Researcher - Geospatial and Climate Analytics - PSA (2 positions) - Richmond Hill (Greater Toronto Area), Canada

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.

About United Nations University Institute for Water, Environment and Health (UNU-INWEH)

UNU-INWEH, headquartered in Richmond Hill (Greater Toronto Area, Canada), is one of 14 research and training institutions that comprise the think tanks in the UNU system. UNU-INWEH’s vision is a world free of water, environmental and health problems where sustainable development, environmental health, and human 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

• Play a significant role in UNU-INWEH’s initiatives and projects on advanced geospatial analytics, machine learning, and artificial intelligence (AI) solutions to analyze and visualize climate and environmental data, with a focus on extreme events (e.g., flood, drought, wildfire, heatwaves, and sand and dust storms), environmental changes (e.g. deforestation, desertification, land subsidence, air quality, groundwater, etc.), and other environmental and climate risks affecting natural, infrastructure, and socio-economic systems;
• Interact with individual researchers and interdisciplinary teams to integrate complex climate and environmental data into decision-making tools and applications and interactive visualizations for diverse stakeholders;
• Stay at the forefront of emerging technologies in geospatial analytics, informatics, and AI, providing technical guidance and contributing to the dissemination of research through reports, publications, and presentations;
• Support the activities of UNU-INWEH’s online Learning Centre (https://lc.unu.edu/), which provides university students, and practicing water, environment, and health professionals with an opportunity to strengthen their capacity in several focused and multidisciplinary learning areas;
• Provide technical expertise to UNU-INWEH’s other strategic areas of programs and projects.

2. Contributions and Collaborations

• Serve as a major contributor to the further development of the UNU-INWEH’s Geospatial, Climate, and Infrastructure Analytics Program and the UNU Sustainability Nexus AID (Analytics, Informatics and Data) Programme.
• Contribute to integrated, cross-thematic, and interdisciplinary approaches to addressing global challenges related to climate change, particularly focusing on risks and vulnerabilities related to extreme events and natural disasters, and the application of geospatial analytics, machine learning, and AI, while considering research-policy bridging and advocacy dimensions.
• Contribute to the development and implementation of UNU-INWEH’s future research and development areas related to geospatial analytics, climate data processing and visualization, and environmental informatics.
• Provide technical expertise to UNU-INWEH’s other strategic areas of programs and projects, where applicable.
• Assist in developing contracts with partners, consultants, and contractors, and supporting the implementation of these contracts to ensure timely and effective completion of tasks and disbursement of funds, where applicable.
• Provide administrative support, as required, across projects and programs of UNU-INWEH.

3. Capacity and Education Development

• Develop and deliver capacity and education development initiatives, including e-learning modules and training programs, to enhance the understanding and application of geospatial analytics, climate data visualization, and machine learning techniques among diverse stakeholders.
• Contribute to 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 the expertise; (ii) contributing to curriculum development and teaching in the collaborative education programs of UNU-INWEH; and (iii) attracting and supervising interns and externs, students, and young researchers, as required.

4. Knowledge sharing and fundraising

• Contribute to fundraising activities of the institute, 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.
• Contribute to the development of grant proposals, peer-reviewed publications, policy briefs, presentations, and related materials, as required.

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

Key Performance Indicators

• High-quality implementation of assigned tasks and services against specific timelines.
• Timely and quality contribution to assigned research products, advocacy campaigns, capacity development materials.
• Active engagement with UNU-INWEH’s researchers, consultants, and partners as well as with external collaborators and stakeholders, where required.
• Contribute to the Institute’s strategic plan development and implementation.

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

1) Education and certification

• Ph.D.
  (or equivalent) degree in geoinformatics, climate/environmental sciences,
  data/computer sciences or engineering, informatics, machine learning, AI,
  geography, civil/environmental engineering, natural resource economics, or
  other fields broadly relevant to climate change, environmental data analysis,
  and related applications.

2) Required skills and experience

• At least three (3) years of post-master’s degree work experience in geospatial analytics, climate data analysis, or related fields.
• At least one (1) year of work/research experience in one or more of the following areas:
  • Environmental informatics and data visualization
  • Application of machine learning and AI to climate, environmental, and geospatial data
  • Climate modeling and geospatial data analysis
  • Development of decision-support tools for climate and environmental management
  • Extreme weather events, natural disasters. and compound risk analysis
  • Artificial Intelligence (AI) applications in water/environmental/climate/health/agriculture management
  • Climate finance and/or financial risk analysis related to sustainability, climate, environment, health, water, food, energy, infrastructure, etc.
  • Climate and environmental economics

• 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.
• Interpersonal skills with the ability to work in a multi-cultural, multi-ethnic environment with sensitivity and respect for diversity.
• Excellent writing, research, presentation, and networking skills.
• Familiarity with policy-oriented research and prior experience in project management (administration and financial aspects) are highly desirable.
• Demonstrated ability to perform effectively in team-based research, incorporating interdisciplinary approaches.
• Ability to independently manage projects and interact with a large group of stakeholders.
• Demonstrated skills in developing and maintaining online tools will be an asset.
• Demonstrated skills in developing training courses and administering online learning platforms will be an asset.
• Prior UN work experience or experience of interacting with intergovernmental/governmental/non-government agencies and donors is highly desirable.
• Prior teaching experience at the undergraduate and postgraduate levels in the subject areas relevant to the activities of UNU-INWEH is highly desirable.
• Prior record of peer-reviewed publications in high-impact and interdisciplinary journals is required.
• Prior record of fundraising and securing grants for projects is desired.

3) Language Requirements:

• Fluency in English (written and spoken) and Bahasa Malaysia.
• Knowledge of another UN official working language is an asset.

Remuneration

The successful candidate will be employed under 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

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 on 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 avoid using 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

3 November 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

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.

If you have supervisory function you need to have awareness on gender related issues.

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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