Responsibilities
Under the authority of the Vice-Rector / Director of the UNU-EHS and the direct supervision of the Head of the FAST programme, the successful candidate will be entrusted with the following tasks :
1. Contribute to FAST research, theory and policy development from a justice perspective
- Co-develop conceptual frameworks by advancing the uptake of justice in climate change adaptation and mitigation, risk reduction and urban development discourses;
- Contribute to ongoing work on urban sustainability transformation from a justice perspective;
- Co-develop new research activities in justice-related fields; drawing from emerging concepts and approaches such as just transition, infrastructure equity, adaptive social protection, and transformative governance;
- Explore innovative research methods to document social and environmental conflicts related to climate justice and contribute to feeding results to theory building and policy advice;
- Undertake related desk reviews and analyses, including data collection from scientific and grey literature
2. Contribute to transformation research activities
Support the development of UNU-EHS / FAST strategic approach to transformation, with a focus on urban sustainability transformation;Analyze quantitative and qualitative data and co-develop related mixed-method approaches;Conduct fieldwork and contribute to primary data collection as needed;Connect own research to international debates on climate justice;Contribute to reporting as needed;3. Contribute to proposal writing
Together with senior staff, look for funding opportunities; Conduct thorough research to identify potential funding opportunities from various sources, including government agencies, foundations, corporations, and other funding organizations. Stay up to date with the latest funding trends and opportunities in the relevant field.Contribute to writing proposals targeting different audiences, including donors, partners, policymakers, practitioners, the general public as well as UN agencies;Contribute to strategic networking by liaising with actors working on climate justice topics;Support the PI in tasks related to proposal writing (liaising with partners and donors, revisions as needed etc.).4. Co-author research products and contribute to capacity-building and outreach activities
Support and co-author scientific and policy publications;Elaborate alternative formats for presenting scientific results that are accessible to non-scientific audiences;Support the presentation of results at scientific and policy-relevant conferences;Contribute to developing capacity building materials, lead on components related to climate justice;Contribute to organizing project-related outreach events, including workshops and conference sessions.5. Perform other duties as assigned by supervisor
Key Performance Indicators
Quality development of innovative research approachesTimely and quality collection and analysis of relevant primary and secondary dataTimely and quality preparation and submission of deliverablesHigh quality engagement with project team and implementation partnersContribution 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 identityIntegrity — 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 standardsHumility — Demonstrate self-awareness and willingness to learn from othersHumanity — Act according to the purposes of the United Nations : peace, dignity and equality on a healthy planetBehaviours :
Connect and Collaborate — Build positive relationships with others to advance the work of the United Nations and work coherently as One UNAnalyze 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 actionDeliver 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 servesLearn and Develop — Pursue own learning and development and contribute to the learning and development of othersAdapt and Innovate — Demonstrate flexibility, agility and the ability to think and act in novel waysEducation and certification
Completed Master’s degree with high academic standing in Social Sciences, Development Studies, Climate Studies, Geography, or other relevant fields.Experience
Relevant work experience in the field of climate justice or transformation (1 year desirable);Familiarity with concepts and methods in climate, social or environmental justice is essential, familiarity with concepts and methods in transformation / transition research is an asset;Field experience from low- and middle-income countries, particularly regional experience from Latin America, is an asset;Familiarity with interdisciplinary research and strong methodological skillset for quantitative and qualitative empirical research is essential; experience in transdisciplinary projects is an asset;Statistics knowledge is an asset;Familiarity with writing project proposals is an asset;Excellent communication and writing skills (academic and non-academic);Other Desirable Skills : Team player with strong interpersonal and intercultural skills, initiative seeker, strong conceptual and drafting ability, interest in interdisciplinary and international work.Language Requirements
Fluency in English both oral and written, is required;Proven working level knowledge of a second language, German, Spanish or Portuguese skills is an asset;Knowledge of 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
This is a full-time employment on a twelve (12) months Personnel Service Agreement (PSA) contract with possibility for renewal subject to requirements and satisfactory work performance, with the combined duration of appointments not exceeding 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.
Expected start date : As soon as possible
