Position Title: Deputy Program Director - Performance, Partnerships & Inclusion

Engagement Type: Long-Term Personnel (International)

Group / Workstream: Leadership Group   

Reports To: Program Director  

Location: Jakarta — Prospera Office

Duration: 24 months with possibility of extension

1. Summary of The Project 

Prospera is Australia's flagship economic governance investment in Indonesia, supporting the Government of Indonesia (GoI) to advance inclusive, sustainable and climate-resilient economic reform. Implemented by Cowater International in partnership with the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) and the Government of Indonesia, the program runs from 2026 to 2035. Prospera is a dual modality program comprising partnerships between Australian and Indonesian government agencies along with distinct but interrelated Managing Contractor-led (Cowater) advisory and support services.

2. Purpose of the Role

The Deputy Program Director - Performance, Partnerships & Inclusion, is a Senior Leadership Team (SLT) member providing strategic direction and management oversight of four linked functions: Sustainable Partnerships (GoI, APS and third parties); Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning (MEL); Inclusion (GEDSI); and Communications, Knowledge Management (KM) & Learning. The role ensures Prospera can evidence credible performance to DFAT and GoI, builds well-managed partnerships across GoI, APS and the wider policy ecosystem, embeds GEDSI as a genuine driver of program quality, and keeps staff, partners and stakeholders well informed. The Deputy Program Director works closely with the Deputy Program Director - Policy Delivery and the Chief Operating Officer (COO) and deputises for the Program Director as required.

Day-to-day, the Deputy Program Director combines strategic oversight with hands-on management of key functions and works with SLT and program staff to build a culture of shared responsibility for integrating and delivering high-quality performance, inclusion, risk management and collaboration with APS and other external partners. The role brings energy, growth and fresh thinking to Prospera's strategic and operational functions, ensuring Prospera's performance, partnerships and inclusion efforts are coherent, high quality, impactful and aligned with DFAT and GoI expectations.

3. Key Responsibilities

A. Strategic and executive leadership

• Contribute to strategic direction

  • Contribute to Prospera's overall strategic direction, work planning and governance.

• Executive leadership

  • Build a culture of shared responsibility and high-quality performance.

• Provide senior leadership

  • Provide senior leadership and line management to the Sustainable Partnerships, MEL, GEDSI and Communications, KM & Learning functions.

  • Ensure the collaboration and the use of data, AI and other digital services for more efficient, effective and impactful delivery of key functions including MEL, knowledge, communications and key work planning and reporting activities.

• Represent Prospera

  • Represent Prospera in senior forums with DFAT, GoI, APS and other external counterparts on performance, partnerships and inclusion matters.

• Deputise for Program Director

  • Deputise for the Program Director as required.

• Ensure coherence

  • Ensure these functions work coherently with other members of the leadership team, including the Deputy Program Director - Policy Delivery, EOPO Portfolio Directors, the COO and the Executive and Program Office (EPO), avoiding duplication and closing gaps.

B. Sustainable partnerships (GoI, APS and third party) 

• Lead partnerships function

  • Lead the partnerships function, overseeing stewardship of the APS Partnerships Framework and mapping of GoI, APS, Australian institutional and Indonesian policy-ecosystem partnerships (think tanks, universities, CSOs).

  • As appropriate, lead the engagement with other DFAT development programs with major G2G modalities to share lessons and knowledge products, and other learning materials

• Oversee APS CoP event

  • Oversee development and delivery of APS Partner Community of Practice (CoP) events.

  • Coordinate APS high-level activities

• Accountability for partnerships strategy

  • Act as the single point of accountability for Prospera's partnerships strategy and tools, resolving overlap between short-term partnerships advisory inputs and program teams pending a substantive Partnerships Lead, and oversee the partnership health check approach and APS partner engagement.

C. Performance, monitoring, evaluation and learning (across both advisory services and APS) 

• Oversee MEL system

  • Provide senior oversight of Prospera's MEL system, program logic and indicators, ensuring alignment with DFAT's Monitoring and Evaluation Standards and the Activity Planning and Decision-Making Framework.

• Ensure credible, robust/high-quality performance evidence and reporting

  • Ensure Prospera's performance is credibly evidenced and reported to DFAT (six-monthly progress reports, milestones, IMRs/PPAs/APA), and oversee major reviews and evaluations as required.

• Support governance processes

  • Support the Program Director and Advisory Board secretariat with evidence-based performance narratives for governance processes, including the Advisory Board.

D. Inclusion (GEDSI)

• Lead GEDSI function

  • Provide senior leadership of Prospera's GEDSI function, applying a twin-track approach: mainstreaming GEDSI across all activities and advice, and developing targeted partnerships for women, people with disabilities and other marginalised groups.

• Ensure GEDSI integration

  • Ensure GEDSI screening, markers and disaggregated data are applied consistently across activity design, MEL, partnerships and communications, and support APS partners to strengthen their own GEDSI integration. 

E. Communications and knowledge management

• Oversee internal communications

  • Provide senior oversight of internal communications, knowledge management and learning, keeping staff, APS partners and GoI counterparts informed of program direction, decisions and results.

• Interface with Communications Strategy

  • Oversee the interface between Prospera's substantive program information and delivery of the Communications and Public Diplomacy Strategy, working with the communications function and DFAT on external-facing products, and support a single shared program content calendar.

