Director, UNU-IAS (D1)

About UN University (UNU)

The United Nations University (UNU) is a global think tank and postgraduate teaching organization within the United Nations System. UNU engages in policy-relevant research, capacity development, and knowledge dissemination in furtherance of the purposes and principles of the United Nations. The work of UNU contributes to solving pressing global problems that are the concern of the United Nations and its Member States.

For the past five decades, UNU has been a source of impartial research on sustainability, human security, and economic development. With hundreds of researchers working at institutes in 12 countries, UNU's expertise spans the full breadth of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals, generating policy-relevant knowledge to effect positive global change. UNU collaborates closely with other UN entities and leading research institutions across the globe. For more information, please visit http://unu.edu

About UN University Institute for the Advanced Study of Sustainability (UNU-IAS)

UNU-IAS is one of the 13 research and training Institutes that comprise the UNU system. UNU-IAS is located in the UNU Headquarters building in Tokyo. The mission of UNU-IAS is to serve the international community through policy-relevant research and capacity building focused on sustainability, including its social, economic, and environmental dimensions. Through its postgraduate education programmes, UNU-IAS develops future international leaders with the interdisciplinary understanding and skills needed to advance creative solutions. UNU-IAS builds on a strong tradition of UNU research and capacity development in Japan, undertaken in collaboration with a global network of professionals and scholars, particularly in Africa and Asia. For more information, please visit http://ias.unu.edu.

Responsibilities

The Director reports to the Rector of the United Nations University and has overall responsibility for the organization and management of UNU-IAS and its programmes. The preferred candidate’s profile should lend to UNU-IAS the necessary stature in the international scholarly community, ensure scientific excellence through internal quality control, and provide leadership and guidance for UNU-IAS activities.

The Director develops and manages national and international partnerships and negotiations, overseas the finance, operations, and management of UNU-IAS and implements the strategy within the broader context of the UNU strategic objectives.

UNU is looking for a dynamic individual with a strong academic and management background who can recruit, lead and manage a diverse team of experts; build and strengthen partnerships with governments, think tanks, universities, the private sector, and other parts of the UN system; and produce world-class, policy-relevant analyses, convene critical dialogues, and support capacity strengthening.

1. Leadership and strategic management

• Serve as the Chief Academic and Administrative officer of the institute with overall responsibility for the direction, organisation, administration, and programming of UNU-IAS, in accordance with the policies and criteria formulated by the UNU Council, the Rector, and the Advisory Board Members;

• Manage hire and supervise personnel, promoting diversity, inclusion, and gender equality;

• Manage the Institute’s budget, including reporting requirements to donors and within the UNU system; and

• Lead relations with the host country (Japan), donors, and other key stakeholders.
  

2. Resource mobilisation

• Strengthen the Institute’s resource mobilisation strategy to secure funding;

• Manage donor relations and networks, including resource mobilisation activities for the Institute’s research programmes; and

• Coach researchers in preparing successful proposals and in engaging with research partners and donors.
  

3. Research and education programme implementation and oversight

• Lead a policy and impact-driven programme of substantive research, capacity-building, and knowledge translation regarding transformations towards sustainable societies; natural capital and biodiversity; and global change and resilience;

• Oversee the implementation of research programmes;

• Oversee the institutes’s postgraduate degree programmes; and

• Ensure that research outputs are high quality and policy-relevant and that recommendations are channelled effectively to the UN system, policymakers, and other stakeholders.
  

4. Represent UNU-IAS and establish strategic partnerships

• Establish and maintain relationships with the UN system; the host and other governments; and local, regional, national and international partners, donors, and other stakeholders to achieve collaboration on programme development, implementation, and resource mobilization;

• Strengthen and expand scientific partnerships and networks with relevant institutions, including major UN stakeholders, think tanks, research organisations, and academic networks internal and external to UNU; and

• Draw on UNU’s convening power and represent UNU-IAS IAS in local and global fora to raise the Institute’s visibility, presence, and impact.
  

5. Knowledge sharing and collaboration

• Facilitate the dissemination and translation of the Institute’s knowledge products to key stakeholders and the public;

• Co-ordinate UNU-IAS’s work programme with other UN and UNU activities and institutions in different parts of the world; and

• Support the Rector and the UNU system, including participation in the Conference of Directors of UNU institutes and system-wide initiatives.
  

6. Perform other duties in support of the Institute and UNU System, as requested by the Rector.

Key performance indicators

• UNU-IAS is seen as a reliable and trustworthy partner by donors, governments, research partners, civil society, and the UN System.

• The Institute records increased and sustainable donor support from diversified funding sources and nurtures excellent donor relationships.

• UNU-IAS implements a high-quality programme, including delivering research outputs, capacity-building activities, and events.

• A high level of academic excellence is guaranteed in all the Institute’s activities through internal quality control and guidance for academic activities.

• The Institute is managed effectively and efficiently according to the policies and criteria formulated by the UNU Council, the Rector, and the Advisory Board Members.

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