Research Associate

Job Title: Research Associate (KlimaKonform)

Organization: United Nations University (UNU)

Duty Station: Dresden, Sachsen, Germany

Salary: €3,187 per month

Job description

United Nations University (UNU)

UNU is an international community of scholars engaged in policy-oriented research, capacity development and dissemination of knowledge in furthering the purposes and principles of the Charter of the United Nations. The mission of UNU is to contribute, through research and capacity building, to efforts to resolve the pressing global problems that are the concern of the United Nations and its Member States.

For the past four decades, UNU has been a go-to think tank for impartial research on human survival, conflict prevention, sustainable development, and welfare. With more than 400 researchers in 12 countries, UNU's work spans the 17 Sustainable Development Goals' full breadth, generating policy-relevant knowledge to effect positive global change. UNU maintains more than 200 collaborations with UN agencies and leading universities and research institutions across the globe.
United Nations University Institute for Integrated Management of Material Fluxes and of Resources (UNU-FLORES)

UNU-FLORES is one of 13 research and training Institutes that comprise the think tanks in the UNU system. UNU-FLORES develops strategies to resolve pressing issues in the sustainable use and integrated management of environmental resources such as water, soil, waste, energy, and other geo-resources that concern the United Nations and its Member States – particularly in developing and emerging economies. Based in Dresden, Germany, the Institute engages in research, capacity development, postgraduate teaching, advanced training, and knowledge dissemination to advance the Resource Nexus. For more information, please visit https://flores.unu.edu/.

Project Description - Climate adaptation

German low mountain regions face particularly great challenges due to the increasing intensity and frequency of extreme events such as flash floods, droughts and storms. Municipalities in these regions need to develop strategies to adapt to climate change.

In the joint project KlimaKonform, UNU-FLORES aims to develop an innovative approach to determine the adaptation capacities to climate change for low mountain regions together with districts, selected sample municipalities, and practice partners. The focus of the work is the development of a management module for organisations. At the strategic level, internal strengths and weaknesses of the organisations are recorded and analysed. In addition, the external organisational environment in the form of local stakeholders is considered and DIN SPEC 35810 (stakeholder analysis) is further developed. At the operational level, the cost-benefit analysis is supported at the municipal or district level, where on the one hand the costs and benefits of action are compared with the costs and benefits of inaction and on the other hand barriers are identified. The results are integrated into organisational management.

Responsibilities

Under the overall authority of the Director of UNU-FLORES and direct supervision of the Adjunct Researcher, the incumbent will be responsible for the following tasks:

1. Conduct research on climate adaptation

• Support the Institute’s research projects related to advancing the resource nexus; including support for data analysis, and data collection;
• Manage day-to-day research activities from planning to implementation;
• Perform literature reviews and assist in the evaluation and examination of research; and
• Design and analysis of questionnaires and case studies.

2. Capacity Development

• Support with capacity development and outreach activities to relevant stakeholders; and
• Support with organising activities such as workshops related to the Research Programme.

3. Knowledge Sharing and Collaboration

• Provide timely updates and responses to partner organisations, organise and contribute to meetings with key stakeholders;
• Draft project deliverables and reports, and contribute to dissemination; and
• Contribute to publications and publish in peer-reviewed journal articles, books, and policy briefs.

4. Educational Development

• Mentor, supervise, and/or provide junior team members and interns as well as provide guidance to PhD and master’s students; and
• Contribute to the Institute’s teaching activities, especially e-learning and capacity development.

5. Institutional Development

• Support with the development of concepts for fundraising activities; and
• Actively contribute to ideas for Institutional development.

6. Perform other duties as assigned by the supervisor or the Director. 

Key Performance Indicators

• Timely and quality development and implementation of the assigned performance goals
• A high level of academic excellence, including co-authoring publications
• Quality and proactive level of engagement with UNU-FLORES partners (research partners, government, donors)
• Contribution to the positive reputation of UNU-FLORES as a reliable and trustworthy partner among research partners, governments, donors, and civil society

Competencies

Values:

• Inclusion - Take action to create an environment of dignity and respect for all, regardless of age, culture, disability, ethnicity, gender, gender identity, gender expression, geography, grade, language, nationality, racial identity, religion, sex, sex characteristics, sexual orientation, social origin or any other aspect of identity.
• Integrity - Act ethically, demonstrating the standards of conduct of the United Nations and taking prompt action in case of witnessing unprofessional or unethical behaviour, or any other breach of UN standards.
• Humility - Demonstrate self-awareness and willingness to learn from others.
• Humanity - Act according to the purposes of the United Nations: peace, dignity and equality on a healthy planet.

Behaviours:

• Connect and Collaborate - Build positive relationships with others to advance the work of the United Nations and work coherently as One UN
• Analyse and Plan - Seek out and use data from a wide range of sources to understand problems, inform decision-making, propose evidence-based solutions and plan action
• Deliver Results with Positive Impact - Hold oneself and others accountable for delivering results and making a positive difference to the people and causes that the United Nations serves
• Learn and Develop - Pursue own learning and development and contribute to the learning and development of others
• Adapt and Innovate - Demonstrate flexibility, agility and the ability to think and act in novel ways

Qualifications

• A PhD or equivalent in Business Administration, Economics, or another relevant field; a Master's degree or equivalent in Business Administration, Economics, or another relevant field with at least five (5) years of post-graduate research experience.

• Knowledge/experience of and sensitivity to the challenges faced by organisations operationally and strategically confronted with climate change developments;
• Excellent communications, writing, and analytical skills with experience in drafting reports, communications, and presentations is required;
• Experience and extensive knowledge of Microsoft Office; 
• Strong planning, organisation, and time management skills, with the ability to communicate clearly and efficiently;
• Must be flexible with the ability to establish priorities and work within prescribed timeframes;
• An excellent team player with strong interpersonal skills, as demonstrated by the ability to work in a multicultural, multi-ethnic environment with sensitivity and respect for diversity.
• Previous experience of environmental issues of the global south, regional experience and familiarity of the world’s complexities is beneficial;
• Experience with stakeholder engagement, outreach, and event organisation is an asset; and
• Experience with grant writing and fundraising would be desirable.

