Research Associate/Senior Research Associate – applied research on risks in mountains (PSA 3/4)

Job description

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.

UNU-EHS

UNU-EHS is one of 14 research and training Institutes that comprise the think tanks in the UNU system.

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.

Eurac Research

Eurac is a private, non-profit, interdisciplinary research center in

Northern Italy established in 1992. With 11 research institutes, 6

cross-cutting centers and 700+ staff , Eurac Research provides expertise

and develops practical solutions in the fields of environment,

migration, minority rights, medicine, energy, and innovative

technologies. Eurac contributes to healthy societies, fostering in

particular the development of mountain regions as well as the livelihood

of their communities, and supports the management of social, cultural

and ecological diversity. The Eurac premises are located in the

Autonomous Province of Bolzano in the heart of the Alps and close to the

Dolomites.

Global Mountain Safeguard Research (GLOMOS) Division

In 2019 UNU-EHS and Eurac Research initiated a new joint research

programme. The Global Mountain Safeguard Research (GLOMOS) programme

combines the scientific profiles and capacities of both institutions. It

seeks to increase the resilience of mountain communities towards

natural and man-made hazards and disaster risks, to protect the wealth

of biological and cultural diversity, and to support the sustainable

development of these highly sensitive social-ecological systems. The

GLOMOS mission is to turn science into action by strengthening

solution-oriented and innovative management of disaster risks in

mountains through an integrative approach fostering transdisciplinary

research and technology transfer. The GLOMOS programme provides a bridge

between science and global conventions: the Sendai Framework for

Disaster Risk Reduction (SFDRR), the Paris Climate Agreement, the New

Urban Agenda, and the Sustainable Development Goals. GLOMOS activities

comprise research for and in mountain regions worldwide – from the

global to the local level – as well as the campaigning work for a larger

recognition of mountain issues in global policies, initiatives and

finance schemes. The GLOMOS programme has two offices, one at UNU-EHS

at the UN Campus in Bonn / Germany and one in the premises of Eurac

Research in Bolzano Italy. The duty station for the here announced

position is the latter one.

Responsibilities

Under the authority of the Vice-Rector/Director of UNU-EHS and the

direct co-supervision of the Head of the GLOMOS Bolzano office, the

successful candidate will be entrusted with the following tasks:

1. Science and research

• Develop and design research questions for the scientific work in GLOMOS
• Sharpen the scientific profile of the GLOMOS programme
• Conduct
• research activities within the fields of the Disaster Risk Reduction
• (DRR), Climate Change Adaptation (CCA) and the sustainable development
• and management of social-ecological systems in mountain regions
• Develop and publish scientific papers in international journals

2. Project acquisition and management

• Identify funding sources for research projects
• Carry out project acquisition activities for the GLOMOS programme
• Assist
• in monitoring financial and project budgetary status of projects and
• provide officers responsible with information as required
• Supporting ongoing scientific project activities in management tasks

3. GLOMOS programme development

• Support the planning, organization and documentation of GLOMOS events, conferences, and strategic meetings
• Engage
• with the development of GLOMOS work in the two mountain regions of the
• Andes and the Maloti Drakensberge in Southern Africa – leading one and
• supporting the other

4. GLOMOS visibility

• Support the communication and dissemination of GLOMOS activities and project results
• Support
• the establishment, maintenance and documentation of networks and
• relationships with other international actors and institutions active in
• the area of mountain research

5. Perform other duties as assigned by supervisor

Key Performance Indicators

• Timely and quality delivery of research results and respective publications
• Quality of innovative research design for the acquisition of GLOMOS scientific projects
• Timely and quality support for reporting and management of the GLOMOS Bolzano office
• Quality and level of engagement with project team, consortium partners and stakeholders

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 or its equivalent in a scientific discipline relevant for the thematic areas of GLOMOS

2) Required skills and experience

• For the Research Associate position, it is recommended to have
• at least 1 (one) year of professional experience related to scientific
• project/programme support or implementation, preferably in an
• international environment;
• For the Senior Research Associate
• position, it is mandatory to have at least 1 (one) year of professional
• experience related to scientific project/programme support or
• implementation, preferably in an international environment;
• Familiarity
• with a diverse range of scientific methods and associated software
• relevant for scientific activities in mountain regions;
• Excellent communication and writing skills with respect to scientific as well as non-scientific texts;
• Self-reflective
• team player with strong networking and interpersonal skills, and
• experience in working in a multicultural, multi-ethnic environment with
• sensitivity and respect for diversity;

    Desired qualifications and experience

• More than one year of professional experience related to scientific project/programme support or implementation;
• Experience in (scientific) project management and in project reporting;
• Experience in the planning, organization and documentation of events, conferences, and strategic meetings;
• Public speaking/presentation as well as training and moderation skills;
• Familiarity
• with mountain environments and with existing international mountain
• research networks and related scientific institutions;
• Knowledge and experience of processes and procedures of United Nations agencies or international organizations;
• Willingness and capability of travelling and working in mountainous, higher altitude regions;

3) Language Requirements:

• Fluency in English is required
• Good knowledge of Italian and German is a strong asset
• Good knowledge in any additional language, especially French or Spanish, 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. It

is a locally recruited post and no relocation allowances apply. The duty

station will be Bolzano, Italy.

Starting date: 15 June 2024