Director of UNU-WIDER

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Position Title: Director of UNU-WIDER
Location: Helsinki
Country: Finland
Deadline Date: 15 April 2025

Job Details

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 sustainability, security" style="border-bottom: 1px dotted #007bff !important;">security" style="border-bottom: 1px dotted #007bff !important;">human security, and economic development, employing hundreds of researchers across 12 countries. The organization focuses on generating policy-relevant knowledge to address pressing global issues and collaborates closely with other UN entities and leading research institutions worldwide. More information can be found at http://unu.edu.

Job Overview:
The Director of UNU-WIDER is responsible for the overall organization and management of the institute and its programs, reporting directly to the Rector of the United Nations University. The ideal candidate will possess the stature necessary to enhance UNU-WIDER's reputation within the international scholarly community, ensuring scientific excellence through internal quality control. The Director will lead the development and management of national and international partnerships, oversee financial and operational management, and implement strategies aligned with UNU's broader objectives. This role requires a dynamic individual with a strong academic and management background capable of recruiting and leading a diverse team of experts, building partnerships with various stakeholders, and producing world-class, policy-relevant analyses, particularly focused on the Global South.

Duties and Responsibilities:
The Director's responsibilities include serving as the Chief Academic and Administrative officer of UNU-WIDER, managing personnel while promoting diversity and inclusion, overseeing the institute's budget and donor reporting, and leading relations with the host country and key stakeholders. The Director will also strengthen the institute's resource mobilization strategy, manage donor relations, and coach researchers in proposal preparation. Additionally, the Director will lead a substantive research program in development economics, ensure high-quality research outputs, and represent UNU-WIDER in local and global forums to enhance the institute's visibility and impact. The role also involves facilitating knowledge dissemination and coordinating UNU-WIDER's work with other UN activities, particularly in the Global South.

Required Qualifications:
Candidates must possess a doctoral qualification in Economics or a related discipline, along with at least fifteen years of progressively responsible experience in Economics or a related field. This experience should include a minimum of five years in a managerial role demonstrating leadership and management capabilities. The candidate should have a proven track record of collaborative leadership in development economics, a strong background in research and publications on policy-relevant issues, and experience in engaging with policymakers. Additionally, candidates should demonstrate effective management skills, sound financial and human resource management, and strong fundraising abilities.

Educational Background:
A doctoral qualification in Economics or a related discipline is required for this position. This advanced degree should be complemented by a strong foundation in research methodologies and policy analysis relevant to development economics.

Experience:
The position requires at least fifteen years of progressively responsible experience in Economics or a related discipline, with a significant portion of this time spent in a managerial role. Candidates should have a distinguished record of effective management and leadership, particularly in contexts that influence social or developmental outcomes.

Languages:
Excellent verbal and written communication skills in English are mandatory. Knowledge of Finnish or another official UN language is considered an asset, enhancing the candidate's ability to engage with diverse stakeholders.

Additional Notes:
This is a full-time, fixed-term appointment with an initial duration of two years, subject to renewal based on satisfactory performance. The total duration of fixed-term appointments for UNU Institute Director positions may not exceed eight years. The mandatory retirement age for United Nations staff is 65 years. The position offers an attractive, tax-exempt compensation package, including an annual net salary, 30 days of annual leave, dependency benefits, a pension plan, and health insurance. Applications from suitably qualified women candidates are particularly encouraged, and UNU is committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce.