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 World Institute for Development Economics Research (UNU-WIDER)

UNU-WIDER is one of 14 research and training Institutes that comprise the think tanks in the UNU system.

UNU-WIDER is a leading international development economics think tank. The Institute provides economic analysis and policy advice with the aim of promoting sustainable and equitable development for all. The Institute began operations in 1985 in Helsinki, Finland, as the first research centre of the United Nations University. Today, it is a unique blend of think tank, research institute, and UN agency — providing a range of services from policy advice to governments, as well as freely available original research. More information on UNU-WIDER and its current work programme are available at www.wider.unu.edu.

Responsibilities

1. Support Head of Operations in managing and leading Publications Team focusing on achievement of these results:

• Support managing day-to-day running and leading institute’s publishing unit (team) instigating discussions and meetings with researchers/editors/authors, and external persons/publishers/organizations as required.
• Supervise publications team (one in-house personnel, plus pool of freelance editors with individual areas of expertise) giving advice and sharing knowledge on best practices, ensuring high publishing standards are maintained. Advise on relevant channels and types of publication, factoring in content, length, and intended audience.
• Manage anonymous (single-blind and double-blind) peer review process on UNU-WIDER studies proposed for external publication with academic publishers. Submit confidential review reports to authors and publishers for action.
• Upload publications onto institute’s website.
• Instigate and manage full (gold) open access (OA) for institute’s external publications. Draft budgets for annual and biennial OA purchasing. Ensure vendors (publishers) publish items on full OA as specified in formal purchase order.
• Request and monitor Creative Commons licenses for external publications.
• Attend author workshops at early stages of research projects to give advice on publication processes and production steps. Arrange and give short seminars to incoming researchers and other staff/personnel on institute’s publication processes and production steps.

2. Edit scientific content for formal publication focusing on achievement of these results:

• Compile and finalize book manuscripts for submission to external academic publishers. Manage book publication processes and steps, liaising with editors/authors/publishers and institute’s communications team as required.
• Edit texts of a specialized/scientific/technical nature to ensure accuracy, clarity, cohesion, terminology, grammar, syntax, punctuation, spelling, and conformity with house style or academic publisher’s standards, policy, and practice. Cross-check references and bibliographies. Redraft incorrect or ambiguous text, conferring with researchers/editors/authors as required. Proofreading as required.
• Format and prepare publications ready for publishing, ensuring due acknowledgement is given to programmes/projects, donors, partners, collaborators, etc.

3. Monitor institute’s academic output

• Monitor and record publishing output, for both inhouse publications and externally published output (e.g., books, academic journal articles).
• Gather and provide statistics the institute’s academic publications output, reporting on quarterly, annual, biennial basis, and sometimes on demand.

4. Provide other editorial services to wider UNU-WIDER

• Provide editorial services for other teams and units as required.

5. Performs other duties as assigned by the supervisor

Key Performance Indicators

• Timely development and implementation of academic publishing processes, internal and external publications of high quality.
• Independently applies extensive knowledge to deliver on operational and publishing procedures ensuring timeliness and high-quality products.
• Ensures high quality and level of engagement with authors, editors, publishers, team members, colleagues, partners.
• Effectively manages and supervises PSA/general service staff.
• Ensures performance and professional development of personnel in publications team.

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

• Completion of secondary education is required.
  OR
  Bachelor’s degree in publications, language, business, public administration, social sciences or relevant fields.

2) Required skills and experience

• A minimum of six (6) years (with secondary education) or four (4) years (with bachelor’s degree) of relevant work experience in copy editing, formatting, proofreading, publishing preferably in an academic and/or international setting.
• Knowledge of academic writing and formal publishing — competencies, requirements, protocols is an advantage.
• Professional experience in copy-editing academic writing is an advantage.
• Experience in drafting reports, communications, presentations, and gathering statistics is an advantage.
• Working knowledge and experience using MS Office. Working knowledge of anti-plagiarism detection software, LaTeX, and EndNote is an advantage.
• Experience in working in international development organizations is an asset.

3) Language Requirements

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

Remuneration

UNU offers an attractive, tax exempt compensation package including an annual net salary (subject to mandatory deductions for pension contributions and health insurance), 30 days annual leave, dependency benefits, pension plan and health insurance scheme. For more information please see: https://careers.un.org/lbw/home.aspx?viewtype=SAL

Duration of contract

This is a full-time, fixed-term appointment. The initial appointment will be for one (1) year with the possibility of renewal on a fixed-term appointment basis, subject to satisfactory work performance.

For academic positions, the combined duration of fixed-term appointments with UNU may not exceed six (6) years. The mandatory age of retirement for United Nations staff is 65 years.

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:

• 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

11 July 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

This is a locally recruited position and no relocation expenses or allowance apply. The position is limited to persons who have (1) Finnish nationality or the necessary residence/work permits for Finland, OR (2) have right of residence in Finland as an EU/EFTA citizen.

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.

Scam warning

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