Program Overview

As corporate sustainability strategies evolve beyond climate-focused approaches, freshwater management is becoming a critical priority for businesses across Southeast Asia. Companies are increasingly exposed to water-related risks, including water scarcity, flooding, declining water quality, regulatory compliance challenges, and growing expectations for basin-level water stewardship. At the same time, global frameworks such as Science Based Targets Network (SBTN), Alliance for Water Stewardship (AWS), and Taskforce on Nature-related Financial Disclosures (TNFD) are encouraging companies to assess, measure, manage, and disclose their freshwater dependencies, impacts, risks, and opportunities. Bestari Sustainability is expanding its water advisory portfolio to support corporate clients in areas including source water vulnerability assessment, watershed and aquifer assessment, water balance analysis, groundwater and surface water risk assessment, freshwater target setting under SBTN guidance, water stewardship strategy development, and integration of water considerations into broader nature and climate programs.

To support this growing portfolio, Bestari is building a talent pool of experienced water professionals who can be engaged on a project basis to lead or support technical assessments, stakeholder engagement, data analysis, proposal development, and implementation planning across various water-related consulting engagements.

Job Highlight

Water Resources & Stewardship Project Lead is responsible for leading the technical design and delivery of water-related consulting projects at Bestari Sustainability. The role supports a broad range of assignments covering source water vulnerability assessments (SVA), watershed and hydrogeological assessments, water balance and water resource assessments, freshwater risk analysis, science-based freshwater target setting under SBTN, corporate water stewardship, and integration of water considerations into broader nature-positive and climate strategies.

This position requires strong technical expertise in water resources management, hydrogeology, hydrology, environmental engineering, or related disciplines, combined with practical experience in conducting technical assessments, interpreting water-related datasets, and translating scientific findings into actionable recommendations for corporate and institutional clients.In addition to project delivery, the consultant is expected to contribute to business development through technical proposal preparation, methodology development, client engagement, and the design of innovative water advisory services. The role will collaborate closely with multidisciplinary teams across sustainability, biodiversity, climate, and ESG projects to ensure that water-related considerations are effectively integrated into broader environmental strategies.

What You Will Do

In close coordination with the Water Analysts, Water Industry Project Lead will support the following activities:

Technical Advisory & Project Delivery

• Lead and deliver technical water-related consulting projects, including Source Water Vulnerability Assessment (SVA), watershed assessments, hydrogeological assessments, water balance studies, water risk assessments, and other water resource management assignments.
• Design and implement technical methodologies for evaluating water quantity, water quality, groundwater and surface water conditions, source water protection, and watershed management at facility and basin levels.
• Conduct and oversee hydrological and hydrogeological analyses, including watershed delineation, groundwater conceptual modelling, recharge assessment, water demand estimation, and interpretation of pumping test and groundwater monitoring data where applicable.
• Support clients in identifying water-related risks, dependencies, and impacts, and develop practical recommendations for source water protection, water stewardship, climate resilience, and sustainable water management.
• Support corporate clients in implementing water stewardship initiatives and science-based freshwater targets under SBTN guidance (V1/V2), including baseline assessment, pressure quantification, basin threshold analysis, and target calculation for water quantity and quality where required.
• Integrate water stewardship findings into broader corporate nature and climate strategies, including alignment with TNFD, CDP Water, AWS, and GRI water-related disclosures.
• Prepare technical reports, assessment findings, maps, data visualizations, and client-ready deliverables in accordance with project requirements and international or national best practices.
• Provide technical inputs for proposal development, methodology design, concept notes, and business development activities related to water advisory services.

Knowledge Development & Capacity Building

• Contribute to the continuous improvement of Bestari’s technical methodologies, analytical tools, and knowledge products related to water resources, hydrogeology, watershed management, and corporate water stewardship.
• Develop technical guidance, training materials,and capacity-building modules for internal teams and clients on topics including source water protection, water risk assessment, SBTN freshwater, watershed management, groundwater systems, and water balance analysis.
• Stay up to date with emerging methodologies, international frameworks, and regulatory developments related to water resources management, including SBTN freshwater guidance, AWS standard updates, TNFD, CDP Water, GRI, regulatory developments related to water in Indonesia and Southeast Asia, and other relevant standards in corporate water stewardship.

