Position Overview
Position Summary
Women’s World Banking is seeking a Senior Policy Advocacy Strategist to lead our government engagement, policy influence, and market ecosystem work in Southeast Asia. Based in Jakarta—with a primary focus on Indonesia and secondary focus on Vietnam and Cambodia—this role sits at the intersection of policy, gender, finance, technology, and climate resilience, helping to shape a more inclusive and future-ready financial system.
This role combines policy advocacy with market ecosystem engagement, helping regulators, financial service providers (FSPs), and industry partners to reduce barriers, leverage data and AI responsibly, and scale green and gender-smart financial solutions.
The ideal candidate will have a proven track record within the financial services or technology sectors, with deep expertise in government engagement, regulatory influence, and evidence-based policy formulation. S/He will thrive in managing multi-stakeholder coalitions—spanning financial service providers (FSPs), regulators, fintech associations, and civil society—to co-create inclusive environments where policy and innovation reinforce each other.
S/He will be passionate about equal economic empowerment for women in their communities and eager to serve as a thought leader in the financial inclusion community. We are looking for an assertive, strategic, and self-motivated individual who actively seeks out opportunities, identifies leverage points within complex systems, and co-creates solutions across teams to deliver lasting ecosystem change.
This position covers our three core SEA markets and reports to the Deputy Director of Policy, based in Indonesia. The successful candidate will also collaborate with Global Advocacy colleagues in the UK and US and work closely with the regional Research and Advisory teams to translate insights into impactful policy and market actions.
Roles and Responsibilities
Policy Advocacy & Ecosystem Leadership
- Lead and support policy advocacy and market influence initiatives that drive gender-intentional and climate-smart financial inclusion.
- Engage with regulators (e.g., OJK, BI, MoF, CMEA), policymakers, FSPs, fintech associations, and development partners to shape enabling frameworks for inclusive finance, digital innovation, and responsible AI.
- Build strong alliances and networks across the financial ecosystem to reduce structural barriers for FSPs, enabling them to serve women and MSMEs more effectively.
- Shape policy dialogues and advocacy agendas that leverage data-driven insights, AI for inclusion, and green finance approaches to strengthen financial resilience at scale.
Research Translation & Policy Innovation
- Partner with Research and Advisory teams to synthesize insights from behavioral studies, digital adoption data, and market analysis into practical, evidence-based policy recommendations.
- Lead the development of policy briefs, white papers, and thought pieces that advance conversations on responsible digital finance, open data ecosystems, and climate-resilient credit pathways.
- Represent Women's World Banking in high-level forums, serving as a visible advocate and thought leader in inclusive finance, gender equity, and sustainability.
Market Advocacy & Stakeholder Engagement
- Position WWB as a connector and catalyst within the market ecosystem, linking policy intent with financial sector innovation.
- Convene and facilitate dialogue between FSPs, policymakers, and enablers to co-design inclusive, tech-enabled solutions aligned with emerging trends in AI, digital public infrastructure, and sustainable finance.
- Support FSPs and ecosystem actors in navigating regulatory environments and adopting women-centered, climate-resilient financial models.
Knowledge Management & Communication
- Document and disseminate learnings, success stories, and innovations to internal and external audiences through blogs, reports, and stakeholder engagements.
- Contribute to WWB's global and regional learning agenda, highlighting Southeast Asia as a hub for gender-intentional, data-driven financial policy innovation.
Required Qualifications
- Master’s or undergraduate degree in economics, finance, public policy, international development, or a related field.
- 10+ years of experience in policy advocacy, public affairs, or financial sector transformation—preferably within the financial services, fintech, or digital economy domains.
- Deep understanding of Indonesia’s financial and regulatory landscape, with working knowledge of Vietnam, Cambodia and Philippines.
- Strong project management skills with ability to deliver on multiple concurrent projects.
- Strong understanding of financial inclusion, AI governance, digital finance ecosystems, and climate-smart financial policies.
- Experience in producing policy papers and other forms of policy recommendations, with an openness to innovative methods of thinking in policy formulation.
- Proven experience building and maintaining multi-stakeholder relationships across regulators, FSPs, and development organizations.
- Excellent communication skills (verbal and written) in English and Bahasa Indonesia.
- Ability to travel regularly within Indonesia and regionally (Vietnam, Cambodia and Philippines).
Preferred Qualifications
- Passionate about economic equality, financial inclusion, technology and systemic change.
- Experience working in or with international NGOs, multilateral institutions, or industry associations in Southeast Asia.
- Demonstrate ability to execute and successfully achieve objectives in a dynamic, fast-paced environment with aggressive timelines.
- Familiarity with open finance, data privacy, AI ethics, digital ID, and green finance frameworks.
- Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with an ability to translate complex technical insights into actionable advocacy.
- Intellectual curiosity in creative problem solving and solution-seeking.
- Demonstrate ability to work independently; as well as to work in a (remote) team.
- Track record of success in dynamic, cross-cultural environments with tight deadlines and evolving priorities.
Measure of Success
 Within the first 75 days
- Assume full responsibilities of the role and establish trust with key policy and market partners.
- Embrace Women’s World Banking’s values – Think Big, Own and Commit to It, Smarter Together.
- Learn and comprehend Women’s World Banking’s business model.
- Fully integrate into both the Policy Advocacy and Southeast Asia teams.
We offer comprehensive benefits including:
- Competitive salary & top tier benefits
- 15+ paid time off days in addition to paid sick days and holidays
- Company closes for two paid Mental Health and Rejuvenation Weeks per year (July & December)
- 401(k) with employer match / pension contributions where applicable
- Company paid professional development opportunities
- Flexible work options available, including work from home options (outside of fieldwork)
About Women's World Banking
We believe in being a force for the greater good, devoted to accelerating and growing the financial inclusion of women. With rapidly changing markets, influenced by technology and social behavioral expectations, we are embarking on a new chapter to transform the way we design and implement solutions.
For over 40 years, Women’s World Banking has partnered with financial institutions, showing them the benefit of investing in women as customers. We equip these institutions with in-depth research and data driven insights to develop financial products and educational programs. While our clients are financial service providers, our mission is to engage consumers – women who are marginalized by financial systems.
Women’s World Banking and WWB Asset Management is an equal employment opportunity for all regardless of race, color, citizenship, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, disability, veteran or reservist status or any other category protected by federal, state or local law.
