Director, UNU-EHS

Job Description

Organisational Unit: United Nations University/Institute for Environment and Human Security (UNU-EHS) Reference Number: 2007/UNU/EHS/001 **Closing Date: 30 September 2007** Address applications to: UNU-EHS Search Committee c/o Office of the Rector United Nations University, Headquarters 53-70, Jingumae 5-chome Shibuya-ku, Tokyo 150-8925, Japan Fax: + A covering letter setting out how qualifications and experience match the requirements of the position must also accompany the nomination/application. Email applications/nominations may be sent to: . All applications/nominations will be acknowledged. **UNU Objectives**: The UNU is an international community of scholars, engaged in research, postgraduate training and dissemination of knowledge in furthering the purposes and principles of the Charter of the United Nations. The mission of the UNU 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. The principle objective of UNU-EHS is to undertake research, advanced training and dissemination of knowledge on the impact on human vulnerability of natural disasters influenced or caused by global environmental changes and human activities. The aim is to build policy-relevant knowledge about the consequences of societal and cultural vulnerability to natural disasters and on ways to reduce this vulnerability, both in developed and developing countries. The research and postgraduate education activities of UNU-EHS will be carried out by staff researchers and visiting scholars and through networks of cooperating institutions and scholars. The Position: The Director is the chief academic and administrative officer of UNU-EHS and has overall responsibility for the direction, organization, administration and programmes of the Programme on behalf of the Rector of UNU. As such, the preferred candidate should have an established scientific profile in natural disaster analysis and mitigation preferably from a transdisciplinary perspective, including a strong emphasis on social sciences approaches, thus giving to UNU-EHS the necessary prestige in the international scholarly community; guaranteeing scientific excellence through internal quality control and providing guidance and inspiration for the conduct of UNU-EHS activities. Required qualifications: The successful candidate will have a Ph.D. in an academic field relevant to environmental management, i.e. ecology, human geography, social or natural sciences; a strong background of research and publication in natural disaster analysis and mitigation with special emphasis on transdisciplinary research; be well integrated into the relevant academic community; and have a proven record of effective leadership and management experience in an academic institution. You should have the ability to work with colleagues of diverse national and cultural backgrounds and a deep commitment to the issues of human development and welfare. Fluency in English is essential and a working knowledge of other UN official languages is desirable. Remuneration: Competitive international salary and allowances at a senior level (L-6) within the United Nations system. Appointment: The Rector of the University will appoint the successful candidate in autumn 2007. Staff members of UN University are international civil servants subject to the authority of the Rector and may be assigned to any of the activities or offices of the University. Applications from suitably qualified women candidates are particularly encouraged. The Rector reserves the right to appoint a candidate to a level below that advertised.