Job description

About UN University (UNU)

The United Nations University (UNU) is an international community of scholars engaged in policy-oriented research, capacity development and dissemination of knowledge, furthering the purposes and principles of the Charter of the United Nations. UNU’s mission 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.

For the past four decades, United Nations University (UNU) has been a go-to think tank for impartial research on human survival, conflict prevention, sustainable development and welfare. With more than 400 researchers in 12 countries, UNU’s work spans the 17 Sustainable Development Goals, generating policy-relevant knowledge to effect positive global change. UNU maintains more than 200 collaborations with UN agencies and leading universities and research institutions across the globe.

About UNU Institute in Macau (UNU Macau)

UNU Institute in Macau (UNU Macau) is one of 13 research and training Institutes that comprise the think tanks in the UNU system. UNU Macau is a research institute at the intersections of digital technology and sustainable development. The Institute conducts policy-relevant research and generates solutions, addressing pressing challenges expressed in the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development through high-impact innovations and the latest technologies. Through its research, the UNU Institute in Macau encourages data-driven and evidence-based actions and policies to contribute to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals.

One of the Institute’s missions is to nurture the next generation of interdisciplinary computing, information and social scientists, and engineers to be leaders in the field of ICT for development. To this end, the institute seeks to build a team of experts to help deliver the institute’s mission and work plan. The Institute’s research tends to be more applied, and strives for policy impact in the UN system, at international, regional and national levels.

The UNU Institute in Macau is situated in the Macau Special Administrative Region (SAR) of China, and it is the only UN entity in the city. Macau is one of the most dynamic regions in Asia, where technological innovations have become an integral part in driving social and economic change. Macau is part of the Greater Bay Area (GBA), that hosts many private sector companies and technological giants that are just a short distance away. Its proximity to China, Hong Kong SAR and other Asian countries such as Japan, Korea, Thailand and Vietnam, provides an exciting opportunity for researchers and experts to maximize the impact of their work.

Responsibilities

The UNU Institute in Macau’s research team consists of a dynamic and highly professional group of multi-disciplinary researchers from across the world. The research team works collaboratively to seek big-sized research grants and conduct research projects together for policy impact. The Institute has recently developed its Strategic Plan (2021-2025), where systems thinking, and participatory approaches are the two major pillars of the research portfolio (see https://go.unu.edu/DZBVR for details).

Under the guidance and direct supervision of the Head of Research, and the overall guidance of the Director of the Institute, successful candidates will be entrusted with the following tasks:

1. Implement the Institute’s Strategic Plan and conduct research by achieving the following results:

• Develop research activities while aligning them with the research priorities set out in the Institute’s Strategic Plan (2021-2025); and
• Jointly develop research activities with the wider team in the Institute, striving for policy impact in the UN system, at international, regional and national levels.

2. Resource mobilization and grant management by achieving the following results:

• Contribute to fundraising efforts with other researchers, and jointly meet targets set out in the Institute strategic plan and benchmarks and indicators;
• Initiate and implement grant initiatives under the supervision of a Senior Researcher (Team Lead);
• Ensure grant requirements are fulfilled, and reports are submitted on time;
• Comply with donor agreements when using the grants; and
• Support supervisor and Institute Finance on grant administration.

3. Exercise the highest professional and ethical standards when conducting research, and ensure high quality research outputs by achieving the following results:

• Draft and submit periodic reports on their research activities;
• Monitor more junior researchers to support their professional growth;
• Create diverse written products related to the research projects or areas of expertise, such as academic papers in high-ranking peer-reviewed journals, blogs, op-eds, policy briefs, and UN reports;
• Support the Communications team of the Institute in providing outputs for social media and platforms; and
• Professionalism, flexibility and ability to work to realistic deadlines, creative thinking, results-driven, foreseeing risks and allowing for contingencies when planning;

4. As part of a research team, deliver high quality policy-relevant research by achieving the following results:

• Serve as a research project lead, when needed, to plan, develop, monitor and evaluate research activities;
• Supervise project team and draft periodic reports; prepare descriptions of programme activities for various audiences and venues, as required; and
• Mentor junior team members and student researchers/interns if applicable.

5. Communicate research accomplishments at academic conferences, and especially high-impact international venues (e.g. UN conferences) by achieving the following results:

• Explore and suggest academic conferences and events to present academic results; attend if approved;
• Contribute to the Institute’s publication/social media platforms to release academic achievements, such as to supply blog posts, journals, tweets, etc.

6. Conduct capacity-building activities; participate in Institute events by achieving the following results:

• Execute teaching responsibilities on behalf of UNU Macau when needed particularly for the learners and youth from the global south, and UN system colleagues; and
• Actively participate in and take initiatives to organize Institute events and conferences.

7. Perform other tasks as assigned by the Head of Research or the Director.

Key performance indicators

• Timely and quality development and implementation of the Institute’s strategy, research programmes, projects and workplans.
• Timely and quality delivery on operational goals.
• Timely and quality delivery of curated fundraising opportunities.
• Timely and quality research publications.
• Quality and level of engagement with partners, related networks and working groups.
• UNU Macau is seen as a reliable and trustworthy partner by research partners, governments, donors, and civil society.
• Performance of research team personnel; produces quality knowledge products.

