Careers

Swisscontact is an international development organisation established in 1959 by representatives of the Swiss private sector and civil society. We foster inclusive economic development by strengthening skills, fostering private sector-led enterprise development, and advancing sustainable, climate-resilient growth. Through our work in developing and emerging economies, we aim to create opportunities for individuals and businesses to grow, innovate and succeed, contributing to more equitable and prosperous communities.

In Indonesia, Swisscontact has been active for more than five decades, implementing projects that foster skills development, entrepreneurship and value chains strengthening for sustainable growth in diverse sectors such as agriculture, tourism, green economy, manufacturing and export-oriented industries. Swisscontact is a trusted partner to government institutions, industry actors and development partners.

Skills for Competitiveness (S4C) & Sustainable Tourism Education Development (STED) - Two projects under the Swiss Skills for Competitiveness Programme (SS4C)

About the Swiss Skills for Competitiveness (SS4C)

The Swiss Skills for Competitiveness (SS4C) programme is a Swiss‑funded initiative implemented by Swisscontact to support Indonesia’s economic development by strengthening the relevance and quality of skills in line with private sector needs. As one of Swisscontact flagship programs, SS4C works with a wide range actors across the skills ecosystem, including public vocational institutions, government bodies, service providers, business associations, and companies in key economic sectors such as manufacturing, food processing and tourism.

Following its Mid‑Term Evaluation, SS4C has sharpened its strategic focus towards private sector competitiveness, systemic change, and sustainability. The program aims to increasingly position skills development to support business performance and focuses more on a facilitative role that strengthens local actors and provides innovative market‑based solutions. SS4C emphasises deeper engagement with the private sector, stronger public‑private collaboration, and scalable, sustainable approaches, which require adaptive and partnership‑oriented ways of working. 

About the Role

To support SS4C’s strategic direction, Swisscontact is seeking a Senior Program Officer – Private Sector Engagement and Business Development, based in Jakarta, with frequent travel to SS4C field locations across Indonesia.

The position is offered as a 1-year fixed-term contract, with the possibility of extension.

Purpose of the Role

The Senior Program Officer supports SS4C’s strategic pivot towards private sector competitiveness by building and managing effective partnerships with companies, business associations, and service providers. The role identifies business needs and incentives, and facilitates market-oriented, scalable, and sustainable solutions that strengthen workforce readiness and enterprise performance.

Key Responsibilities

• Identify opportunities where skills and HR-related solutions can improve productivity, workforce readiness, and business competitiveness.
• Facilitate collaboration between companies, business associations, intermediary institutions, and education/training providers, including co-investment and innovative financing models where feasible.
• Build new partnerships and strengthen existing ones to achieve systemic impact, sustainability, and locally owned solutions.
• Co-design and manage partnership and service models (including pilots) with potential to scale beyond the programme period.
• Contribute to the design and delivery of private sector–related interventions aligned with SS4C’s systems-focused strategy.
• Support learning and evidence generation (case documentation, data collection, and reporting) that demonstrates value creation for partners and long-term sustainability.
• Provide market insights from private sector partners to inform adaptive programme planning and decision-making.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Business, Marketing, Economics, Public Policy, International Development, or a related field (Master’s is an asset).
• At least 7 years of relevant experience engaging private sector actors (companies, associations, service providers) in business development, partnerships, advisory, CSR/shared value, or market facilitation roles.
• Experience or exposure to skills development, workforce development, MSMEs, or economic competitiveness is an asset. Familiarity with donor‑funded programmes interacting with markets is an advantage.
• Strong commercial mindset with the ability to assess business opportunities, risks, and scalability.
• Strong interpersonal, negotiation, and facilitation skills.
• Excellent communication skills in Bahasa Indonesia and working proficiency in English (written and spoken).
• Comfortable working in complex, evolving, and ambiguous environments.

How to Apply

Please submit (1) a cover letter describing your suitability for the role and your earliest availability, and (2) a CV (maximum 3 pages), through https://recruitment.swisscontact.or.id or email at [email protected] latest by 30 April 2026.

Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis. Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.