Research Manager – Scientific support to the Deputy Director (PSA-5) [Re-advertised]

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.

The UNU Institute for Environment and Human Security (UNU-EHS), is

one of 14 research and training Institutes that comprise the think tanks

in the UNU system. It contributes to the overall mandate of UNU, and

the UN, by advancing human security and well-being through reducing

current and future risks from environmental hazards and climate change.

UNU-EHS’s research is clustered in two main areas: “Risk and Adaptation”

and “Transformation”.

Department “Risk and Adaptation”

The department Risk and Adaptation focuses on understanding and

addressing interconnected risks and the adverse impacts of climate

change in science and policy based on a variety of different, yet

complementary work streams. These include, inter alia, (i) understanding

and assessing systemic risk, (ii) developing pathways to

sustainability, (iii) supporting the international regime to respond to

climate impacts, (iv) fostering governance and the uptake of climate and

disaster finance, (v) understanding human mobility and immobility in

context of climate change, (vi) assessing and developing ecosystem-based

disaster risk reduction and adaptation, (vii) understanding and

assessing loss and damage, and (vii) enhancing climate risks analytics

and forecasting, with a focus on regions which are strongly exposed to

the adverse impacts of climate change and disaster risk, such as cities,

mountains, river basins and the low-lying coasts.

Interconnected Disaster Risk report

Interconnected Disaster Risks is an annual science-based report

designed to be accessible for the general public. It is published by the

United Nations University – Institute for Environment and Human

Security, and was first released in 2021. The idea for the report was

developed based on the recognition that disasters are occurring at an

ever-faster rate and, despite progress being made in how we prepare and

respond to them, we are continuously being caught out by new extremes

and new emerging threats. The report is based on thorough scientific

analysis and includes technical background reports for each of the

cases. For more information, please visit https://interconnectedrisks.org/

Responsibilities

Under the authority of the Director of UNU-EHS and the direct

supervision of the Deputy Director, the successful candidate will be

entrusted with the following tasks:

1. Provide scientific support to the Deputy Director in the area of Risk and Adaptation

• Co-shape relevant and emerging research streams;
• Lead scientific reviews and background searches; synthetize information;
• Scope new opportunities in the field of risk and adaptation;
• Author or co-author scientific papers, policy briefs in areas of risk and adaptation;
• Develop content for teaching in the fields of Risk and Adaptation.

2.  Provide scientific support to the Department Risk and Adaptation

• Prepare content and follow-up on deliverables for regular “Risk
• and Adaptation” department meetings in relation to their scientific
• content;
• Coordinate inputs from and for internal stakeholders on risk and adaptation;

3. Contribute to the development of the annual Interconnected Disaster Risk report

• Co-shape research content of the annually changing theme of the report in the realm of interconnected disasters risks;
• Identify and develop possible interventions and ways of systemic change in the context of changing risks;
• Synthetize research results and identify patterns across different cases;
• Lead technical background papers as first author or co-author;
• Manage references and databases;
• Respond to editorial comments, revise the documents as needed.

4. Contribute to the outreach of the Deputy Director and the Interconnected Disaster Risk report

• Prepare scientific presentations and scientific inputs to relevant processes;
• Prepare background briefing documents;
• Shape the scientific input to the visualization and the development of communication products;
• Co-develop
• the communication materials related to the body of academic work by
• providing input, fact checking and liaising closely with the UNU-EHS
• communication section;
• Serve as one of the spokespersons for the communication of the results of the Interconnected Disaster Risk report.

5.Perform other duties as assigned by supervisor

Key Performance Indicators

• Timely and quality collection, synthesis and generation of scientific information
• Timely and quality delivery of reports, presentation and communication products
• High quality engagement with project team and implementation partners
• Contribution to project, institute and UNU mission.

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

Qualifications

1) Education and certification

Completed Master’s degree with high academic standing in Geography,

Environmental Sciences, Sustainability Science, or other relevant

discipline

2) Required skills and experience

• At least 1 year work experience in the field of systemic risk
• research, disaster risk reduction, climate change adaptation is
• required;
• Strong methodological skillset for quantitative or qualitative empirical research in the above areas of work is required;
• Demonstrated
• ability to synthesize complex information, and to translate into
• impactful communication products such as
• publications/reports/presentations for scientific and general audiences
• is required;
• Strong interpersonal skills to work in a multi-cultural environment with sensitivity and respect for diversity is required;
• Strong ability to carry out work independently by meeting deadlines is required;
• Proficient user knowledge of reference management programs (e.g. Citavi or similar) is required;
• Experience with project managements software (e.g. Asana or similar) is an asset;
• Demonstrated
• experience in working as a member of a science and communication
• project team, high awareness of the various needs of different target
• audiences is an asset;
• Experience with media interviews is an asset.

3) Language Requirements:

• Excellent spoken and written English is required;
• Fluency in another UN official working language is an asset.

Remuneration

The successful candidate will be employed under a national 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.

 This post is open to applicants from all countries and UNU will aid the

successful applicant in securing a work visa for Germany, as necessary.

It is, however, a locally recruited post and no relocation allowances

apply. The duty station will be Bonn, Germany.

Starting date: As soon as possible