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

Qualifications

Education and certifications:

Doctoral (PhD) degree in computer science, data science, computer-ba­sed modelling, computational social science, digital humanities, public policy, or a related field is required.

Research areas should be related to data science, data policy or data governance and their use applied to topics of focus within the Institute, e.g., Artificial Intelligence, cybersecurity, digital health, computer human interaction. The candidate should have experience with a range of approaches to methodology and data analysis.

Areas of expertise include but are not limited to:

• Computational Social Science;
• Machine learning and AI tools applied to social science research;
• Social simulation and agent-based modelling;
• Social network analysis;
• Data ethics and relationships to AI bias;
• Critical thinking on Data Science, datasets and their application to complex issues.
• Experience and other requirements:

Required:

• At least three (3) years of full-time research experience after completing the doctoral dissertation. Exceptions can be made for candidates with outstanding publication record, research fundraising results and/or broad UN exposure;
• Expertise in the application of data science tools and methods to topics such as public health, economic growth, youth/gender issues or inequality;
• An interest in data policy and data governance concerning global issues linked to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and/or in consideration of ethics and data justice;
• Ability to extract, collect and aggregate data across a range of information sources and;
• A strong track record of academic publications;
• Good team player with strong interpersonal skills demonstrated by the ability to work in a multicultural environment with sensitivity and respect for diversity;
• Passion for the mission of the United Nations and enthusiasm to contribute to the achievement of the SDGs;
• Selected candidates are required to reside full-time in Macau. It is not a remote position.

Desirable:

• Experience working with diverse stakeholders, including public, private, non-profit and intergovernmental organisations;
• Knowledge and skills in various software that are in use for data science and/or data analysis, e.g. Python, R or Julia, panda, d3js.
• Experience in working in a multi-disciplinary team;
• Experience working with the United Nations system.

Remuneration

The successful candidate will be employed under an international PSA contract. UNU offers an attractive compensation package including locally tax-exempted salary (net annual salary from USD$36,347) commensurate with the experience and qualifications of the candidate. Benefits include 30 days annual leave and a health insurance scheme.

UNU will cover the cost of travel of the international appointees (non-Macanese residents) to the duty station at initial appointment, as well as their return to their home country/point of hire upon final completion of their services. Travel costs are covered only in the event that the function will be undertaken physically in the duty station and excludes working-from-home arrangements.

International appointees can apply for rent-free housing (excluding utilities) at the Institute’s staff apartments in Macau. Housing benefits are subject to availability and it could not be commutative if not taken.

UNU is not liable for any taxes that may be levied on the remuneration you receive under this contract. Payment of any such taxes remains the sole responsibility of PSA holders.

Duration of contract

The duration of the initial contract is 1 year. This is a Personnel Service Agreement (PSA) contract with UNU, with the possibility for renewal subject to requirements and satisfactory work performance. The combined duration on a PSA contract with UNU may not exceed six (6) years. The mandatory age of retirement for PSA holders is 65 years.

Expected start date: As soon as possible (Q4 2023 / Q1 2024)

How to Apply:

To apply to UNU, you will not need an account. Instead, we ask that you:

• Apply via the apply link;
• provide a curriculum vitae (including publications and grant-funding); please upload it in the screening questions section.
• fill out the UNU P11 form (https://i.unu.edu/media/unu.edu/page/24952/UNU-P11-PHP-Personal-History-Form-FINAL.docx) (please avoid using similar forms provided by other United Nations organisations);
• provide a motivation statement (in the P11 form); and
• answer a few questions that are tailored to the position.

You may wish to refer to the UN Values and Behaviours Framework (https://i.unu.edu/media/unu.edu/page/24952/Values-and-Behaviours-Framework_Final.pdf) for more information.

Application Deadline:

17 October 2023 (11:59pm, Macau time zone GMT +8)

Application page no longer operational beyond application deadline.

Assessment

Evaluation of qualified candidates may include an assessment exercise which may be followed by a competency-based interview, background checks and references.

Special notice

PSA holders do no hold international civil servant status nor are they considered a “staff member” as defined in the UN Staff Rules and Regulations.

UNU is committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce, and encourages all candidates, irrespective of gender, nationality, religious and ethnic backgrounds, including persons living with disabilities to apply and become part of the organization. Applications from developing countries, and from women are strongly encouraged. Eligible internal applicants are also encouraged to apply.

UNU has a zero-tolerance policy on conduct that is incompatible with the aims and objectives of the United Nations and UNU, including sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment, abuse of authority and discrimination.

Information about UNU rosters

UNU reserves the right to select one or more candidates from this vacancy announcement. We may also retain applications and consider candidates applying to this post for other similar positions with UNU.

Scam warning

UNU does not charge any application, processing, training, interviewing, testing or other fee in connection with the application or recruitment process. Should you receive a solicitation for the payment of a fee, please disregard it. Furthermore, please note that emblems, logos, names and addresses are easily copied and reproduced. Therefore, you are advised to apply particular care when submitting personal information on the web.

Apply at: https://careers.unu.edu/o/researcher-data-science-psa-contract-2-3/c/new