Remuneration

The successful candidate will be employed under a PSA contract. UNU offers an attractive compensation package, including a monthly net salary of EUR 3,187, commensurate with the experience and qualifications of the candidate. Benefits include 30 days annual leave and a health insurance scheme.

UNU is not liable for any taxes that may be levied on the remuneration you receive under this contract. Payment of any such taxes remains the sole responsibility of PSA holders.

Duration of contract

This is a Personnel Service Agreement (PSA) contract with UNU. The duration of the initial contract is ca. 6 months, depending on the starting date of the selected candidate. The duration of the PSA contract is aligned with the duration of the third-party funded project that is scheduled to expire on 30 June 2024. Please note that in general, the combined duration of a PSA contract with UNU may not exceed six (6) years. The mandatory age of retirement for PSA holders is 65 years.

Starting date

as soon as possible

How to Apply: 

To apply to UNU, you will not need an account. Instead, we ask that you: 

• Apply via the apply link; 
• fill out the UNU P11 form (please do not use similar forms provided by other United Nations organisations); 
• provide a motivation statement (in the P11 form); and 
• answer a few questions that are tailored to the position.

You may wish to refer to the UN Values and Behaviours Framework for more information.

Application Deadline: 12 October 2023

Assessment

Evaluation of qualified candidates may include an assessment exercise which may be followed by a competency-based interview, background checks, and references.

Special Notice

Staff members of the United Nations University are international civil servants subject to the Rector's authority. They may be assigned to any of the activities or offices of the United Nations University. The Rector reserves the right to appoint a candidate at a level below that advertised.

UNU is committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce, and encourages all candidates, irrespective of gender, nationality, religious and ethnic backgrounds, including persons living with disabilities to apply and become part of the organisation. Applications from developing countries, and from women are strongly encouraged. Eligible internal applicants are also encouraged to apply.

UNU has a zero-tolerance policy on conduct that is incompatible with the aims and objectives of the United Nations and UNU, including sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment, abuse of authority and discrimination.

Information about UNU rosters

UNU reserves the right to select one or more candidates from this vacancy announcement. We may also retain applications and consider candidates applying to this post for other similar positions with UNU at the same grade level and with similar job description, experience and educational requirements.

Scam warning

UNU does not charge any application, processing, training, interviewing, testing or other fee in connection with the application or recruitment process. Should you receive a solicitation for the payment of a fee, please disregard it. Furthermore, please note that emblems, logos, names and addresses are easily copied and reproduced. Therefore, you are advised to apply particular care when submitting personal information on the web.

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Educational Programme Associate

Job Title: Educational Programme Associate

Organization: United Nations University (UNU)

Duty Station: Dresden, Sachsen, Germany

Salary: €3,187 per month

Job description

United Nations University (UNU)

UNU is an international community of scholars engaged in policy-oriented research, capacity development and dissemination of knowledge in furthering the purposes and principles of the Charter of the United Nations. The mission of UNU is to contribute, through research and capacity building, to efforts to resolve the pressing global problems that are the concern of the United Nations and its Member States.

For the past four decades, UNU has been a go-to think tank for impartial research on human survival, conflict prevention, sustainable development, and welfare. With more than 400 researchers in 12 countries, UNU's work spans the 17 Sustainable Development Goals' full breadth, generating policy-relevant knowledge to effect positive global change. UNU maintains more than 200 collaborations with UN agencies and leading universities and research institutions across the globe.

United Nations University Institute for Integrated Management of Material Fluxes and of Resources (UNU-FLORES)

UNU-FLORES is one of 13 research and training Institutes that comprise the think tanks in the UNU system. UNU-FLORES develops strategies to resolve pressing issues in the sustainable use and integrated management of environmental resources such as water, soil, waste, energy, and other geo-resources that concern the United Nations and its Member States – particularly in developing and emerging economies. Based in Dresden, Germany, the Institute engages in research, capacity development, postgraduate teaching, advanced training, and knowledge dissemination to advance the Resource Nexus. For more information, please visit https://flores.unu.edu/.

Educational Programmes at UNU-FLORES

The educational programmes at UNU-FLORES span doctoral research programmes in collaboration with the strategic partner TU Dresden, and Master’s Thesis programmes. The successful candidate will work in close collaboration with the Head of Programme and its partner institutions to coordinate the programme management, lead the recruitments within the educational programmes, and implements the programmes with day-to-day activities. One focus is the NEXtra Doctoral Research Programme with approx. 55 doctoral student positions over the next 9 years.

Responsibilities

Under the overall authority of the Director of UNU-FLORES and the joint supervision of the Finance and Administrative Officer and the Head of Programme, the incumbent shall be responsible for the following duties:

1. Educational Programme Management (Administration)

• Coordinate the institute’s educational programmes;
• Coordinate third-party funded programmes (such as DAAD GSSP);
• Review and renewal of existing agreements; and
• Drive the educational strategy of the Institute.

2. Manage the recruitment and selection process for Doctoral Researchers

• Organise the selection process of Doctoral Researchers, including preparing vacancy announcements, evaluation, and screening of applications, arranging interviews, reference checks, liaising with the donor, and managing the recruitment documentation while ensuring the consistent application of the regulations and procedures; and
• Manage the administrative onboarding of new Doctoral Researchers, including managing the post hiring documentation.

