Papua Field Researcher & Community Engagement Lead

Purpose; Tangerang; Hybrid; IDR 89,280,000 - 178,560,000; Part time

Job summary

Purpose is seeking a Field Researcher and Coordinator based in Papua, Indonesia, for a 6-month fixed-term contract. The role focuses on mapping the Papua media ecosystem and engaging with local communities, indigenous leaders, and CSOs to inform a Papuan-driven communications hub on forests, people, and climate.

Remote work with time-zone flexibility is available. You will conduct interviews, co-design field workshops, and coordinate logistics while ensuring input reflects Papuan priorities and

Qualifications

• Based in Papua, with an existing network among local communities, CSOs, and/or media.
• Minimum 3 years of experience in research, program coordination, or field engagement on forests, indigenous peoples’ rights, land rights, or climate issues.
• Demonstrated experience conducting qualitative research (interviews, focus groups, participatory methods) with community members and leaders.
• Strong understanding of Papua’s political, cultural, and media context, including sensitivities of working in this environment.
• Fluency in Bahasa Indonesia and English (working-level, written and spoken); proficiency in one or more local Papuan languages is a strong asset.
• Excellent written skills and attention to accuracy, with the ability to document findings in a structured, evidence-based way.
• Strong organizational skills and ability to manage multiple stakeholders and logistics independently.
• Reliable internet access and ability to work remotely, with flexibility to coordinate across time zones.
• Willingness to travel within Papua for fieldwork.

Responsibilities

• Research: Conduct desk research and contribute to mapping the Papua media and information ecosystem, including formal outlets, community radio, digital platforms, and informal channels such as WhatsApp groups and oral networks.
• Research: Conduct in-depth interviews and consultations with local communities, indigenous leaders, women’s groups, local journalists, and CSO partners to identify trusted information sources and credible messengers across digital and non-digital channels.
• Research: Support social listening and audience research by providing local context on languages, platforms, and information habits, and validate findings against community realities.
• Research: Document structural constraints on a media hub (access restrictions, political volatility, connectivity, geographic dispersal) based on firsthand and partner experience.
• Research: Contribute to the trusted messenger taxonomy and the risk assessment with field-based evidence, including community sensitivities and risks of co-optation or backlash.
• Research: Produce clear, accurate field notes and interview summaries, and flag where information is unverified, contested, or based on a single source.
• Coordination: Collaborate with the Project Strategist to transform on-ground insights into an actionable blueprint for a Papua communications hub.
• Coordination: Identify, build, and maintain relationships with local CSOs, media organizations, community radio stations, indigenous networks, and independent producers, in coordination with Purpose’s existing partners.
• Coordination: Plan and coordinate field logistics for consultations and participatory action research workshops, including outreach, venues, interpretation, and travel.
• Coordination: Co-facilitate or support workshops with Papuan stakeholders, ensuring participation of women, youth, and traditionally under-represented voices.
• Coordination: Serve as the primary day-to-day link between Papua-based stakeholders and the Purpose team, translating context in both directions.
• Coordination: Track fieldwork progress, budgets, and deliverables against the project timeline, and report regularly to the Project Lead.
• Safeguarding and ethics: Apply do-no-harm, informed consent, and data protection practices in all engagements, and promptly flag safety, security, or sensitivity concerns.

Skills

Papua-based

Qualitative research

Stakeholder management

Written communication

Remote work capable

Travel willingness

Job description

Purpose is seeking a Field Researcher and Coordinator based in Papua, Indonesia, for a 6-month fixed-term contract. The role focuses on mapping the Papua media ecosystem and engaging with local communities, indigenous leaders, and CSOs to inform a Papuan-driven communications hub on forests, people, and climate.

Remote work with time-zone flexibility is available. You will conduct interviews, co-design field workshops, and coordinate logistics while ensuring input reflects Papuan priorities and