Thank you for your interest in working at International Rivers. Our global staff is dedicated to working in partnership with communities, organizations, and movements protecting their rivers, their ways of life, and our planet’s freshwater.

Photo by Kitti, Naga Studio (2023)
Open Positions
PROGRAM MANAGER Southeast Asia
Full Job Description
About the role
This Program Manager role is a key part of our Southeast Asia team, which has been established to enable the achievement of International Rivers’ mission in the Mekong and Salween basins. A key focus for this role will be the management of projects and grants in Southeast Asia, focusing on the Mekong Inclusion Project Phase 2 (IP2), which is being implemented in consortium with Oxfam. IP2 is co-funded by the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs (DFAT) and the Swiss Agency for Development Cooperation (SDC).
The Mekong Inclusion Project Phase 2 (IP2) works with vulnerable communities and civil society in the Mekong region to ensure target government and private sector actors at the national and regional levels engage with and include the perspectives of civil society in water resource governance (WRG) and Renewable Energy (RE) policies and plans. It has three outcomes:
1. Women leaders and representatives of marginalized social groups are playing leadership roles in influencing national and regional state and non-state actors in WRG and energy policy and planning processes.
2. Riverine communities and civil society actors are engaging with and influencing national and regional WRG and RE policy and planning processes and promoting the interests and rights of vulnerable social groups.
3. Target government and private sector actors at the national and regional levels increasingly comply with international standards and best practice: and engage with and include the perspectives of civil society in hydropower and RE policies and plans.
Responsibilities include;
- Managing assigned projects (IP2 and others) including development and implementation of strategic plans, workplans, budgets, documentation and reporting, and leadership of partners and consultants.
- Supporting the SEA Regional Director as needed including, grant writing, development of strategic plans and directions, development and pursuit of program and fundraising opportunities.
- Being the key focal and contact point for funders and stakeholders for assigned prjects.
- Representing International Rivers in key forums and meetings related to assigned programs.
- Managing and monitoring grants and supporting the implementation of a robust Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning (MEL) framework for the SEA Program and assigned projects.
About you
You have a passion for the environment and the health and wellbeing of people and our planet and believe in the rights of local communities to have a say in decisions that affect them and the power of people to achieve change. You have a strong understanding of water governance and community rights, with a focus on Asia. You are an experienced program manager but are still looking to grow and develop your skills.
Requirements
- 8+ years working in NGO sector, with at least 3 years’ experience managing complex regional projects.
- Technical skills in water management, renewable energy or a field of relevance.
- Advanced knowledge and experience in water governance issues in the Mekong region; including GEDSI (Gender, Equity, Disability, and Social Inclusion), hydropower, sustainable energy, fisheries, water pollution and transboundary river basin management.
- Demonstrated experience in promoting gender equity and social inclusion in program design and implementation.
- Excellent written (including report writing) and oral communication skills in English (and Mekong language competency preferred)
- Ability to travel extensively in the Mekong region and occasionally outside the region.
- Candidates from the Mekong region are encouraged to apply.
What we offer
- Compensation: 830,000 – 1,260,000 THB per year
- Hours: Full-time
- Location: This is a remote working role, so the person can be based anywhere in Thailand provided they have an effective workspace and can travel to the required locations.
- Benefits:
- Remote Office Allowance, if based outside Bangkok
- 15 days/per year annual leave
- Health Insurance
- Support for learning and development
- Strong work culture: ambitious in our programming and goals whilst also being supportive, collaborative, and flexible. IR fosters a work environment that’s inclusive as well as diverse, where our people can be themselves. Every idea and perspective is valued so that our work reflects the people and contexts that we serve – the environments and communities that depend on rivers.
Application
If this opportunity fits your skills and experience and your desire to grow and develop then apply now.
Apply to jobpost@internationalrivers.org and include in the title of the email “Application for SEA Program Manager”. Please provide a cover letter and attach your CV.
Applications will be reviewed as soon as they are received, applications will close Monday 16 October but will be reviewed as they are received.
If you would like an update or further information, please contact: jobpost@internationalrivers.org
Research Consultant: Mapping financial and corporate stakeholders in Vietnam’s energy transition
Consultancy purpose and background
International Rivers is seeking a research consultant to develop a mapping of significant stakeholders in Vietnam’s energy transition processes. These include financial, technical, and institutional stakeholders in the Just Energy Transition Partnership (JETP) for Vietnam, as well as major corporate investors in Vietnam, with a focus on the manufacturing and energy sectors. JETP is an emerging financing arrangement between largely G7 countries and those in the Global South. Four JETPs have been announced so far, with South Africa, Indonesia, Vietnam and most recently, Senegal.