3. Implement the Master’s Thesis and Doctoral Research Programmes

• Handle the general administration of the Master’s Thesis and Doctoral Research programmes, including contract extensions and providing advice and support to employees on human resources related matters;
• Schedule meetings, appointments, take minutes, and monitor deadlines concerning the Doctoral Research Programmes;
• Support the relationship and communications with the strategic partner TU Dresden;
• Oversee the performance management of Doctoral Students; and
• Create and maintain reference files, policies, and records in relation to the Programmes and/or students.

4. Provides support in Human Resources administrative services

• Assist with general HR-related administrative tasks;
• Assist with the administration of UNU-FLORES personnel contracts and agreements; and
• Provide guidance/training to colleagues.

5. Perform other duties as assigned by the supervisor or Director.

Key Performance Indicators

• Timely and quality development and implementation of the NEXtra and doctoral programmes recruitment strategy;
• Timely and quality development and implementation of the administrative tasks;
• Timely, complete, and accurate human resources transactions/activities/documentation;
• Information is easily available, and databases are up to date;
• Contribution to the positive reputation of UNU-FLORES as a reliable and trustworthy partner among research partners, governments, donors, and civil society;

Competencies

Values:

• Inclusion - Take action to create an environment of dignity and respect for all, regardless of age, culture, disability, ethnicity, gender, gender identity, gender expression, geography, grade, language, nationality, racial identity, religion, sex, sex characteristics, sexual orientation, social origin or any other aspect of identity.
• Integrity - Act ethically, demonstrating the standards of conduct of the United Nations and taking prompt action in case of witnessing unprofessional or unethical behaviour, or any other breach of UN standards.
• Humility - Demonstrate self-awareness and willingness to learn from others.
• Humanity - Act according to the purposes of the United Nations: peace, dignity and equality on a healthy planet.

Behaviours:

• Connect and Collaborate - Build positive relationships with others to advance the work of the United Nations and work coherently as One UN
• Analyse and Plan - Seek out and use data from a wide range of sources to understand problems, inform decision-making, propose evidence-based solutions and plan action
• Deliver Results with Positive Impact - Hold oneself and others accountable for delivering results and making a positive difference to the people and causes that the United Nations serves
• Learn and Develop - Pursue own learning and development and contribute to the learning and development of others
• Adapt and Innovate - Demonstrate flexibility, agility and the ability to think and act in novel ways

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s Degree in Human Resource Management, Business or Public Administration, Social Sciences, Education, or related field. Master’s degree or equivalent is desirable.

• Bachelor’s degree with five (5) years of professional experience in recruitment and selection, human resources, business administration, public administration, or a related field is required. Master’s degree with three (3) years of professional experience is desirable.
• Experience in an academic setting is required;
• Must be proficient in the use of MS Office applications (Word, Excel, PowerPoint etc);
• Experience in drafting job descriptions/vacancy announcements, communications, and presentations is required;
• Experience with recruitment and selection, human resources, business administration, or a related field is mandatory; experience with academic recruitment is highly desirable;
• Possesses advanced knowledge of organisational policy and procedures relating to Human Resources and applies them consistently;
• Proven ability to handle sensitive and confidential information;
• Strong planning, organisation, and time management skills, with the ability to communicate clearly and efficiently;
• Must be flexible with the ability to establish priorities and work within prescribed timeframes;
• An excellent team player with strong interpersonal skills, as demonstrated by the ability to work in a multicultural, multi-ethnic environment with sensitivity and respect for diversity;
• HR certification from a reputable institution is a distinct advantage.

Remuneration

The successful candidate will be employed under a PSA contract. UNU offers an attractive compensation package, including a monthly net salary of EUR 3,187, commensurate with the experience and qualifications of the candidate. Benefits include 30 days annual leave and a health insurance scheme.

UNU is not liable for any taxes that may be levied on the remuneration you receive under this contract. Payment of any such taxes remains the sole responsibility of PSA holders.

Duration of contract

The duration of the initial contract is 1 year. This is Personnel Service Agreement (PSA) contract with UNU, with the possibility for renewal subject to requirements and satisfactory work performance. The combined duration of a PSA contract with UNU may not exceed six (6) years. The mandatory age of retirement for PSA holders is 65 years.

Starting date

as soon as possible

How to Apply: 

To apply to UNU, you will not need an account. Instead, we ask that you: 

• Apply via the apply link; 
• fill out the UNU P11 form (please do not use similar forms provided by other United Nations organisations); 
• provide a motivation statement (in the P11 form); and 
• answer a few questions that are tailored to the position. You may wish to refer to the UN Values and Behaviours Framework for more information. 

You may wish to refer to the UN Values and Behaviours Framework for more information.

Application Deadline: 19 October 2023

Assessment

Evaluation of qualified candidates may include an assessment exercise which may be followed by a competency-based interview, background checks, and references.

Special Notice

Staff members of the United Nations University are international civil servants subject to the Rector's authority. They may be assigned to any of the activities or offices of the United Nations University. The Rector reserves the right to appoint a candidate at a level below that advertised.

UNU is committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce, and encourages all candidates, irrespective of gender, nationality, religious and ethnic backgrounds, including persons living with disabilities to apply and become part of the organisation. Applications from developing countries, and from women are strongly encouraged. Eligible internal applicants are also encouraged to apply.

UNU has a zero-tolerance policy on conduct that is incompatible with the aims and objectives of the United Nations and UNU, including sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment, abuse of authority and discrimination.

Information about UNU rosters

UNU reserves the right to select one or more candidates from this vacancy announcement. We may also retain applications and consider candidates applying to this post for other similar positions with UNU at the same grade level and with similar job description, experience and educational requirements.

Scam warning

UNU does not charge any application, processing, training, interviewing, testing or other fee in connection with the application or recruitment process. Should you receive a solicitation for the payment of a fee, please disregard it. Furthermore, please note that emblems, logos, names and addresses are easily copied and reproduced. Therefore, you are advised to apply particular care when submitting personal information on the web.

