Country: Germany
Closing date: 04 Dec 2015
United Nations University Objectives:
The United Nations University (UNU) is an international community of scholars, engaged in research, postgraduate teaching and 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 more information please visit www.unu.edu.
United Nations University-Institute for Environment and Human Security (UNU-EHS):
UNU-EHS, established in December 2003, is part of the UNU system, a worldwide network of Research and Training Institutes. Its mission is to advance human security through knowledge-based approaches to reducing vulnerability and environmental risks. For more information please visit www.ehs.unu.edu.
VARMAP Section
The VARMAP section within UNU-EHS is looking for an experienced Research Associate to support ongoing research activities and the application for new research grants, particularly with donors in Germany.
VARMAP develops and applies conceptual frameworks and scientific methods to assess socio-economic vulnerability and risk in the context of natural hazards, environmental change and societal transformation. The section explores opportunities to reduce risks and to evaluate competing adaptation options. The section has a strong focus on urban areas and rural-urban linkages and is particularly interested in the trends in vulnerability and adaptive capacity as societies undergo wider cultural, economic, demographic and political transformation. VARMAP convenes an interdisciplinary team and has a wide network of scientific and practical partners. It draws on a mixed methods approach, integrating qualitative and quantitative tools for the analysis. The section combines a global focus with clusters of specific regional expertise, notably in Southeast Asia, South Asia, East Asia, West Africa and Europe.
Responsibilities:
Under the authority of the Director of UNU-EHS and the supervision of the Head of the Vulnerability Assessment, Risk Management & Adaptive Planning (VARMAP) section, the successful candidate will be entrusted with the following tasks:
• Support research activities in ongoing research projects, including the projects TRUC, WorldRiskReport and TWIN-SEA;
• Taking up strong responsibility in the development of research grant proposals to be submitted to international and German donors;
• Support project management of ongoing research projects;
• Co-authoring peer-reviewed publications to present and distribute research results of the VARMAP section and UNU-EHS;
• Support other administrative tasks within VARMAP (e.g. the organization of workshops and events, institutional reporting).
Qualifications and Experience Requirements:
• PhD degree in Geography, Political Sciences, Spatial Planning, Cultural Anthropology or other relevant disciplines;
• Minimum two (2) years of relevant working experience including management tasks of international research projects;
• Knowledge of different frameworks and concepts used in risk management and adaptive planning;
• Experience in quantitative and qualitative data gathering and analysis;
• Excellent communication skills with fluency in oral and written English as well as German is required;
• Good team player with ability to work in international and intercultural environment; experience in international organizations would be an advantage;
• Excellent time management skills;
• Strong ability to carry out work independently;
• Takes initiative and flexible attitude to work, as appropriate;
• Existing networks into the European risk research community are an additional asset.
Remuneration:
Remuneration will be commensurate with qualifications and experience.
Duration of Contract:
This is a full-time employment on a six (6) months Personnel Service Agreement (PSA) contract with possibility for renewal subject to satisfactory work performance and availability of funds, with the combined duration of appointments not exceeding six (6) years.
This is a locally recruited post and no relocation allowances apply. The successful candidate will be employed under a local contract and will not hold international civil servant status nor be a “staff member” as defined in the UN Staff Rules and Regulations.
Starting date: 1 January 2016
How to apply:
Application Procedure:
Interested applicants should submit their applications by e-mail to (hrbonn@vie.unu.edu), and must include the following:
• a cover letter setting out how the qualifications and experience match the requirements of the position;
• a completed and signed UNU Personal History (P.11) form downloadable from the UNU website. Please avoid using similar forms provided by other United Nations organizations;
• an indication of the reference number of the vacancy announcement (2015/UNU/EHS/PSA/RA/79).
The United Nations shall place no restrictions on the eligibility of men and women to participate in any capacity and under conditions of equality in its principal and subsidiary organs. (Charter of the United Nations - Chapter 3, article 8)