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.

UNU-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, environmental and health problems where sustainable development and 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 contributing to UNU-INWEH’s initiatives and projects addressing water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH), health, gender, behavior and justice in terms of project activities, outputs, and products.
• Lead project reporting and follow-up with external partners of assigned projects.
• Provide technical expertise to UNU-INWEH’s other strategic areas of programs and projects.
• Lead the process of data collection and preparation of the state-of-the-art publications on emerging issues related to WASH, health, gender, behavior and justice space.

2. Contributions and Collaborations

• Contribute to integrated, cross-thematic, and interdisciplinary approaches to addressing the grand global challenges while considering WASH and health risks and vulnerabilities amid climate change while considering research-policy bridging and advocacy dimensions.
• Contribute to the development and implementation of UNU-INWEH’s future research and development areas.
• Provide technical expertise to UNU-INWEH’s other strategic areas of programs and projects.
• 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.

• 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.

Perform other duties as assigned by supervisor

Key Performance Indicators

1) 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.

2) Required skills and experience

Required

• One (1) year 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.

• Three (3) years of post-master’s degree progressively responsible work experience is decidedly advantageous for this position.
• 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.
• Prior record of peer-reviewed publications in high-impact and interdisciplinary journals is required.
• 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.

3) Language Requirements:

• Fluency in English is required.
• 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;
• 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) instead of a cover letter ; setting out how your qualifications and experience match the requirements of the position ;
• 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

15 August 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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