Apply Now

Government Fellows – 8 Positions per year

Government Fellows (Consultant contract - CTC) – 8 positions per year – ROSTER

Organization: United Nations University (UNU)

Duty Station: Guimaraes, Braga, Portugal

Job description

About United Nations University

The United Nations University (UNU) is an international community of scholars engaged in policy-oriented research, capacity development and dissemination of knowledge in furthering the purposes and principles of the Charter of the United Nations. The mission of UNU is to contribute, through research and capacity building, to efforts to resolve the pressing global problems that are the concern of the United Nations and its Member States. For the past four decades, UNU has been a go-to think tank for impartial research on human survival, conflict prevention, sustainable development, and welfare. With more than 400 researchers in 12 countries, UNU's work spans the 17 Sustainable Development Goals' full breadth, generating policy-relevant knowledge to effect positive global change. UNU maintains more than 200 collaborations with UN agencies and leading universities and research institutions across the globe. For more information, please visit http://unu.edu.

About United Nations University Operating Unit on Policy-Driven Electronic Governance (UNU-EGOV)

The United Nations University Operating Unit on Policy-Driven Electronic Governance (UNU-EGOV), based in the city of Guimarães, north of Portugal, is one of 14 research and training Institutes and Units that comprise the UNU system. The mission of UNU-EGOV is to support the Member States of the United Nations in transforming the mechanisms of governance and building effective governance capabilities through strategic applications of Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) to contribute to sustainable development, social inclusion and active citizenship. As a think tank and research unit, UNU-EGOV combines both classical research and consultancy projects.

In fulfilment of its purpose UNU-EGOV:

• carries out policy-relevant research;
• translates research findings into relevant policy instruments;
• builds capacity in localizing and applying such instruments within and among governments clients and partners within the UN system, academic and other relevant organizations;
• builds and maintains research and policy networks to share the lessons learnt, foster mutual learning, and bridge research and policy worlds; and
• monitors, evaluates and disseminates the latest developments in the area. For more information, please visit http://egov.unu.edu.

The UNU-EGOV Core Research Programme 2020-2024 is dedicated to the theme of “Governance and digital transformation for inclusive, resilient and sustainable societies”. It aims to consolidate and exploit the existing knowledge as well as to explore new learning to reach inclusion, development, sustainability and security worldwide.

Furthermore, it investigates the current and new digital governance challenges for a resilient society.

Research topics approached in the Core Research Programme include:

• Governance models and strategies for digital transformation of the public sector and society at large; 
• Smart and sustainable cities and communities;
• Standards and regulatory issues related to interoperability, usability, data and privacy protection;
• Technology-enabled innovation including models, capacities and specific emerging concepts and technologies; 
• Big data and AI including data capture, maintenance and data exchange;
• Technological service delivery, administrative burden reduction and anti-corruption, etc.

For more information, please visit http://egov.unu.edu.

Responsibilities

UNU-EGOV is recruiting eight (8) Government Fellows for a period of three months to contribute to its research, projects and activities. Two (2) Government Fellows will be recruited for every period starting on 1 January, 1 April, 1 July, and 1 October each year. The cut-off date and the selection will be made on 15 October each year. For example, for candidates that want to be fellows next year (2024), the application deadline is 15 October 2023.

Successful candidates will join international and multi-disciplinary project teams supervised by UNU-EGOV research staff.

The responsibilities will include:

• Developing real-life case studies, supported by experience of the applicant’s own organization and research developed at UNU-EGOV;

• Translating research results into relevant policy instruments;

• Applying and validating the instruments in the own organization/country;

• Developing and reviewing project deliverables;

• Disseminating project results in the own organization/country; and

• Contributing to further development of UNU-EGOV.

The candidate's research interests should be aligned with at least one of the research areas of the UNU-EGOV core research program.

Key Performance Indicators

• Quality of work produced.
• Level of engagement achieved between UNU-EGOV and their respective institutions.
• Timely and quality support on project development.

Competencies 

Values:

Inclusion — take action to create an environment of dignity and respect for all, regardless of age, culture, disability, ethnicity, gender, gender identity, gender expression, geography, grade, language, nationality, racial identity, religion, sex, sex characteristics, sexual orientation, social origin or any other aspect of identity

Integrity — act ethically, demonstrating the standards of conduct of the United Nations and taking prompt action in case of witnessing unprofessional or unethical behaviour, or any other breach of UN standards

Humility — demonstrate self-awareness and willingness to learn from others

Humanity — act according to the purposes of the United Nations: peace, dignity and equality on a healthy planet

Behaviours:

Connect and collaborate — build positive relationships with others to advance the work of the United Nations and work coherently as One UN

Analyse and plan — seek out and use data from a wide range of sources to understand problems, inform decision-making, propose evidence-based solutions and plan action

Deliver results with positive impact — hold oneself and others accountable for delivering results and making a positive difference to the people and causes that the United Nations serves

Learn and develop — pursue own learning and development and contribute to the learning and development of others

Adapt and innovate — demonstrate flexibility, agility and the ability to think and act in novel ways

Qualifications

Education and Certification:

At least to have completed bachelor’s degree in Informatics, Information Systems, Public Administration, Public Policy, Development Management, Economics, Communication Sciences, Sociology, Law or a related discipline;

Experience:

Required

• Civil servant or international civil servant status within public administration, government, or intergovernmental organization, holding executive or professional responsibility for public sector technology, modernization, and innovation.
• National or international-level policy and project experience.
• Knowledge of the public sector and public policy issues.

Desirable 

• Ability to work in a team and result orientation.
• Excellent organizational and communication skills.
• Ability to work in multi-cultural and multi-ethnic environments.

Language Requirements:

Fluency in spoken and written English is required.

Fluency in other UN languages is an advantage.