  • Support DFAT and APS partners to strategically leverage program activities to advance program objectives and showcase bilateral cooperation

F. Governance, risk and reporting

• Ensure compliance

  • Ensure these functions operate in accordance with DFAT contractual requirements, escalate related risks into Prospera's risk register, and keep SharePoint Lists/MIS data current ahead of the MIS handover.

• Contribute to AWP&B cycle

  • Contribute to the Annual Work Plan and Budget (AWP&B) cycle and periodic reviews of Prospera's organisational structure and processes.

4. Qualifications & Experience 

The successful candidate will have:

Essential 

• Master's Degree (S2) in a relevant field, such as development studies, international relations, public policy, social studies, MEL, GEDSI, communications, or other related disciplines relevant to the role.

• Extensive senior-level experience leading performance, partnerships, MEL, GEDSI or communications functions within complex, multi-stakeholder development programs, ideally in Indonesia or Southeast Asia

• Demonstrated experience designing and overseeing MEL systems aligned to donor standards (e.g. DFAT's M&E Standards), and building institutional partnerships with government, donor and civil society counterparts, including G2G models

• Strong track record embedding GEDSI as a genuine driver of program quality, not a compliance exercise, with proven senior leadership across multidisciplinary teams

• Exceptional relationship-building and influencing skills, and a strong understanding of DFAT contractual, governance and reporting requirements

Desirable 

• PhD in a relevant field, such as development studies, international relations, or public policy

• Professional certification in Monitoring and Evaluation (e.g., EvalPartners, AIMS)

• Formal training or certification in Gender and Social Inclusion (GEDSI) principles and practices

• Advanced qualifications in communications, public relations, or knowledge management

• Fluency in Bahasa Indonesia, demonstrating cultural competency and enhancing engagement with local stakeholders

• Experience with DFAT-funded programs, APS partnership modalities, or communications / public diplomacy in a donor-funded context

5. Skills & Competencies

The Deputy Program Director - Performance, Partnerships & Inclusion will be a collaborative, evidence-driven senior leader who builds trust quickly across government, donor and program stakeholders; balances rigour and pragmatism; leads with integrity and models inclusive practice; and operates effectively in a politically sensitive, bilateral partnership environment.

The role requires the following skills and competencies:

• Collaborative, evidence-driven senior leadership

• Ability to build trust quickly across government, donor and program stakeholders

• Balance of rigour and pragmatism

• Leadership with integrity and modelling inclusive practice

• Effective operation in a politically sensitive, bilateral partnership environment

6. Language Proficiency

Professional English is required, with working proficiency in Bahasa Indonesia desirable for effective engagement with Indonesian stakeholders and counterparts.

7. Working Conditions

The Deputy Program Director - Performance, Partnerships & Inclusion is based in Jakarta at the Prospera Office. This role involves regular travel across Indonesia to engage with government counterparts, Prospera partners and stakeholders, and program activities. The work pattern is standard business hours, with flexibility to accommodate meetings and events outside regular hours as required by the role's strategic and executive responsibilities.

8. Performance & Accountability

Performance will be assessed against: 

• Strategic impact: The extent to which the role has successfully shaped Prospera's strategic direction and operational effectiveness in performance, partnerships and inclusion.

• Leadership effectiveness: The quality of senior leadership, team management and representation provided, including in high-level forums with DFAT, GoI and APS counterparts.

• Partnership outcomes: The strength, coherence and impact of partnerships built and managed across GoI, APS and the wider policy ecosystem.

• Performance evidence: The credibility, rigour and utility of Prospera's performance evidence, including MEL systems and GEDSI integration.

• Stakeholder engagement: The effectiveness of engagement and communication with internal and external stakeholders, including government, donor and civil society counterparts.

9. Core Competencies 

This position is expected to demonstrate the following core competencies: 

• Communicates clearly and effectively

• Works collaboratively with others

• Plans and organises work effectively

• Identifies and solves problems

• Demonstrates adaptability and flexibility

APPLICATION PROCESS

Candidates are encouraged to apply by 29 September 2026/as soon as possible.

For your application to be considered, please upload your documents as followed: Candidate Last Name, First Name, date, Title of the Position.

Cowater international strives to maintain a fair, transparent, and human centered recruitment process. As part of our commitment to responsible hiring practices and compliance with evolving recruitment regulations, we may use AI assisted tools to support limited aspects of our talent acquisition workflow, such as reviewing or shortlisting applications. These tools are used only to enhance efficiency and consistency in our processes. All assessments, interviews, and final hiring decisions are made exclusively by our human recruiting managers. Candidates may request additional information about the use of these tools or reasonable accommodations during the recruitment process.

Cowater International is an equal opportunity employer, basing employment on merit and qualifications as they relate to professional experience and position expectations. Cowater does not discriminate against any employee or applicant on the basis of race, religion, sex, gender identity, disability, age, or any other basis protected by law.

We thank all applicants, however only those shortlisted will be contacted.

ABOUT US

Founded in 1985, Cowater International is a leading global development consulting company. Headquartered in Ottawa and with corporate hubs in Auckland, Berlin, Brussels, Helsinki, London, Madrid, Manila, Nairobi, Singapore and Stockholm, Cowater International has successfully delivered a portfolio of over 2500 projects and assignments in more than 95 countries. We work with governments, private sector actors and communities implementing projects that support socio-economic development, institutional strengthening, environmental improvements and advance equal opportunities for all. We are a diverse and experienced team committed to building a better tomorrow for the people we serve. Our adaptive approach to management has led to our yearly award-winning work and recognition as one of Canada's Best Managed Companies since 2017.

We thank you for your interest in building a better tomorrow.