BACKGROUND

Indonesia faces a significant youth unemployment challenge despite its demographic advantage. In 2023, 25.8% of youth aged 16-30 were NEETs (Not in Education, Employment, or Training), with young women experiencing double the unemployment rate of men. Women-led MSMEs contribute only 9.1% to GDP, with exports below 5%. Youth with disabilities also face major employment barriers—55.5% of unemployed persons with disabilities are aged 15-34 (ILO, 2022). Limited government data further hampers effective support for this group. Structural and societal factors worsen the issue. The 2019 Youth Development Index highlights economic disparities, with women’s labor force participation at 53.1%, far lower than men’s 82.4%. Young urban women struggle with limited access, job market competition, and societal pressures affecting career growth.

Plan Indonesia will collaborate with stakeholders to reach out to 100,000 marginalised youth. Stakeholders include Technical Vocational Educational Training Centres, Vocational Schools, youth social house. Once they completed the first module on financial planning training, they automatically could access the next module on future readiness training, with a target of 70,000 to continue the second module. Out of this, 6,000 youth will be selected to have intensive mentoring, basic technical skills training, and work readiness training to enter the job market. The selection of 6,000 youth will consider their educational background that suits the training subjects (IT, hospitality, retail) to determine their suitability for the program. Plan Indonesia will also prioritise youth who face additional challenges, including disabilities, parentless youth, or breadwinners in the family etc. There will be another screening process to assess their commitment to completing the program through an interview and an essay test.

ROLE PURPOSE

The Project Manager will lead project implementation in Medan, Jakarta, and Surabaya and be based in Jakarta. The project manager will be key in delivering the project activities funded by the DBS Foundation. S/he will be supporting the core objective of an empowered generation, where young people are facilitated to gain their power to rise. It consists of promoting youth leadership and technical skills training, and work readiness training to enter the job market. S/he is accountable for the project output and outcome achievement and maintains good collaboration and communication with the program management team at YPII, while externally will strongly collaborate with the DBS Foundation, ministries, media, and other NGOs/networks.

The project manager is responsible for the project management stages: 1) designing for the growth of the program portfolio through proposal development and ideation, and other supporting documents, such as case studies and lessons learned, 2) planning stage on preparing the project document and internal processes, as well as developing exit strategy and project sustainability plan, and coordination with internal and external stakeholders, 3) implementation stage on project activities and deliveries, 4) monitoring, evaluation and research, 5) closing stage which include final reporting, handover asset and close-out workshop. S/he will support the influencing work to strengthen the Plan’s position in the youth and climate change networks.

ACCOUNTABILITIES

1 . Responsible Project Management:

Support project design stage, including ideation with partners, youth group and community, which is in line with CS5 core objectives through learning documents and progress achievement tracking
Deliver the project planning and implementation stages, including development of all supporting documents, partnership assessments, preparation and updating of the internal system in SAP, PMERL, or any other system applicable in Plan Indonesia. Ensure the implementation runs smoothly based on project compliances, audit, and the Operation Manual. Responsible for developing the exit strategy and sustainability plan from the early stages of the project and sharing them with external stakeholders
Establish strong coordination and communication with internal and external stakeholders, including donors, government (local and national), partner networks, and communities
Lead in project monitoring, evaluation, and research, in collaboration with the MER team or other related units, both internally and externally. In charge of the dissemination of research results, together with the communication team or the external relations team
Lead in the project closing stage, in collaboration with the grant management team or other related unit, to ensure the sustainability plan and scale-up strategies are well implemented, hand over assets, close internal systems, and submission of high-quality reports
Ensure GEDSI and safeguarding approaches are well mainstreamed and implemented throughout the project management stages.

2. Communication and Reporting

Conduct monitoring to target project location and facilitate discussion and coordination between donors, stakeholders, program participants, and partners (youth networks).
Maintain communication with the Program Management Manager, Senior Project Manager, and team on project planning and implementation, including the technical unit team.
Monitor project progress (outcomes and results) using a monitoring dashboard and expenditure regularly (monthly, quarterly, annual, or as needed)
Prepare progress reports for the internal Plan every quarter and on other bases if needed
Prepare informative and high-quality reports and any other required information for NO, donors, or external stakeholders, including for publication in Plan Indonesia’s platforms
Collaborate with the communications team to develop and disseminate the project's related communications strategy, both internally and externally stakeholders, including producing the learning documentation, best practices, case studies, Op-Ed, and other product knowledge
Lead the development of project learnings, in collaboration with MER and other relevant teams, including involving government, partners, youth networks, and other program participants. Seek innovation and put in place improved learning practices within and outside the program
Represent the Plan in the relevant network meetings and/or conferences