Remuneration and Duration of contract

The successful candidate shall work under a Consultant Contract (CTC) for a fixed period of three (3) months. The successful candidate will be based in Guimarães, Portugal and will not hold international civil servant status nor will he/she be a “staff member” as defined in the United Nations Staff Rules and Regulations.

A monthly payment of EUR 745 and free accommodation in Guimarães (except utility costs) will be provided, upon availability. However, it is expected that the applicant’s own organization will cover the costs related to travel between the home location and Guimarães as well as medical, life and travel insurance.

How to Apply:

To apply to UNU, you will not need an account. Instead, we ask that you to:

• use the "APPLY" link below.
• submit a UNU P11 Form. Applicants must indicate in section 28 how their experience matches the requirements of the position. Please avoid using similar forms provided by other United Nations organizations.
• submit a curriculum vitae.
• provide a supporting letter from the applicants’ own organization, pledging to support the application if successful and explicitly stating the interest of the organization in this fellowship and further collaboration with UNU-EGOV.

You may wish to refer to the UN Values and Behaviours Framework for more information.

Application Deadline: 15 October  

The cut-off date will be 15 October for each year (for example, for candidates that want to be fellows in 2024, the cut-off date to apply will be 15 October 2023).

Assessment

Applications will be evaluated by the Selection Committee against the required qualifications and experience. 

Candidates selected for the second phase will be required to submit:

• a 15-minute self-recorded video presenting his/her organization (objectives, structure, emblematic projects, role of the candidate within), some relevant projects in which the candidate has been involved, motivation and expectations for the fellowship.

Special Notice 

UNU is committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce, and encourages all candidates, irrespective of gender, nationality, religious and ethnic backgrounds, including persons living with disabilities to apply and become part of the organisation.

UNU has a zero-tolerance policy on conduct that is incompatible with the aims and objectives of the United Nations and UNU, including sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment, abuse of authority and discrimination.

Information about UNU rosters

UNU reserves the right to select one or more candidates from this vacancy announcement. We may also retain applications and consider candidates applying to this post for positions with similar job description, experience and educational requirements.

Scam warning

UNU does not charge any application, processing, training, interviewing, testing or other fee in connection with the application or recruitment process. Should you receive a solicitation for the payment of a fee, please disregard it. Furthermore, please note that emblems, logos, names and addresses are easily copied and reproduced. Therefore, you are advised to apply particular care when submitting personal information on the web.

Apply Now

Associate Academic Officer

Job Title: Associate Academic Officer – Vulnerability & Impact-based Early Warning / Project Manager

Organization: United Nations University (UNU)

Grade: PSA5/6

Duty Station: Bonn, Nordrhein-Westfalen, Germany

Job description

About UN University (UNU)

The United Nations University (UNU) is an international community of scholars engaged in policy-oriented research, capacity development and dissemination of knowledge in furthering the purposes and principles of the Charter of the United Nations. The mission of UNU is to contribute, through research and capacity building, to efforts to resolve the pressing global problems that are the concern of the United Nations and its Member States.

For the past four decades, UNU has been a go-to think tank for impartial research on human survival, conflict prevention, sustainable development, and welfare. With more than 400 researchers in 12 countries, UNU's work spans the 17 Sustainable Development Goals' full breadth, generating policy-relevant knowledge to effect positive global change. UNU maintains more than 200 collaborations with UN agencies and leading universities and research institutions across the globe. For more information, please visit http://unu.edu

United Nations University Institute for Environment and Human Security (UNU-EHS):

UNU-EHS, established in December 2003, is part of the UNU system, a worldwide network of Research and Training Institutes. Its mission is to advance human security through knowledge-based approaches to reducing vulnerability and environmental risks. For more information, please visit www.ehs.unu.edu.

Vulnerability Assessment, Risk Management & Adaptive Planning (VARMAP) division:

The VARMAP division conducts policy-oriented research on systemic risks and pathways to sustainability in the context of climate change. Its vision is to provide actionable knowledge for climate-resilient futures. VARMAP has a strong track record in developing and applying conceptual frameworks to understand the complex nature of risks. VARMAP explores opportunities for risk reduction and examines diverse adaptation options and pathways towards sustainability and resilient societies. Supporting informed decision-making by digital means and ensuring an inclusive and just digitalization are of growing importance in VARMAP’s work. VARMAP helps to implement the UN’s 2030 Development Agenda, the Sendai Framework, the Paris Agreement and other sustainability-oriented international initiatives. VARMAP convenes an interdisciplinary team and works with a wide network of partners from science and practice. The division draws on mixed methods approaches, integrating qualitative and quantitative tools. It unites a global orientation with empirical work in Europe, Africa, Asia and the Americas.

The EWS-IGAD project:

Contributing to the “Early Warnings for All" (EW4All) initiative of the United Nations, the EWS-IGAD (“Towards actionable impact-based early warning in Africa: integrating exposure and vulnerability into early warning systems – a pilot study in the IGAD region”) project seeks to expand existing hazard-based early warning systems (EWS) towards actionable impact-based EWS that also consider exposure and vulnerability. Thereby, the focus will be on floods and droughts and the risks associated with these hazards, (including multiple assets, sectors or systems) with the aim to co-develop an approach and methodology that can be extended to other climate-related extremes and natural hazards. The project will focus on the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) region in Eastern Africa and include a regional component covering the entire IGAD region and two country pilots (i.e. Ethiopia, Kenya). The project aims to provide recommendations for upscaling and transferring the approach and methodology to other countries and regions on the African continent and to make impact-based EW messages actionable. Training activities shall strengthen capacities of relevant stakeholders to design, implement, and scale up impact-based EWS.