The objective of this research is to understand the different actors who are involved in financing, and design of different energy transition frameworks, as well as multinational corporations with significant investments in Vietnam, particularly in the manufacturing and energy sectors. The consultant should analyze environmental and social commitments, legally and at the policy level, of different stakeholders who will be involved in or impacted by Vietnam’s transition to cleaner sources of energy production. These stakeholders include transnational institutional and private actors that are involved with the various projects that will be implemented under the Vietnam JETP and clean energy transition, and international corporations with manufacturing supply chains in Vietnam.
Summary
The ideal candidate will have a background in sustainable finance and mapping international investment and supply chains, along with a knowledge of global climate financing and just transitions financial infrastructure. The candidate should have a strong network of contacts across a range of financial actors and climate and human rights organizations that are working on energy transitions, particularly the JETP. The consultant should have the ability to self-direct, and be able to navigate complex and multi-layered financing mechanisms and systems. The selected candidate should also have a demonstrable ability to present the diverse and complex role of different actors and stakeholders into a digestible written report which clearly identifies actionable information.
About International Rivers:
International Rivers (IR) envisions a world where healthy rivers and the rights of local communities are
valued and protected. Since 1985, International Rivers has been at the heart of the global struggle to
protect rivers and the rights of communities that depend on them. Armed with on the ground evidence
and cutting-edge research, International Rivers mobilizes civil society and communities to advocate for
improved river basin governance, transparent and accountable energy infrastructure, and human rights.
Consultant location: Remote, preferably Asia or Europe.
Deadline: Applications accepted on a rolling basis until a suitable candidate is found.
Start date: As soon as possible.
Duration of consultancy: The duration of the position is expected to encompass up to 40 days of work over a 2-3-month period. However, a more flexible arrangement is possible depending on the proposal submitted by different bidders.
Reporting: The consultant will report to International Rivers’ Senior Advisor and work closely with the Director of Programs, Environmental Defenders Campaign Coordinator and the Southeast Asia program.
Deliverables
Researching, drafting, incorporating feedback, and finalizing a report, to be published at the end of the consultancy period. The report should include the following:
- A comprehensive mapping of the different financial, and technical actors involved in the design and implementation of the Vietnam JETP.
- A detailed outline of all the projects that are proposed under the Vietnam JETP and the different financial and institutional actors contributing to such projects.
- Information about other forms of just transition investments and climate financing in Vietnam and their associated projects.
- A comprehensive mapping of the different multinational corporations with manufacturing supply chains in Vietnam.
- A legal and policy analysis of the environmental and human rights commitments of the different stakeholders identified by the consultant.
The consultant will work with International Rivers’ Senior Advisor, Environmental Defenders Campaign Coordinator, communications team and an independent PR consultant to produce short, easily accessible, preferably visual, summaries of different components of the report prepared by the consultant.
Qualifications, skills and experience
- At least 4 years of relevant experience, including technical expertise in Business and Human Rights or climate financing.
- Excellent writing ability in English and attention to detail. Ability to read and understand Vietnamese will be an advantage.
- Experience working in Southeast Asia is a plus
Competencies
- Well-organized, ability to produce detailed reports
- Demonstrated ability to coordinate others in a coalition
- Flexibility to work across different time zones and to tight deadlines
How to apply
Interested applicants are required to submit the following:
- A proposal (not to exceed four pages in total) including CV and cover letter outlining your motivation for this role and how your skills enable you to achieve the objectives. This can include links to any relevant previous experience or projects with a similar approach.
- A research proposal summarizing methodology and proposed project timeline.
- Your fixed fee/hourly or daily rate (including taxes if applicable), including a breakdown of costs.
- Names and contact details of two relevant professional references.
- To apply, email your proposal to jobpost@internationalrivers.org with the subject line Research Consultant – Short-term consultancy, Southeast Asia.
For more information, download the request for proposals:
Internships & Volunteer Positions
From time to time, internship positions will be listed here. If you’re interested in interning with International Rivers, contact us via contact@internationalrivers.org and sign up for our jobs and internships alert listserve.
Interns
If you are a student with opportunities for an internship to be compensated by a fellowship or academic credit from your educational institution, you are welcome to send your resume, a cover letter detailing your interest in our work and the specific internship requirements to contact@internationalrivers.org.
Volunteers
If you have skills and experience you would like to contribute to our work on a volunteer basis, you are welcome to write to contact@internationalrivers.org. Most of our volunteer opportunities are based out of our California headquarters and include help with database administration and communications.
If you’re interested in working for International Rivers in the future, sign up for our jobs and internships alert listserve.