Senior Transport Researcher (Consultant)

Clean Air Asia; Jakarta Pusat; On-site; IDR 200,880,000 - 357,120,000; Full time

Job summary

Clean Air Asia, under the Drive Electric Indonesia portfolio, seeks a Senior Transport Researcher (Consultant) to lead policy research on EV battery technologies and readiness in Indonesia. You will translate technical findings into practical policy recommendations for DEI partners and government stakeholders.

The role focuses on assessing NMC and LFP technologies, reviewing global policy experiences, and developing actionable policy scenarios to support a sustainable Indonesian EV battery

Qualifications

• Degree in engineering, materials science, energy, public policy, economics, or a related field.
• Strong understanding of EV battery technologies, particularly lithium-ion batteries.
• Excellent communication and report writing skills.
• Proficiency in Bahasa Indonesia and English.

Responsibilities

• Review EV battery technologies (NMC, LFP, others) and compare suitability for EVs.
• Assess readiness of Indonesia's EV and battery ecosystem for various technologies.
• Review policies and international experiences on battery technology requirements.
• Develop policy scenarios and evidence-based recommendations.
• Lead report formulation coordinating with consultants and stakeholders.
• Maintain monthly discussions and share updates with DEI partners.

Skills

Policy analysis

Technical reporting

Stakeholder engagement

Education

Engineering

Public policy

Economics

Materials science

Energy studies

Job description

Senior Transport Researcher (Consultant)

I. BACKGROUND

Indonesia is developing its electric vehicle (EV) ecosystem as part of its efforts to reduce transport emission and develop high value-added nickel based industries. Given Indonesia's significant nickel resources, the Government is currently seeking to increase domestic nickel based battery production by accelerating demand for EVs in Indonesia. One of the policy options being considered is the introduction of a mandatory requirement for the use of Nickel Manganese Cobalt (NMC) batteries in EVs. Such a policy could potentially strengthen domestic demand for nickel-based batteries and support the development of Indonesia's downstream nickel and battery industries.

Despite this significant potential, the development of Indonesia's domestic battery industry continues to face several challenges. The domestic battery value chain is not yet fully integrated, with several key components still dependent on imports. At the same time, global battery technology trends have shifted significantly toward Lithium Iron Phosphate (LFP) batteries. This trend may create challenges for the development of Indonesia's nickel-based battery industry. Given the current level of readiness of Indonesia's EV ecosystem, the potential introduction of a mandatory NMC battery policy requires careful assessment of its technological, industrial, and economic implications.

Against this background, Clean Air Asia, under the Drive Electric Indonesia (DEI) portfolio, is supporting the development of recommendations for a sustainable and competitive EV battery industry in Indonesia. In particular, the project will assess the challenges, opportunities, and prerequisites associated with the potential implementation of a policy requiring nickel based batteries for EVs in Indonesia. The assessment will also consider alternative battery technologies and their suitability for the Indonesian market to ensure that the analysis remains technology-agnostic and responsive to evolving market and technological trends.

The project requires a Senior Transport Researcher with strong experience in policy research and EV battery technologies to lead and support the delivery of the study. The Senior Researcher will provide technical and analytical support for the assessment and translate the findings into practical, evidence-based policy recommendations for relevant stakeholders.

II. OBJECTIVE

To provide high-quality technical research and policy analysis to support evidence-based policy development for EV batteries in Indonesia.

III. RESPONSIBILITIES AND SCOPE OF WORK

The responsibilities of the Senior Transport Researcher including but not limited to:

• Review relevant EV battery technologies, including NMC, LFP, and other emerging technologies and compare their suitability for different EV applications
• Assess the readiness of Indonesia's EV and battery ecosystem to support different battery technologies
• Review relevant policies and international experiences related to battery technology requirements
• Support the development of policy scenarios and recommendations based on the combined technical and economic analysis
• Lead the formulation of final report by coordinating with other consultants and stakeholders
• Coordinate monthly discussions and maintain communication with DEI partners working on EV batteries to share updates, troubleshoot barriers, and identify joint opportunities
• Monitor progress across relevant partner activities to provide the donor with a regular overview of developments and assess alignment with the broader country strategy
• Support the donor in refining segment priorities by identifying strategic gaps, overlapping efforts, and emerging policy windows
• Act as a peer advisor for DEI partners working on EV batteries to review policy/technical assumptions and check draft outputs.
• Supply monthly segment updates and connect with the donor when segment activities require dedicated media or accountability support.

IV. ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS AND CRITERIA

The candidate is expected to meet the following qualifications:

• Degree in engineering, materials science, energy, public policy, economics, or a related field
• A minimum of three (3) years' working or research experience in EVs, EV batteries, battery technology and value chains, industrial policy, or related fields
• Strong understanding of EV battery technologies, particularly lithium-ion batteries
• Good understanding of EV and battery value chains, including raw materials, manufacturing, and end-of-life management
• Demonstrated ability to translate technical analysis into policy recommendations
• Experience working with government and/or industry stakeholders in Indonesia is preferred
• Excellent communication, collaboration, and report writing skills
• Proficiency in both Bahasa Indonesia and English

V. DURATION, REMUNERATION and OTHER BENEFITS

The selected candidate will be appointed from 1 November 2026 to 31 October 2027 under an individual consultancy contract covering 20-22 person-days per month. The professional fee is competitive but may vary subject to the candidate’s professional qualifications and work experience.