Responsibilities 

Under the authority of the Vice-Rector/Director of UNU-EHS and the direct co-supervision of the Head of the VARMAP division and the Academic Officer/PI of the project, the successful candidate will support activities related to project management, and will be entrusted with the following tasks:

1. Integrating exposure and vulnerability into early warning systems

• Taking a leading role in the co-development of an innovative approach and methodology for impact-based early warning in the IGAD region (incl. types of exposed elements and their vulnerabilities, triggers, thresholds) in close collaboration with project partners and relevant stakeholders
• Identify lessons learned from existing impact-based EWS in a selected number of countries outside the IGAD region through desk study and key informant interviews with relevant agencies
• Support the co-creation of conceptual risk models for impact-based early warning building on and following the impact chain methodology in the two pilots (Kenya, Ethiopia). These conceptual models will focus on the most relevant impacts of floods and droughts in the pilots and their underlying risk drivers.
• Take a leading role in the development of vulnerability information and data for different elements (e.g. population, economic sectors, infrastructure) in the IGAD region and county pilots
• Conduct research on how to make impact-based warning information actionable for relevant stakeholders

2. (Co-)author research outputs and lead outreach activities

• Take a leading role in the preparation of scientific outputs from the project including a policy brief and publications in peer-reviewed journals
• Present results at relevant events and scientific and policy-relevant conferences;

3. Project management and reporting

• Coordinate with project partners and relevant stakeholders and ensure timely reporting to the donor
• Take a leading role in the preparation of annual project and financial reports and all other project related outputs
• Lead the verification of project reports from project partners

4. Contribute to capacity building in the project and teaching activities at UNU-EHS

• Support project partners in the identification of capacity strengthening needs of relevant actors in the country pilots and the implementation of capacity strengthening activities in the project (e.g. webinars, training sessions)
• As required, contribute to ongoing teaching and education activities at UNU-EHS, incl. supervision of MSc theses

5. Beyond the EWS-IGAD project

• Identify and lead third party funding application in VARMAP division in related to the mission and vision of UNU-EHS
• Liaison with other UN agencies and partner institutions on matters pertaining to the mission and vision of UNU-EHS, in particular early warning and actionable knowledge
• Perform other duties as assigned by supervisor

The TORs above are primarily for Associate Academic Officer (PSA6). In case the position was offered as Project

Manager (PSA5), the TORs might be slightly revised.

Key Performance Indicators

• Quality development of innovative research approaches
• Timely and quality development and delivery of outputs from the IGAD-EWS project
• Quality and level of engagement with project and implementation partners
• Creation and dissemination of scientifically informed policy outputs pertaining to impact-based early warning
• UNU is seen as a reliable and trustworthy partner by research partners, governments, donors, and civil society

Competencies

Values:

• Inclusion —Take action to create an environment of dignity and respect for all, regardless of age, culture, disability, ethnicity, gender, gender identity, gender expression, geography, grade, language, nationality, racial identity, religion, sex, sex characteristics, sexual orientation, social origin or any other aspect of identity
• Integrity — Act ethically, demonstrating the standards of conduct of the United Nations and taking prompt action in case of witnessing unprofessional or unethical behaviour, or any other breach of UN standards
• Humility — Demonstrate self-awareness and willingness to learn from others
• Humanity — Act according to the purposes of the United Nations: peace, dignity and equality on a healthy planet

Behaviours:

• Connect and Collaborate — Build positive relationships with others to advance the work of the United Nations and work coherently as One UN
• Analyze and Plan — Seek out and use data from a wide range of sources to understand problems, inform decision-making, propose evidence-based solutions and plan action
• Deliver Results with Positive Impact — Hold oneself and others accountable for delivering results and making a positive difference to the people and causes that the United Nations serves
• Learn and Develop — Pursue own learning and development and contribute to the learning and development of others
• Adapt and Innovate — Demonstrate flexibility, agility and the ability to think and act in novel ways

Qualifications

Education and certification

• Completed PhD or MSc (or equivalent) in environmental, natural or social sciences, geography, climate impact studies, or another related field. PhD is required for Associate Academic Officer (PSA6 level).

Experience

Required

• At least one year of post-doctoral work experience for Associate Academic Officer (PSA6) or at least four years of progressively responsible professional experience after the completion of the MSc degree for Project Manager (PSA5) in the field of vulnerability and risk assessment, early warning and/or climate services;
• Strong research and publication profile in vulnerability and risk concepts and methods for their assessment;
• Experience in drafting reports, policy briefs, and delivering presentations;

Desired

• Experience with participatory research is a strong asset;
• Work experience and existing professional networks in countries of the IGAD region are a strong asset;
• Experience in the field of actionable knowledge is an asset;
• Sound communication skills including the ability to present the work in front of different stakeholders is a strong asset;
• Experience with project management preferably in an international and multi-cultural environment and writing proposals for third-party funding is desired;
• Previous experience in teaching at the BSc/MSc-level, including the supervision of BSc or MSc-theses;
• Other Desirable Skills: Initiative taking, strong conceptual and methodological abilities, drafting ability

Language Requirements

• Fluency in English both oral and written, is required;
• Knowledge of another UN official working language is an asset.
• Knowledge of any local language in the two pilot countries (Kenya, Ethiopia) is an asset

Remuneration

The successful candidate will be employed under a national PSA contract. UNU offers an attractive compensation package including an annual net salary, commensurate with the experience and qualifications of the candidate. Benefits include 30 days annual leave and a health insurance scheme.

UNU is not liable for any taxes that may be levied on the remuneration you receive under this contract. Payment of any such taxes remains the sole responsibility of PSA holders.

Duration of contract

This is a full-time employment on a twelve (12) months Personnel Service Agreement (PSA) contract with possibility for renewal subject to requirements and satisfactory work performance, with the combined duration of appointments not exceeding six (6) years. The mandatory age of retirement for PSA holders is 65 years.

This post is open to applicants from all countries and UNU will aid the successful applicant in securing a work visa for Germany, as necessary. It is, however, a locally recruited post and no relocation allowances apply. The duty station will be Bonn, Germany.