3. Networks and Partnerships

Establish external networks in including youth networks or alliances, to strengthen the project implementation, exchange experiences, and scale up program implementation
Support the partnership team to conduct partnership assessment and capacity assessment for partners, including youth networks, along lead the programmatic capacity building for partners and youth networks
Maintain and expand high-quality and strategic relationships with project stakeholders, as well as reviewing reports and indicators, including promoting Plan Indonesia’s works as youth youth-focused organization and NGO of choice on girls' rights in development and humanitarian. Link program participants to local resources, networks, or funding to continue or scale up their initiatives, in collaboration with the Resource Mobilization and Program Development team
Develop and implement the advocacy agenda and campaign, in collaboration with partners and youth networks, to promote success stories and best practices of the project, including contributing to the larger agenda of Plan Indonesia
Support the youth engagement team to strengthen youth centeredness program, involving the Youth Advisory Panel (YAP) and Planet to ensure a coherent youth-led movement and a youth-led advocacy initiative in Indonesia

4. Management: People, System, and Process

Supervise and provide mentoring/coaching to the project team to improve professional and technical capacity on the strategic and practical project implementation
Manage budget and PC in Plan’s system (SAP), in coordination with Finance and Procurement teams
Lead the follow up action of AAL from audit, both internal and external, in collaboration with other support team and operations.
Work with the CLT and CMT, program, and technical team to devise strategies, policies, and protocols to promote the diversity of youth feel create a safe and protected environment while engaged with YPII and external stakeholders related to YPII, including upholding the implementation of PSHEA.

5. Safeguarding – PSHEA

Ensures that Plan International’s global policies for Safeguarding Children and Program Participants and Gender Equality and Inclusion are fully embedded in project design, during implementation, and as principles applied in day-to-day work.
Participates actively in capacity-building and learning events on Safeguarding Children and Program Participants and Gender Equality and Inclusion.
Submits required documentation (reports, checklists, action plans) to implement policy, standards, and approach on Safeguarding and GESI.
Understands and puts into practice the responsibilities under Safeguarding and GESI policies and Plan International’s Code of Conduct (CoC), ensuring that concerns are reported and managed in accordance with the appropriate procedures.

TECHNICAL EXPERTISE, SKILLS, AND KNOWLEDGE

Essential

Undergraduate degree in social fields, business, economics, or other related fields in the promotion of youth employment.
At least 5 years of experience working on project management. Experience managing project design, planning, implementation, monitoring and closing, and having a sound awareness of donor requirements and priorities.
Experience working with donors, i.e., European Union, Government donors, World Bank, USAID, private donors, international or local foundation, and UN agencies.
Experience in capacity building for local CSOs, experience in representational roles and voicing out the aspirations of young people
Good understanding of youth leadership, employment, and work readiness
Experience in working with and managing a team, including youth members. Having a good understanding of working with young people
Good analytical skills, well informed about methods to capture change/results of project implementation, including excellent in report writing
Demonstrated experience working with governments closely and effectively. Ability to promote project best practices and learning to the government for replication and scale-up
Strong cross-cultural skills and a demonstrated ability to influence change without direct authority and to work successfully with people and professionals
Financial and budgeting skills; fluent in speaking and writing English
Good interpersonal communication and facilitation skills for mentoring and knowledge-sharing
Possesses good judgment in dealing with conflict, ability to manage people dynamics, and problem-solving sounds
Able to work both in a team and independently with minimum supervision. Ability to work to tight deadlines, under pressure, and to multitask
Commitment to child rights and Child, Adolescent and Youth Community Development implementation

Desirable

Master in Social Welfare/Environmental Science/Community Development/other relevant field
Over 7 years of experience working on project management
Experience in working on a policy and advocacy project, engaging with high-level government and donors
Knowledge of IT-based/digital learning system

Location: Based at Jakarta with frequent travel to project locations.

HOW TO APPLY :

All information will be treated in the strictest confidence, as we pride ourselves on our professional service. We will contact you as soon as we have reviewed your application. Only short-listed candidates will be notified and invited for interviews. Please submit your letter of application and detailed curriculum vitae in English by applying now not later than August 1st, 2025.

A range of pre-employment checks will be undertaken in conformity with Plan International’s Safeguarding Children and Program Participant policy (PSHEA).

As an international child-centred community development organisation, Yayasan Plan International Indonesia is fully committed to promoting the realisation of children’s rights including their right to protection from violence and abuse.

We will provide equality of opportunity and will not tolerate discrimination on any grounds. We foster an organisational culture that embraces and exemplifies our commitment to gender equality, girls’ rights and inclusion while supporting staff to adopt good practices, positive attitudes and principles of gender equality and inclusion.

Please note that Plan International will never send unsolicited emails requesting payment from candidates. 

Project Manager You RISE Project