POST:Educational Officer

United Nations University
Location: Bonn, Germany
Last Date: January 31, 2010
Email: HRApplications@ehs.unu.edu


INTERNATIONAL RECRUITMENT
(Bonn, Germany)
VACANCY ANNOUNCEMENT
EDUCATIONAL OFFICER (P-2/P-3)

Organizational Unit : United Nations University - Institute for Environment and Human
Security (UNU-EHS)
Reference Number : 2009/UNU/EHS/EDUOFF/38
Applications to : Mrs. Beatrice O’Reilly, Recruitment Officer
(HRApplications@ehs.unu.edu)
Closing Date : 31 January 2010

United Nations University’s Objectives:
The UNU is an international community of scholars, engaged in research, postgraduate education, continuing education and training (CE+T) and dissemination of knowledge in furthering the purposes and principles of the Charter of the United Nations. The mission of
the 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. Key goals are to serve as an international community of scholars; a bridge between the
United Nations and the international academic community; and as a think-tank for the United Nations system; to contribute to capacity building, particularly in developing countries; and to serve as a platform for new and creative ideas.

About UNU-EHS:
During the past few years, UNU-EHS has developed into a leading international vulnerability research institute. It has been conceived and created to assess the vulnerability and coping capacity of societies facing natural and human-induced hazards in a changing environment. The Institute spearheads research, capacity building and policy-relevant advisory activities relating to the broad interdisciplinary field of 'risk and vulnerability'. The overall goal of its research is to raise public and political awareness and to assist Member States to implement the principles of “living with nature, living with risks” within the context of sustainable
development. Next to environmentally-induced migration, vulnerability assessment, with particular emphasis on the social and environmental components, risk management and adaptation strategies to climate change and hazard events are the priority research areas of
the institute. UNU-EHS has been engaged in PhD-level education since 2004. UNU is to become a degree-awarding postgraduate university. Hence, Master’s and PhD programmes, to be developed in close cooperation worldwide with leading universities will be priority
activities in the years to come.

For complete information about the organization, please visit the following websites:
www.ehs.unu.edu, www.vie.unu.edu, www.unwater.unu.edu, www.ihdp.unu.edu, www.unu.edu.

Responsibilities:
Under the authority and direct supervision of the Director of UNU-EHS/Vice-Rector in Europe, the successful candidate shall be entrusted with the following tasks:
• Leading and developing the UNU-EHS Section Enhancing Graduate Educational Capacities for Human Security.
• Conceptualizing, organizing and managing the educational programmes of UNU-EHS, notably PhD programme(s), MSc programme(s), CE + T activities.
• Liaising with the University of Bonn for the development and delivery of joint PhD and MSc programmes.
• Organizing educational events: semester and block courses, seminars, workshops, summer schools in Germany and abroad
• Development of curricula and syllabi.
• Liaising with the SCIENTIA Section of the Bonn-based UNU-ViE to develop up-to-date knowledge management dissemination systems.
• Shaping distance learning content/contributing to web-based education.
• Providing academic leadership to the UNU-EHS & UNU-ViE internship programmes (selection and guidance of interns).
• Contributing to the core area(s) of the academic profile of UNU-EHS.
• Contribute to fund-raising of the Institute and EGECHS Section, in particular.
• Co-ordination with the academic and administrative staff of partner institutions, and UNU Headquarters on degree questions, interfacing with donor agencies and scholarship programmes and foundations.

Required Qualifications and Competencies:
PhD in a relevant academic discipline (engineering, natural sciences, social sciences, education);
At least seven years of professional experience in research and academia of which a part should have been in a teaching position;
Strong background of publications in the areas related to UNU-EHS’ interest;
Good knowledge in E-learning processes and applications;
Good didactic skills;
Excellent command of oral and written English, additional UN languages are desirable.

Desirable Experience and Competencies:
Experience in one of the key areas of UNU-EHS academic focus (vulnerability assessment, migration studies, disaster risk management, or environmental studies).
Experience in organizing seminars, workshops, conferences;
Experience with quality assurance in higher education;
Experience in designing and running e-learning projects;
German language capacity will be considered an asset;
Strong interpersonal skills;
Good leadership and team spirit.

Remuneration:
We offer competitive net salary (tax-exempted) at P-2 or P-3 level commensurate to level of experience and allowances including post adjustment. Post adjustment is subject to change.

The post carries the standard set of United Nations benefits and entitlements for international positions in the UN Common Systems, including participation in the United Nations Joint Staff
Pension Fund, the possibility of participation in a health insurance programme, education grant, removal expenses and home leave. For more information please visit:
http://www.un.org/Depts/OHRM/salaries_allowances/salary.htm.

Duration of Contract:
This is a full time fixed-term appointment. The period of initial appointment would be for a period of 2 years with the possibility of renewal on the basis of excellent performance. The mandatory age of retirement for new United Nations staff is 62 years old.

This is an internationally recruited post. Suitably qualified women candidates and applicants from developing countries are particularly encouraged to apply.

Staff members of the United Nations University are international civil servants subject to the authority of the Rector and may be assigned to any of the activities or offices of the United
Nations University. Applications from suitable qualified women candidates are particularly encouraged. The Rector reserves the right to appoint a candidate at a level below that advertised.

Starting Date:
Is it expected that the appointee will take up by early March 2010 or as soon as possible, subject to negotiation.

Application Procedure:
Interested applicants should submit their application preferably by email to HRApplications@ehs.unu.edu attention to Mrs. Beatrice O’Reilly, Recruitment Officer.
submitting the following documents:
(a) a letter of application setting out how the qualifications and experience match the requirements of the position;
(b) a curriculum vitae with a completed and signed UNU Personal History form downloadable from United Nations University website (www.unu.edu/employment), . Please avoid using similar forms provided by other UN organizations);
(c) a list of publications and recent writing sample; and
(d) full contact information of three referees.

The application must also indicate the reference number of the vacancy announcement (2009/UNU/EHS/EDUOFF/38).

Only short-listed candidates will be contacted; unsuccessful applications can neither be acknowledged nor returned.