Expected start date: As soon as possible

How to Apply:

To apply to UNU, you will not need an account. Instead, we ask that you:

• Fill out the UNU P11 form (please avoid using similar forms provided by other United Nations organisations);
• provide a motivation statement (in the P11 form);
• provide a cover letter setting out how the qualifications and experience match the requirements of the position; 
• answer a few questions that are tailored to the position; and
• apply via the apply link.

You may wish to refer to the UN Values and Behaviours Framework for more information.

Application Deadline: 12 September 2023

Assessment

Evaluation of qualified candidates may include an assessment exercise which may be followed by a competency-based interview, background checks and references.

Special notice

PSA holders do no hold international civil servant status nor are they considered a “staff member” as defined in the UN Staff Rules and Regulations.

UNU is committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce, and encourages all candidates, irrespective of gender, nationality, religious and ethnic backgrounds, including persons living with disabilities to apply and become part of the organization. Applications from developing countries, and from women are strongly encouraged. Eligible internal applicants are also encouraged to apply.

UNU has a zero-tolerance policy on conduct that is incompatible with the aims and objectives of the United Nations and UNU, including sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment, abuse of authority and discrimination.

Information about UNU rosters

UNU reserves the right to select one or more candidates from this vacancy announcement. We may also retain applications and consider candidates applying to this post for other similar positions with UNU.

Scam warning

UNU does not charge any application, processing, training, interviewing, testing or other fee in connection with the application or recruitment process. Should you receive a solicitation for the payment of a fee, please disregard it. Furthermore, please note that emblems, logos, names and addresses are easily copied and reproduced. Therefore, you are advised to apply particular care when submitting personal information on the web.

Apply Now

Research Associate

Job Title: Research Associate – Spatial Vulnerability Assessment

Organization: United Nations University (UNU)

Duty Station: Bonn, Nordrhein-Westfalen, Germany

Job description

About UN University (UNU)

The United Nations University (UNU) is an international community of scholars engaged in policy-oriented research, capacity development and dissemination of knowledge in furthering the purposes and principles of the Charter of the United Nations. The mission of UNU is to contribute, through research and capacity building, to efforts to resolve the pressing global problems that are the concern of the United Nations and its Member States.

For the past four decades, UNU has been a go-to think tank for impartial research on human survival, conflict prevention, sustainable development, and welfare. With more than 400 researchers in 12 countries, UNU's work spans the 17 Sustainable Development Goals' full breadth, generating policy-relevant knowledge to effect positive global change. UNU maintains more than 200 collaborations with UN agencies and leading universities and research institutions across the globe. For more information, please visit http://unu.edu

United Nations University Institute for Environment and Human Security (UNU-EHS):

UNU-EHS, established in December 2003, is part of the UNU system, a worldwide network of Research and Training Institutes. Its mission is to advance human security through knowledge-based approaches to reducing vulnerability and environmental risks. For more information, please visit www.ehs.unu.edu. 

Vulnerability Assessment, Risk Management & Adaptive Planning (VARMAP) division:

The VARMAP division conducts policy-oriented research on systemic risks and pathways to sustainability in the context of climate change. Its vision is to provide actionable knowledge for climate-resilient futures. VARMAP has a strong track record in developing and applying conceptual frameworks to understand the complex nature of risks. VARMAP explores opportunities for risk reduction and examines diverse adaptation options and pathways towards sustainability and resilient societies. Supporting informed decision-making by digital means and ensuring an inclusive and just digitalization are of growing importance in VARMAP’s work. VARMAP helps to implement the UN’s 2030 Development Agenda, the Sendai Framework, the Paris Agreement and other sustainability-oriented international initiatives. VARMAP convenes an interdisciplinary team and works with a wide network of partners from science and practice. The division draws on mixed methods approaches, integrating qualitative and quantitative tools. It unites a global orientation with empirical work in Europe, Africa, Asia and the Americas.

The EWS-IGAD project:

Contributing to the “Early Warnings for All" (EW4All) initiative of the United Nations, the EWS-IGAD (“Towards actionable impact-based early warning in Africa: integrating exposure and vulnerability into early warning systems – a pilot study in the IGAD region”) project seeks to expand existing hazard-based early warning systems (EWS) towards actionable impact- based EWS that also consider exposure and vulnerability. Thereby, the focus will be on floods and droughts and the risks associated with these hazards, (including multiple assets, sectors or systems) with the aim to co-develop an approach and methodology that can be extended to other climate-related extremes and natural hazards. The project will focus on the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) region in Eastern Africa and include a regional component covering the entire IGAD region and two country pilots (i.e. Ethiopia, Kenya). The project aims to provide recommendations for upscaling and transferring the approach and methodology to other countries and regions on the African continent and to make impact-based EW messages actionable. Training activities shall strengthen capacities of relevant stakeholders to design, implement, and scale up impact-based EWS.

Responsibilities 

Under the authority of the Vice-Rector/Director of UNU-EHS and the direct co-supervision of the Head of the VARMAP division and the Academic Officer/PI of the project, the successful candidate will be entrusted with the following tasks:

1. Vulnerability assessment for impact-based early warning

• Support the co-development of an innovative approach and methodology for impact-based early warning in the IGAD region (incl. types of exposed elements and their vulnerabilities, triggers, thresholds) in close collaboration with project partners and relevant stakeholders
• Support the co-creation of conceptual risk models for impact-based early warning building on and following the impact chain methodology in the two pilots (Kenya, Ethiopia). These conceptual models will focus on the most relevant impacts of floods and droughts in the pilots and their underlying risk drivers (incl. exposure & vulnerability).
• Support the acquisition of socio-economic data (e.g. census data, etc.) for different exposed elements and vulnerability drivers in the two country pilots (Kenya, Ethiopia) and the wider IGAD region
• Take a leading role in the statistical and spatial analysis of socio-economic data (e.g. census data, etc.) for different exposed elements and vulnerability drivers in the two country pilots (Kenya, Ethiopia) and the wider IGAD region
• Take a leading role in the development of spatial vulnerability data for different exposed elements (e.g. population, economic sectors, infrastructure) in the two country pilots and the IGAD region

