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 Centre for Policy Research (UNU-CPR)

United Nations University Centre for Policy Research (UNU-CPR) is one of 14 research and training Institutes that comprise the think tanks in the UNU system. UNU-CPR headquarters are in New York and operates a satellite office in Geneva, Switzerland.

UNU-CPR’s core mission is to produce policy-focused research and thought leadership on issues of strategic interest and importance to the United Nations and its Member States. The Centre prioritizes urgent policy needs requiring innovative, practical solutions for immediate implementation. The Centre’s work also contributes to the long-term resilience of the multilateral system through dialogue, research, strategic convenings, and policy coordination.

UNU-CPR’s research programme is divided into three thematic pillars, each of which is led by an experienced policy researcher (Head of Pillar):

1. Conflict Prevention and Sustaining Peace
2. Equitable Development
3. Anticipatory Action and Innovation

The Equitable Development Pillar

The relaunched Equitable Development pillar focuses on global economic cooperation and the political economy of development with a strong emphasis on sustainable finance, MDB reform, and changes to the international financial architecture.

Research lines developed in the Equitable Development pillar will explore macroeconomic trends, institutional governance reform, and opportunities to unlock finance for sustainable development. The pillar will support efforts to reform and evolve institutions, coalitions, and agendas that share the ambition of closing development finance and governance gaps. Research themes may include, climate finance, international tax cooperation, international monetary policy, the global debt and trade architectures, as well as new regional approaches to financial integration.

This is a senior leadership position at UNU Centre for Policy Research. The Head of Pillar will have considerable scope to shape specific research lines. Research activities in this pillar will support policymaking at the United Nations and at other relevant organizations or country settings. The Pillar will contribute to major international conferences and reform efforts, including taking forward the recommendations of the 2024 Summit of the Future, engaging with the Bretton Woods at 80 consultations and the cyclical meetings of the Bretton Woods Institutions, and contributing to the Fourth International Conference on Financing for Development, among others.

Responsibilities

Under the overall guidance and supervision of the Director of UNU-CPR, the Head of Equitable Development will:

1. Design an impactful work programme

• Develop a programme strategy for the pillar with clear beneficiaries and a theory of impact.
• Identify priority policy processes, institutions, and states that will benefit from the equitable development pillar.
• Leverage and build upon existing UNU-CPR contributions to the fields of global economic cooperation in international financial architecture reform, drawing on your specific academic expertise and networks.
• Define target policy audiences, drawing on UNU-CPR’s network and your own; develop a clear engagement strategy; demonstrate uptake of the pillars research findings and recommendations.
• Identify synergies with research programmes across UNU and across UNU-CPR, and invest in joint research projects and collaborative fundraising.

2. Fundraise to support the financial sustainability of this pillar

• Identify donors, fundraising pathways, and new partners to support work in this pillar.
• Meet the Centre’s minimum fundraising targets established for each pillar.
• Attract and retain personnel that can contribute to the success of this pillar.
• Diversify UNU-CPR’s donor pool and build ties to relevant foundations.

3. Direct, produce and disseminate targeted research, analysis, and commentary to UNU-CPR stakeholders

• Deliver a range of publications—long-form, editorial, and collaborative works—that have high uptake potential in the UN system, targeted Member States, or other relevant organizations.
• Contribute to enhancing UNU-CPR’s visibility by serving as an expert contributor on high-level panels, expert roundtables, and in the media.
• Foster research collaborations that will consolidate expertise on issues relevant to this pillar.
• Organize high-level meetings and events drawing together key UNU-CPR stakeholders.

4. Support management at UNU-CPR

• Support the UNU-CPR Director and administrative/management personnel as required to ensure sound and effective management and administration of the Centre and the pillar team.
• Contribute to quality assurance processes that ensure high-quality outputs at UNU-CPR.

5. Support requests from UNU Headquarters

• Be available to support the UNU Rector/UN Under-Secretary-General and Headquarters colleagues on any substantive and administrative requests that may be made, including system-wide initiatives.

6. Perform other duties as assigned by supervisors.

Key Performance Indicators

• Regular delivery of high-quality knowledge products that provide new insights in areas relevant to this pillar that benefit UNU-CPR stakeholders.
• Attract significant third-party funding, with a view to building-up a multi-year research programme with sustainable support from new or existing donors.
• Improve UNU-CPR visibility and demonstrate the Centre’s utility to the UN system, notably in New York and Geneva, as well as other strategic locations.
• Broaden the community of UNU-CPR partners, collaborators, and donors, and catalyse interaction amongst projects at UNU-CPR and throughout the UNU system.
• Participate in and convene high-level meetings that provide new insights to UNU-CPR’s policy stakeholder community.
• Contribute to the implementation of the UNU-CPR Strategic Plan and the UNU Strategic Plan.
• Successfully build up a productive pillar 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

A PhD in a relevant academic discipline is strongly preferred but may be substituted by an advanced degree and a strong publication record and professional experience in a relevant field, including but not limited to economics, law, political science, international relations, international development, or public policy.

2) Required skills and experience

• Extensive knowledge of the United Nations, its principal agencies and bodies as well as programmes and operations in your area of expertise, ideally covering one or more of the following themes: development, economics, sustainable finance, climate finance, global economic cooperation.
• Familiarity with and, ideally, experience of UN-Member State dynamics and inter-governmental processes.

• At least 10 years of relevant policy research experience, or a combination of professional and research experience.

• Exceptional drafting ability and experience drafting/editing academic reports and shorter communications, including experience translating research for policy communities.

• Demonstrated success in fundraising and in managing donor relations.
• Excellent analytical and presentation skills.

• Self-direction and the ability to establish priorities, multitask and report work activities to management in a timely and proactive manner, and work within tight timelines.

• Solid interpersonal and problem-solving skills demonstrated by the ability to work in a multicultural environment with sensitivity and respect for diversity and gender parity.

• Comfort with a range of research methodologies and data analysis methods

3) Language Requirements:

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

4) Location Requirements:

• This is a full-time position based in New York requiring a minimum number of days in office and frequent in-person meetings at the United Nations. Work from a remote location is not possible, nor is telecommuting for this role. Any candidate not able to commit to a full-time role in New York City will be disqualified.

Remuneration

The successful candidate will be employed under PSA contract. UNU offers an attractive compensation package including an annual net salary in the range of USD 160,000 – USD 170,000, 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

Quarter 4, 2024

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

31 August 2024, 12pm NY time

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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