Research Manager

Job Posting Organization:
The United Nations University (UNU) is a global think tank and postgraduate teaching organization established within the United Nations System. Its mission is to engage in policy-relevant research, capacity development, and knowledge dissemination to further the purposes and principles of the United Nations. Over the past five decades, UNU has been a source of impartial research on critical global issues such as sustainability, security" style="border-bottom: 1px dotted #007bff !important;">security" style="border-bottom: 1px dotted #007bff !important;">human security, and economic development. With hundreds of researchers working across 12 countries, UNU's expertise encompasses the full spectrum of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals, generating policy-relevant knowledge aimed at effecting positive global change. UNU collaborates closely with other UN entities and leading research institutions worldwide. The UNU Institute for Environment and Human Security (UNU-EHS), established in 2003 in Bonn, Germany, focuses on advancing human security and well-being by addressing risks arising from environmental hazards and climate change. It offers education opportunities at the master’s level and hosts international PhD projects and capacity-development courses on global issues related to environmental risks and sustainable development.

Job Overview:
The Research Manager position at UNU-EHS involves coordinating and leading research projects aimed at addressing environmental vulnerabilities and ecosystem services. The successful candidate will manage two significant projects: the GreenAdapt2Extremes project, which focuses on developing green adaptation pathways for water security in European river catchments, and the Regreening for the Future project, which aims to enhance community-led regreening efforts in East Africa. The role requires a strong emphasis on stakeholder engagement, project management, and the integration of scientific research with practical applications. The Research Manager will be responsible for overseeing project implementation, ensuring timely delivery of milestones, and facilitating knowledge exchange among international partners. This position also involves contributing to the strategic research agenda of the EVES division and supporting teaching and supervision activities within UNU-EHS.

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Coordinate the GreenAdapt2Extremes project, managing day-to-day operations, distributing tasks, and organizing project meetings.
• Liaise with external partners and the principal investigator to ensure timely delivery of project milestones and donor deliverables.
• Oversee stakeholder engagement and co-creation activities, focusing on Nature-based Solutions and multi-risk analysis.
• Lead the recruitment of project support staff and facilitate knowledge exchange across international consortia.
• Manage the Regreening for the Future project, including task distribution and project meetings.
• Develop and pilot a framework for adaptation pathway co-creation in community regreening contexts in Kenya.
• Represent UNU-EHS in project consortium management committees and contribute to drafting project deliverables.
• Support the strategic research and workplan of the EVES division by developing research proposals targeting national or international donors.
• Contribute to teaching activities and supervise Master’s students aligned with the EVES vision.

Required Qualifications:

• Completed Master’s degree with high academic standing in Environmental Science, Geography, Sustainability Science, Ecology, Planning, or related disciplines.
• At least one year of progressively responsible experience in research and academia, preferably in an international setting, including project coordination and management.
• Demonstrated knowledge of disaster risk management, climate change adaptation, and ecosystem-based approaches.
• Strong methodological skills in qualitative empirical research and experience in stakeholder engagement and workshop facilitation.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills for diverse audiences.
• Experience in overseas fieldwork and a proven research track record relevant to the project thematic areas.

Educational Background:
A Master’s degree in Environmental Science, Geography, Sustainability Science, Ecology, Planning, or other related fields is required. Candidates should have a strong academic background and demonstrate high academic standing in their respective disciplines.

Experience:
The position requires at least one year of progressively responsible experience in research and academia, with a preference for experience in international settings. Candidates should have experience in project coordination and management, as well as a solid understanding of disaster risk management and climate change adaptation. Experience with interdisciplinary research and strong methodological skills, particularly in qualitative empirical research, is essential. Proven experience in stakeholder engagement and workshop facilitation is also required, along with a demonstrated research track record relevant to the thematic areas of the projects.

Languages:
Fluency in spoken and written English is mandatory. Knowledge of German, Dutch, and Italian is considered an asset. Additionally, knowledge of another UN official working language is advantageous.

Additional Notes:
The successful candidate will be employed under a national Personnel Service Agreement (PSA) contract with UNU, which offers an attractive compensation package including an annual net salary commensurate with experience and qualifications. Benefits include 30 days of annual leave and a health insurance scheme. The initial contract duration is one year, with the possibility of renewal based on requirements and satisfactory performance. The combined duration on a PSA contract with UNU may not exceed six years, and the mandatory age of retirement for PSA holders is 65 years. This position is open to applicants from all countries, and UNU will assist the successful applicant in securing a work visa for Germany if necessary. However, it is a locally recruited post, and no relocation allowances apply. The duty station will be Bonn, Germany, with a starting date of 01 April 202

• Applications must be submitted by 00:00 CET on the deadline date, and late entries will not be accepted.