Research Director

Yayasan Lembaga Penelitian Kaleka Indonesia; Jakarta Utara; On-site; IDR 800,000,000 - 1,200,000,000; Full time

Job summary

Kaleka is seeking an experienced Research Director to lead the organization's research strategy, agenda, and outputs. The role will ensure that Kaleka's research is grounded in rigorous evidence, relevant to policy and practice, and contributes to meaningful systems transformation.

You will lead the design and execution across agri-food, forestry, regenerative agriculture, fisheries, and rural economy issues; develop frameworks, mentor researchers, publish policy-relevant work, and represent

Qualifications

• Advanced degree in a relevant field.
• 5–10 years of relevant research experience, including leadership of teams and agendas.
• Proven record of publications in sustainable forestry, regenerative agriculture, or related topics.
• Strong quantitative and qualitative research skills with data analysis, survey design, and policy methods.
• Ability to translate research into policy-relevant recommendations and communicate to diverse audiences.

Responsibilities

• Lead design, planning, and execution of Kaleka's research agenda across agri-food systems, forestry, regenerative agriculture, fisheries, aquaculture, and rural economy issues.
• Develop research frameworks, methodologies, and analytical approaches with scientific rigor and policy relevance.
• Supervise and mentor researchers and analysts; strengthen technical capacity and outputs quality.
• Author and co-author research papers, policy briefs, and technical reports for academic, donor, and policy audiences.
• Represent Kaleka's research in engagements with government agencies, donors, academic institutions, and civil society partners.
• Manage relationships with research partners, universities, and technical advisors; coordinate collaborative or commissioned research.
• Oversee research budgets, timelines, and deliverables with program and management teams.
• Contribute to fundraising and proposal development by providing technical research design input.

Skills

Leadership

Research management

Policy influence

Quantitative analysis

Qualitative research

Stakeholder engagement

Budget management

Education

Master's or PhD in Agricultural Economics / Development Economics

Tools

Stata

R

SPSS

Job description

Kaleka is seeking an experienced Research Director to lead the organization's research strategy, agenda, and outputs. The role will ensure that Kaleka's research is grounded in rigorous evidence, relevant to policy and practice, and contributes to meaningful systems transformation.

Key responsibilities

Lead the design, planning, and execution of Kaleka's research agenda covering agri-food systems, forestry, regenerative agriculture, fisheries, aquaculture, and rural economy issues.

Develop appropriate research frameworks, methodologies, and analytical approaches, ensuring scientific rigor and policy relevance.

Supervise and mentor researchers and analysts, strengthening technical capacity and maintaining the quality of research outputs.

Author and co-author research papers, policy briefs, technical reports, and publications for academic, donor, and policy audiences.

Represent Kaleka's research work in engagements with government agencies, donors, academic institutions, and civil society partners.

Manage relationships with research partners, universities, and technical advisors, including collaborative or commissioned research.

Oversee research budgets, timelines, and deliverables in coordination with program and management teams.

Contribute to fundraising and proposal development by providing technical research design input.

Skill and experiences

Qualification

Advanced degree (Master's or PhD) in Agricultural Economics, Development Economics, Natural Resource Economics, or a closely related field.

5-10 years of relevant research experience, including experience leading or managing research teams and agendas.

Demonstrated record of publications on sustainable forestry, regenerative agriculture, or closely related research topics (e.g., land use, rural livelihoods, climate-smart agriculture, natural resource governance).

Strong quantitative and qualitative research skills, including experience with data analysis, survey design, and policy-oriented research methods.

Proven ability to translate research into policy-relevant recommendations and communicate findings to diverse audiences.

Experience managing research budgets, teams, and partnerships with universities, donors, or government institutions.

Excellent written and verbal communication skills in both Bahasa Indonesia and English.

Strong leadership, organizational, and project management capabilities.

Familiarity with Indonesia's forestry and agricultural policy landscape, including relevant regulatory frameworks (preferred).

Established professional network among researchers, policymakers, and practitioners in sustainable land use and agriculture (preferred).

About us

Kaleka is an action-research and systems transformation organization that develops, tests, and scales solutions for regional bioeconomies in Indonesia. By linking farmers, landscapes, industry, and markets, Kaleka creates replicable models that protect forests, strengthen rural economies, and accelerate the transition toward regenerative agri-food systems at scale. Kaleka serves as the research, systems design, and strategic backbone of an ecosystem of specialized organizations that together transform regenerative agriculture from isolated projects into scalable bioeconomic systems.

Kaleka is an equal-opportunity employer and welcomes applicants from all backgrounds and genders. We are committed to pluralism and to taking seriously perspectives different from our own, particularly those of the smallholders and communities our work serves.