2. Co-author research outputs and contribute to capacity strengthening and outreach activities

• Support project partners in the identification of capacity strengthening needs of relevant actors in the country pilots and the implementation of capacity strengthening activities in the project (e.g. webinars, training sessions)
• Support the preparation of scientific outputs from the project including a policy brief and publications in peer-reviewed journals
• Support the presentation of results at relevant events and scientific and policy-relevant conferences;

3. Support the project management of the IGAD-EWS project

• Support the preparation of annual project and financial reports and all other project related outputs
• Support the verification of project reports from project partners

4. Perform other duties as assigned by supervisor

Key Performance Indicators

• Quality development of innovative research approaches
• Timely and quality collection and analysis of relevant primary and secondary data
• Timely and quality delivery on milestones and deliverables in the IGAD-EWS project
• Quality and level of engagement with project team and implementation partners

Competencies

Values:

• Inclusion —Take action to create an environment of dignity and respect for all, regardless of age, culture, disability, ethnicity, gender, gender identity, gender expression, geography, grade, language, nationality, racial identity, religion, sex, sex characteristics, sexual orientation, social origin or any other aspect of identity
• Integrity — Act ethically, demonstrating the standards of conduct of the United Nations and taking prompt action in case of witnessing unprofessional or unethical behaviour, or any other breach of UN standards
• Humility — Demonstrate self-awareness and willingness to learn from others
• Humanity — Act according to the purposes of the United Nations: peace, dignity and equality on a healthy planet

Behaviours:

• Connect and Collaborate — Build positive relationships with others to advance the work of the United Nations and work coherently as One UN
• Analyze and Plan — Seek out and use data from a wide range of sources to understand problems, inform decision-making, propose evidence-based solutions and plan action
• Deliver Results with Positive Impact — Hold oneself and others accountable for delivering results and making a positive difference to the people and causes that the United Nations serves
• Learn and Develop — Pursue own learning and development and contribute to the learning and development of others
• Adapt and Innovate — Demonstrate flexibility, agility and the ability to think and act in novel ways

Qualifications

Education and certification

• Completed Master's degree or equivalent in environmental, natural or social sciences, geography, climate impact studies, or another related field

Experience

Required

• At least one year of progressively responsible professional experience in the field of spatial vulnerability and risk assessment with particular focus on climate change or hydrological extremes (notably floods, droughts);
• Knowledge of vulnerability and risk concepts and methods for their assessment;
• Experience in statistical (e.g. using Excel, SPSS, STATA, R or other) and spatial data analysis (e.g. using Geographic Information Systems or spatial modelling approaches);

Desired

• Experience with stakeholder consultation is a strong asset
• Experience in drafting reports, policy briefs, and presentations is an asset;
• Work experience in countries of the IGAD region is a strong asset;
• Other Desirable Skills: Initiative taking, strong conceptual and methodological abilities, drafting ability

Language Requirements

• Fluency in English both oral and written, is required;
• Knowledge of another UN official working language is an asset.
• Knowledge of any local language in the two pilot countries (Kenya, Ethiopia) is an asset

Remuneration

The successful candidate will be employed under a national PSA contract. UNU offers an attractive compensation package including an annual net salary, commensurate with the experience and qualifications of the candidate. Benefits include 30 days annual leave and a health insurance scheme.

UNU is not liable for any taxes that may be levied on the remuneration you receive under this contract. Payment of any such taxes remains the sole responsibility of PSA holders.

Duration of contract

This is a full-time employment on a twelve (12) months Personnel Service Agreement (PSA) contract with possibility for renewal subject to requirements and satisfactory work performance, with the combined duration of appointments not exceeding six (6) years. The mandatory age of retirement for PSA holders is 65 years.

This post is open to applicants from all countries and UNU will aid the successful applicant in securing a work visa for Germany, as necessary. It is, however, a locally recruited post and no relocation allowances apply. The duty station will be Bonn, Germany.

Expected start date: As soon as possible

How to Apply:

To apply to UNU, you will not need an account. Instead, we ask that you:

• Fill out the UNU P11 form (please avoid using similar forms provided by other United Nations organisations);
• provide a motivation statement (in the P11 form);
• provide a cover letter setting out how the qualifications and experience match the requirements of the position; 
• answer a few questions that are tailored to the position; and
• apply via the apply link.

You may wish to refer to the UN Values and Behaviours Framework for more information.

Application Deadline: 12 September 2023

Assessment

Evaluation of qualified candidates may include an assessment exercise which may be followed by a competency-based interview, background checks and references.

Special notice

PSA holders do no hold international civil servant status nor are they considered a “staff member” as defined in the UN Staff Rules and Regulations.

UNU is committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce, and encourages all candidates, irrespective of gender, nationality, religious and ethnic backgrounds, including persons living with disabilities to apply and become part of the organization. Applications from developing countries, and from women are strongly encouraged. Eligible internal applicants are also encouraged to apply.

UNU has a zero-tolerance policy on conduct that is incompatible with the aims and objectives of the United Nations and UNU, including sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment, abuse of authority and discrimination.

Information about UNU rosters

UNU reserves the right to select one or more candidates from this vacancy announcement. We may also retain applications and consider candidates applying to this post for other similar positions with UNU.

Scam warning

UNU does not charge any application, processing, training, interviewing, testing or other fee in connection with the application or recruitment process. Should you receive a solicitation for the payment of a fee, please disregard it. Furthermore, please note that emblems, logos, names and addresses are easily copied and reproduced. Therefore, you are advised to apply particular care when submitting personal information on the web.

Apply Now