Stakeholder Engagement & Collaboration

• Collaborate with multidisciplinary teams across biodiversity, climate, ESG, and sustainability projects to ensure water-related considerations are effectively integrated into broader environmental strategies.
• Engage with corporate clients, government agencies, academia, industry associations, NGOs, and development partners throughout project implementation, technical discussions, and stakeholder consultations.
• Represent Bestari Sustainability in technical meetings, forums, workshops, conferences, and working groups related to water resources, water stewardship, and sustainable freshwater management, including those convened by SBTN, Water Stewardship Indonesia, KADIN Net Zero Hub, and other relevant platforms.
• Support strategic partnerships and business development initiatives to strengthen Bestari’s water advisory portfolio and expand opportunities across corporate, public, and development sectors.

What You Will Need

• Bachelor’s or (preferably) Master’s degree in Hydrogeology, Hydrology, Water Resources Engineering, Environmental Engineering, Civil Engineering (Water Resources), Environmental Science, or other relevant disciplines.
• Minimum 5 years of professional experience in projects related to water resources management, hydrology, environmental engineering, environmental consulting, water stewardship, or related fields.
• Possession of relevant national professional certifications is considered an advantage, including but not limited to:
  • Indonesian National Competency Certification (BNSP) and Construction Competency Certificate (SKK Konstruksi) in Water Resources Engineering, Hydrology, Hydrogeology, Environmental Engineering, or other relevant disciplines.
  • Indonesian Professional Engineer Certification (PII) (IPP, IPM, or IPU) or equivalent professional engineering registration.
  • Other professional credentials or certificates related to water stewardship, water resources management, hydrogeology, hydrology, or environmental management.
• GIS or spatial analysis certifications (e.g., Esri ArcGIS or equivalent) are considered an advantage.
• Strong technical knowledge of surface water and groundwater systems, including hydrological and hydrogeological assessments, watershed analysis, water balance studies, groundwater investigations, and water quality assessment.
• Experience in conducting or leading technical studies such as Source Water Vulnerability Assessment (SVA), water resources assessment, watershed assessment, groundwater assessment, water risk assessment, or similar projects.
• Familiarity with corporate water stewardship frameworks and assessment tools, such as SBTN freshwater guidance, Alliance for Water Stewardship (AWS), WRI Aqueduct 4.0, WWF Water Risk Filter, CDP Water,TNFD, or equivalent frameworks is highly desirable.
• Experience working with corporate, government, donor, or institutional clients on water-related projects, including technical advisory, stakeholder engagement, risk assessment, or target-setting engagements.
• Understanding of Indonesia’s water resources regulations, groundwater management, water abstraction permitting, water quality standards, and watershed governance. Knowledge of regional or international standards is an advantage.
• Demonstrated experience in analyzing and interpreting hydrological, hydrogeological, climate, GIS, and water-related datasets to support evidence-based decision making. Excellent technical writing and communication skills, with the ability to translate complex scientific analyses into practical recommendations for technical and non-technical audiences.
• Experience preparing technical proposals, methodologies, concept notes, or business development materials is considered an advantage.
• Proficiency in relevant analytical and GIS software (e.g. ArcGIS/QGIS, hydrological or hydrogeological modelling tools, Microsoft Office, and data analysis software such as Python, R, or equivalent) is preferred.
• Fluent in Bahasa Indonesia and English, both written and spoken.
• Demonstrated ability to work independently, manage multiple workstreams, and collaborate effectively within multidisciplinary consulting teams.

About Us

Bestari Sustainability (PT Sumberdaya Dunia Lestari) is a private advisory and implementation partner to address critical challenges that the world must overcome in order to secure a sustainable future for people and the planet. Our work includes but is not limited to sustainability, climate, and circular economy, where we aspire to be a long-term partner for our client by accelerating sustainability backed by science.

We are passionate. We value our diversity of interests, skills, and backgrounds. We have a flexible work environment. And we share a common goal to catalyze change that will improve the lives of people. Our shared ideals are at the core of our approach. They include integrity, innovation, urgency, independence, and respect.

The foundation of our work is delivering high-quality strategy, tools, and analysis to solve the world’s greatest environment by working with leaders in the public and private sector to drive ambitious action and create change.