task 5) including document review, data collection, site visits, preparing documentation and reporting.
- Other research support required across all Tasks, including collating data and reports, report writing and outreach.
Facilitate the ETAP team’s communication and coordination with PLN:
They will support the Deputy TL in day-to-day communication with TEK Division and other parts of PLN given their proximity and easy access.
Develop advanced understanding of the ESMS processes and requirements, as well as specialist skills in environmental safeguards
The role will have active engagement in ESMS implementation and refinement and working closely with ETAP key experts and PLN counterparts. They will contribute to the strengthening the environmental safeguards aspects of the ESMS while building technical capacity through practical and on-the-job exposure
Support Environmental safeguards review and assessment
- Manage, implement and maintains/oversees relevant PLN’s operational processes and new developments to ensure company management’s and
- employees’ awareness and compliance with the approved environmental &
- HS procedures and practices at corporate level.
- Support screening and categorization of projects for environmental risks related to air quality, water quality, soil and sediment quality, noise levels, waste management, etc. against national and international standards
- Assess adequacy of environmental sampling plans, laboratory methods, quality assurance/quality control records, and provide recommendations and/or develop corrective actions plans to ensure environmental data is being collected and reported accurately.
- Support field investigations, site inspections and due diligence studies, including preparation of scopes of work, review of consultant outputs and verification of corrective actions.
- Assist in integrating environmental risk assessment, mitigation, and management activities into environmental and social management instruments (ESIA/ESMP, construction and operational ESMPs, biodiversity management plans, chance‑find procedures for natural/cultural resources).
- Assist in preparing and reviewing environmental monitoring and compliance reports for regulatory and corporate reviewers
Support development of standardized environmental management processes and planning
- Support PLN to design and/or update environmental management and monitoring programs across their energy infrastructure portfolio, ensuring industry best practices, proper mitigation hierarchy, and technically feasible processes and controls are used.
- Support PLN to develop and/or update standard procedures for managing environmental risks associated with common project activities related to dust and air quality, noise and vibration, erosion and sedimentation, wastewater and stormwater management, etc.
- Support PLN to translate environmental commitments into practical ESMP requirements, contractor clauses, monitoring requirements and schedules, with defined roles responsibilities, budgets, and effectiveness indicators.
- Support PLN to develop and implement corrective actions associated with environmental impacts.
- Support PLN to identify and operationalize opportunities to improve environmental performance and reduce environmental risks across the organization
Environmental data management
- Support PLN to collect, compile, and quality assure environmental datasets, and development of tools and procedures to allow effective and efficient analysis of data
- Assist in maintaining environmental databases and ensuring alignment and compliance with project permitting requirements and ESMS requirements
Coordination, reporting, and capacity building
- Work closely with PLN’s DIVTEK team members at corporate and project levels, as well as with technical, procurement, and engineering teams, to ensure safeguard requirements are integrated into project documents and tender packages.
- Contribute inputs to periodic E&S performance reports to PLN management and development partners.
- Participate in internal training and learning activities on biodiversity safeguards, environmental management; share lessons from field implementation with colleagues to support continuous improvement of PLN’s ESMS.
- Perform other qualified duties as assigned
