Senior Researcher (2 positions)

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.

The UNU Institute for Water, Environment and Health (-INWEH) is one of 14 research and training Institutes that comprise the think tanks in the UNU system. UNU-INWEH’s vision is a world free of water problems where sustainable human development and environmental health and security are assured for all. Its mission is to help resolve pressing water, environmental, and health challenges that are of concern to the United Nations, its Member States, and their people. UNU-INWEH pursues its mission through critical analysis and synthesis of existing bodies of scientific discovery; targeted research that identifies emerging policy issues; application of on-the-ground scalable science-based solutions to grand water, environmental and health challenges; and global outreach.

Responsibilities:
Contingent upon the level of appointment, the incumbent is expected to:

1. Research, Contributions and Collaborations

• Lead one of the UNU-INWEH’s programs and contribute of a range of other projects at the institute in terms of technical input, project reporting,  preparation of outputs and products, and follow-up with external partners of assigned programs and projects.
• Direct the development and implementation of at least one UNU-INWEH’s future research and development areas.
• Bring in integrated, cross-thematic, and interdisciplinary approaches to addressing the grand global challenges while considering water, food, land, biodiversity, risks, and vulnerabilities amid climate change while considering research-policy bridging and advocacy dimensions.
• Provide technical expertise to UNU-INWEH’s other strategic areas of programs and projects.
  
• Supervise and coordinate project-related events and meetings, where required.
• Facilitate in developing contracts with partners, consultants, and contractors, and the implementation of these contracts to ensure timely and effective completion of tasks and disbursement of funds.
• Provide administrative role and management, as required, across projects and programs of UNU-INWEH. 

2. Capacity and Education Development

• Manage
  specific capacity building initiatives on the development of the future world leaders through, inter alia: (i) expanding UNU-INWEH’s online educational platforms by developing and launching new courses around expertise; (ii) coordinating curriculum development and teaching in the collaborative education programs of UNU-INWEH (e.g. Water Without Borders); (iii) attracting and supervising interns and externs, students, and young researchers, as required.

3.Knowledge sharing and Fundraising

• Lead fundraising activities of the institute, where required, including the development of cross-thematic and interdisciplinary proposals in collaboration with other program leaders at UNU-INWEH as well as in partnership with other institutions and professionals.
  
• Take lead and contribute, where needed, to the development of grant proposals, peer-reviewed publications, policy briefs, presentations, and related materials, as required.

Perform other duties as assigned by the supervisor and UNU-INWEH’s Director.

Key Performance Indicators

Education and certification

• PhD
  degree in water/environmental engineering or sciences, civil engineering,
  agricultural sciences/engineering, geography, ecology, economics, finance,
  political science, data sciences, public health, and other fields relevant to UNU-INWEH
  activity areas.

Experience

Required

• Six (6) years of post-PhD progressively responsible work experience.
• At least 3 years of work/research experience in one (preferably more) of these areas:
  

integrated water resources management

natural resource economics and/or policy/governance

Artificial Intelligence (AI) and water/environmental/climate/health/agriculture informatics

geospatial data analysis

climate change mitigation/adaptation

sustainability assessment and transmission

food-water-energy nexus

agri-food-systems

environmental/climate financial risk assessment

extreme events and compound risk analysis

green/sustainable/climate finance

energy systems

land use management

ecosystem service valuation

infrastructure resilience and security

conflict resolution and diplomacy (water, environment, climate, etc.)

environmental/climate/human security

coupled human-nature systems.

• Ability to conduct numerical analysis of complex datasets, and synthesis of findings from a wide body of literature in systematic/scoping reviews and policy briefs is a must.
• Result-oriented, self-motivated, and “hands-on” with the ability to prioritize work and do multi-tasking.
• Excellent writing, research, presentation, and networking skills.
• Experience of policy-oriented research and prior experience in project management (administration and financial aspects) are highly beneficial.
• Demonstrated ability to perform effectively in team-based research, incorporating interdisciplinary approaches.
• Experience with managing databases, word processing, and spreadsheet programs is essential.
• Demonstrated skills in developing and maintaining online tools will be an asset.
• Teaching experience at the undergraduate and postgraduate levels in the subject areas relevant to the activities of UNU-INWEH is highly beneficial.
  
• Experience in supervising undergraduate and post-graduate research is an advantage.
• Prior record of peer-reviewed publications in high-impact and interdisciplinary journals is required.
• Good understanding of various donor priorities. Prior experience in securing funding for research, development, education, and/or capacity building is advantageous.
• Experience in research communications and outreach to society/stakeholders is highly beneficial.
• 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.
• Prior UN work experience or experience of interacting with intergovernmental/governmental/non-government agencies is an advantage.

Language Requirements:

• Fluency in English is required.
• Knowledge of another UN official working language is an asset.

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.

Remuneration

The successful candidate will be employed under an 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.

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;
• Upload a completed and signed the UNU P11 form; kindly do not use similar forms provided by other United Nations organizations and
  do not submit your curriculum vitae;
• Must provide a motivational statement (in the P11 refer to number 23); setting out how your qualifications and experience match the requirements of the position instead of a cover letter;
• Answer a few questions that are tailored to the position;
• Only upload documents as requested.
• Applications submitted with additional documents may be disqualified.
• Applications that do not include all the requested information will not be considered.

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

Application Deadline

21 January 2024

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

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.

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