Employment Information
Introduction
The United Nations University (UNU) was established by the General Assembly of the United Nations to be an international community of scholars engaged in research, capacity building and dissemination of knowledge in furtherance of the purposes and principles of the Charter of the United Nations.
UNU is not a traditional university in the sense of having a faculty, campus or students, nor does it presently award degrees. Accordingly, there are only a limited number of full-time personnel at the University Headquarters in Tokyo and at various Institutes around the world. The University carries out its work in cooperation with other research institutions, international organizations and individual scholars and scientists throughout the world.
Appointments are limited to service within the UNU and staff cannot expect any transferability to other positions within the UN Secretariat or any other UN agency. UNU employees are either locally or internationally recruited. All General Service staff are locally recruited at the duty station and recruitment advertisements are placed in the local press. Most Professional Staff are internationally recruited and advertisements are normally placed in specialized, international journals focused on the particular academic discipline we are targeting. Furthermore, a Vacancy Announcement for all internationally recruited positions will be posted to this web site.
T he University will not consider applications for anything other than advertised vacancies.
General Information
Languages
The working language of UNU is English. Consequently, fluency in written and spoken English is essential, and it is advantageous to be proficient in one or more of the other languages commonly used in UNU, especially French, Arabic, Chinese, Japanese, Finnish, Dutch, Russian and Spanish.
Salary and benefits
The organization offers attractive remuneration packages and benefits to attract employees of the highest quality. Starting salaries are based upon academic and professional qualifications, as well as the level of the job. The base salary scales are set by the UN General Assembly.
Salaries and benefits are usually paid in the currency of the duty station and are, in principle, exempt from local and national income taxes.
How to Apply
Remember, we only accept applications for advertised vacancies. We do not maintain a roster, nor do we hold applicant details on file. If you have previously applied for a vacancy at UNU and you see a new position for which you believe you are qualified, please re-apply.
Before submitting an application to UNU, have you read the qualifications and requirements for the advertised position in which you are interested? All applicants must meet or exceed the minimum selection criteria for the advertised position.
You should also be aware of the following general requirements:
Academic qualifications and experience
Most Professional academic positions within the University require a relevant doctorate (PhD or equivalent) with several years post-qualifying experience, as a minimum. Most administrative positions at the Professional level require a minimum of a post-graduate degree (Masters or equivalent) plus post-qualifying experience. Most General Service positions require a minimum of a first degree (undergraduate university degree) together with several years relevant experience.
Computer skills
Sound, hands on knowledge of standard office software (word processing, spreadsheets, databases, etc.) and good quantitative skills are required of all staff.
Personal qualities
Good interpersonal skills are essential, as are diplomacy, tact and the ability to work well in a team. People wishing to work in a multinational environment shoulb be tolerant and able to cope with cultural differences and different approaches to problem-solving and decision-making. Besides having well balanced personalities and good communications skills, they should embrase cultural diversity. Prior experience in a cross-cultural work environment is an asset.
Management skills
Management skills are required of candidates applying for supervisory positions. In particular, the ability to plan and prioritize work is a key competency. Thus you should be able to demonstrate that you are able to set clear goals; monitor performance; effectively manage projects and assignments; motivate individuals and teams; delegate freely and promote teamwork; develop the skills and expertise of your team; provide guidance, feedback and objective appraisal of people’s performance; promote a free flow of information; and resolve conflicts.
UNU employees may be called upon to work well beyond the established office hours to meet very short deadlines and may be asked to travel extensively - sometimes to countries with difficult living conditions. They may have to cope with poor technology and other constraints in the field. Nevertheless, they must remain committed and do their job efficiently and effectively, even with limited resources.
Professional staff members of UNU should also be able to demonstrate an ability to analyse problems thoroughly and systematically. Furthermore, they should be articulate, tactful, diplomatic and flexible and should possess sound judgement, a firm commitment, integrity and a thirst for results.
Medical Clearance
Offers of appointment are contingent upon the candidate passing a pre-employment medical examination.
Submitting your application
If you believe you are qualified, please send us a curriculum vitae (CV) and a completed UNU Personal History form (P11). When submitting your application, make sure you clearly indicate the position reference number in your cover letter and on the envelope containing your application.
If you send a CV, it should be typed and must contain:
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your full name, address and telephone number (also e-mail address and fax number if available);
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date of birth;
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present citizenship;
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academic and professional qualifications;
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work experience;
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publications; and
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languages other than English, indicating level of proficiency.
The UNU Personal History form (P11) is required for all applicants:
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follow the instructions carefully; and
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answer all questions completely.
Further tips on what to include in a cover letter and CV can be found at the OHRM web site of the United Nations.
A copy of the UNU Personal History Form (P11) is available to download:
P11.doc (360 KB)
Send your application by post or e-mail (please only use the e-mail address indicated in the Vacancy Announcement). Please do not send multiple applications.
Employment Conditions
Selection Policies
Employees are selected solely on merit. While recruiting only the most able and technically competent candidates, UNU strives for balance in gender and national representation. We do not set country or gender quotas, but we do try to ensure that the diversity of UN member states is reflected in the composition of our staff. In this way, we can more effectively understand and meet the different needs of member states and also encourage a greater cross-fertilization of ideas within the organization. Where competing candidates exhibit equal merit, preference is given to candidates from developing countries or regions and every effort is made to achieve a balanced gender distribution within the organization.
UNU strongly supports the principle of “equal rights of men and women" enshrined in the first sentence of the United Nations Charter. Measures have been taken to allow for a climate conducive to the equal participation of men and women at the workplace.
Duration of tour of service
UNU does not offer permanent appointments. In order to keep the collective knowledge of our staff current and at the highest levels, especially in scientific and academic fields, and to ensure the regular injection of new ideas, UNU generally appoints employees on a two-year, fixed-term, contract basis. In many cases, an appointment to a further two-year contract is made, if performance meets the required standards and if there is a continuing need for the services of the employees.
Other Related Links
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Employment Opportunities within the UN and other International Organizations