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 Institute (UNU-EHS)
The United Nations University’s Institute for Environment and Human Security (UNU-EHS) was established in 2003 in Bonn, Germany. The institute conducts research work focusing on advancing human security and well-being by addressing present and future risks arising from environmental hazards and climate change. Its main areas of work are risk & adaptation and transformation. In addition to its research work, UNU-EHS offers education opportunities at the master’s level and hosts a number of international PhD projects and capacity-development courses on global issues of environmental risks and sustainable development. More information about UNU-EHS can be found here: .
The Munich Climate Insurance Initiative (MCII) is hosted at UNU-EHS and is a research-to-policy and practice innovation lab. MCII aims to support and ultimately influence policy making processes that enhance resilience and protect livelihoods of vulnerable communities, through pioneering risk management and risk transfer solutions (e.g. insurance mechanisms) in combination with other approaches to manage climate related risks. For detailed information, please visit: .
Climate Risk Analytics: The Risk analytics team entails a portfolio of projects by MCII, relying on quantitative methods to better understand and inform on climate risk. The main goals for strategic impact are i) to establish analytics to support decisions in adaptation and risk management, ii) to define the “smart mix” of climate response options, including climate risk insurance and to iii) further operational concepts of improved climate risk management also through academic collaborations.
Responsibilities
Under the authority of the Director of UNU-EHS, the guidance of the Chief Climate Risk Strategist, the successful candidate will be entrusted with the following tasks:
1. Manage the Team on Climate Risk Analytics
* Manage the overall budget and financial resources with integrity and ensure the effective utilization for research and policy objectives in line with UNU regulations.
* Provide leadership, mentorship and oversight to a large team of UNU experts, fostering a high-performing, collaborative, and academically vibrant environment conducive to rigorous research enquiry, method development, and scientific growth.
* Oversee the strategic implementation of the climate risk analytics research agenda, leading strategic engagement and fostering interdisciplinary cooperation with other divisions and partners to enhance UNU’s scientific profile
* Enable fruitful collaborations with other thematic divisions and integrate its work across the institute.
2. Lead Research and Knowledge Management in Climate Risk Analytics
* Develop and steer the strategic research agenda for climate risk analytics at UNU-EHS, driving research enquiry and enhancing the Institute's scientific profile.
* Lead and drive the development, application, and promotion of advanced and innovative quantitative methods, modelling techniques, and tools (including AI, machine learning, hazard/risk models, ecosystem service models) to advance research enquiry into climate risk, fostering interdisciplinary use and contributing significantly to scientific output and method development.
* Lead and contribute to the publication of research findings resulting from rigorous research enquiry in high-impact international peer-reviewed journals and other relevant scientific outlets, further enhancing the scientific profile of UNU-EHS.
* Promote open-data and open-source climate risk approaches and contribute substantively to the evolution of key global modelling frameworks like CLIMADA.
* Represent UNU-EHS in relevant international research consortia and groups.
* Scope and facilitate discussions to potentially constitute a Competence Centre on Risk Analytics within UNU-EHS.
* Lead and develop new collaborative research initiatives on participatory modeling, together with UNU Macau and other respective UNU institutes.
3. Lead Resource Mobilization
* Lead the development of compelling proposals and secure funding to mobilize resources for new projects, focusing on advancing application in climate vulnerable countries, innovative methods development and interdisciplinary cooperation.
4. Contribute to Education and Training
* Contribute to UNU-EHS's academic programmes, including lecturing on climate risk analytics and supervising MSc and PhD candidates conducting research enquiry in the field, fostering the next generation of researchers.
* Support the development of staff capacities and promote knowledge sharing mechanisms across the institute to enhance scientific output and methodological expertise.
5. Create Policy Impact and Foster Partnerships
* Cultivate and maintain strategic partnerships and networks with other UNU institutes, UN agencies, research institutions, government bodies, private sector, civil society, and other stakeholders.
* Engage in knowledge exchange and collaboration across relevant stakeholders to enhance the policy relevance and practice impact of UNU EHS’ scientific work and foster interdisciplinary cooperation.
* Promote open-source climate risk approaches in relevant partnerships including the contributions of UNU-EHS to the Project Office of the Munich Climate Insurance Initiative (MCII e.V.).
6. Perform Other Duties as Assigned by the Supervisor
Key performance indicators
* Timely and quality development of output related to the modelling and quantitative efforts at UNU-EHS
* Timely and quality delivery on operational goals, including performance of personnel; production of quality knowledge, research and policy outputs;
* High quality and level of engagement with project implementation partners.
* UNU-EHS is seen as a reliable and trustworthy partner by research partners, governments, donors, and civil society.
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
1) Education and certification
PhD in environmental engineering, economics, geography with a background in remote sensing, climate adaptation and/or hazard modelling;
2) Required skills and experience
Required Qualifications:
* At least five (5) years of progressively responsible experience in the context of risk analytics, climate change adaptation or similar;
* Excellent understanding of the international research and stakeholder landscape in climate risk analytics.
* Documented ability to lead large teams of experts; strong project management skills, including financial management;
* Good understanding of relevant modelling approaches with excellent command of Matlab and/or Python;
* Ability to explain complex processes (modelling, data requirement, scenarios etc…) to non-experts audiences;
* Initiative seeker with an interest to professionally expand into new ways of applying and disseminating quantitative climate risk analysis and insurance;
* Excellent presentation and communication skills.
Desired Qualifications:
* Track record of scientific publications in academic journals;
* A good understanding and/or experience in technical and organizational disaster risk reduction and -management and climate change adaptation;
* Previous experience working with CLIMADA is an asset;
* Extensive experience in project management in coordinating with a broad range of actors is an asset
* Track record of successful funding acquisition and design of methodological frameworks in the context of development cooperation and in coordinating with a broad range of actors is an asset;
* Work experience in developing countries is an asset.
3) Language Requirements
* Fluency in English is required
* Fluency in German is an asset
* Knowledge of another UN official working language is an asset
Remuneration
UNU offers an attractive, tax exempt compensation package including an annual net salary (subject to mandatory deductions for pension contributions and health insurance), 30 days annual leave, dependency benefits, pension plan and health insurance scheme. For more information please see:
Duration of contract
This is a full-time, fixed-term appointment. The initial appointment will be for one (1) year with the possibility of renewal on a fixed-term appointment basis, subject to satisfactory work performance.
For academic positions, the combined duration of fixed-term appointments with UNU may not exceed six (6) years. The mandatory age of retirement for United Nations staff is 65 years.
Starting Date
Immediate
How to Apply
To apply to UNU, you will not need an account. Instead, we ask that you:
* Apply via the apply link;
* fill out the UNU P11 Form (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 for more information.
Application Deadline
28 October 2025
Submissions must be received by [23:59, CET] on the deadline; late entries will not be accepted.
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
Staff members of the United Nations University are international civil servants subject to the Rector's authority. They may be assigned to any of the activities or offices of the United Nations University. The Rector reserves the right to appoint a candidate at a level below that advertised.
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 organisation. 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.
If you have supervisory function, you need to have awareness on gender related issues.
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.
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