Researcher WASH

UNU-INWEH is one of 14 research and training Institutes that comprise the think tanks in the UNU system. UNU-INWEH’s vision is a world free of water, environmental and health problems where sustainable development and environmental health and human security are assured for all. Its mission is to help resolve pressing water, environmental, and health challenges that are of concern to the United Nations, its Member States, and their people. UNU-INWEH pursues its mission through critical analysis and synthesis of existing bodies of scientific discovery; targeted research that identifies emerging policy issues; application of on-the-ground scalable science-based solutions to grand water, environmental and health challenges; and global outreach. 

Responsibilities:

Contingent upon the level of appointment, the incumbent is expected to: 

Research:

• Play a significant role in contributing to UNU-INWEH’s initiatives and projects addressing water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH), health, gender, behavior and justice in terms of project activities, outputs, and products.
• Lead project reporting and follow-up with external partners of assigned projects.
• Provide technical expertise to UNU-INWEH’s other strategic areas of programs and projects.
• Lead the process of data collection and preparation of the state-of-the-art publications on emerging issues related to WASH, health, gender, behavior and justice space.

Contributions and Collaborations:

• Contribute to integrated, cross-thematic, and interdisciplinary approaches to addressing the grand global challenges while considering WASH and health risks and vulnerabilities amid climate change while considering research-policy bridging and advocacy dimensions.
• Contribute to the development and implementation of UNU-INWEH’s future research and development areas.
• Provide technical expertise to UNU-INWEH’s other strategic areas of programs and projects.
• Assist in developing contracts with partners, consultants, and contractors, and supporting the implementation of these contracts to ensure timely and effective completion of tasks and disbursement of funds, where applicable.
• Provide administrative support, as required, across projects and programs of UNU-INWEH.

Capacity and Education Development:

• Contribute to capacity building initiatives on the development of the future world leaders through, inter alia: (i) expanding UNU-INWEH’s online educational platforms by developing and launching new courses around the expertise; (ii) contributing to curriculum development and teaching in the collaborative education programs of UNU-INWEH; and (iii) attracting and supervising interns and externs, students, and young researchers, as required.

Knowledge sharing and fundraising:

• Contribute to fundraising activities of the institute, including the development of cross-thematic and interdisciplinary proposals in collaboration with other program leaders at UNU-INWEH as well as in partnership with other institutions and professionals.
• Contribute to the development of grant proposals, peer-reviewed publications, policy briefs, presentations, and related materials, as required.
• Perform other duties as assigned by supervisor

Key Performance Indicators:

• High-quality implementation of assigned tasks and services against specific timelines.
• Timely and quality contribution to assigned research products, advocacy campaigns, capacity development materials.
• Active engagement with UNU-INWEH’s researchers, consultants, and partners as well as with external collaborators and stakeholders, where required.
• Contribute to the Institute’s strategic plan development and implementation.

Qualifications:

Education and certification:

• Ph.D. (or equivalent) degree in public health, water/environmental engineering or sciences, geography, ecology, economics, political science, data sciences, and other fields broadly relevant to WASH, health, gender, behavior, and justice aspects.

Required skills and experience:

• One (1) year of work/research experience in one (preferably more) of these areas:
• integrated water resources management
• behavioral analysis/modeling/economics and/or mechanism design
• water/environmental/climate/human security
• gender studies
• environmental/water/health justice and inclusivity
• climate change mitigation/adaptation
• water-health-climate nexus
• SDG 6
• natural resource economics and/or policy/governance
• Artificial Intelligence (AI) and water/environmental/climate/health/agriculture
• geospatial data analysis
• extreme events and compound risk analysis
• green/sustainable/climate finance
• violence, conflict and migration
• Three (3) years of post-master’s degree progressively responsible work experience in WASH and health is decidedly advantageous for this position.
• Ability to conduct numerical analysis of complex datasets, and synthesis of findings from a wide body of literature in systematic/scoping reviews and policy briefs is a must.
• Result-oriented, self-motivated, and “hands-on” with the ability to prioritize work and do multi-tasking.
• Interpersonal skills with the ability to work in a multi-cultural, multi-ethnic environment with sensitivity and respect for diversity.
• Excellent writing, research, presentation, and networking skills.
• Familiarity with policy-oriented research and prior experience in project management (administration and financial aspects) are highly desirable.
• Demonstrated ability to perform effectively in team-based research, incorporating interdisciplinary approaches.
• Experience with managing databases, word processing, and spreadsheet programs is essential.
• Ability to independently manage projects and interact with a large group of stakeholders.
• Demonstrated skills in developing and maintaining online tools will be an asset.
• Prior UN work experience or experience of interacting with intergovernmental/governmental/non-government agencies and donors is highly desirable.
• Prior teaching experience at the undergraduate and postgraduate levels in the subject areas relevant to the activities of UNU-INWEH is highly desirable.
• Prior record of peer-reviewed publications in high-impact and interdisciplinary journals is required.
• Prior record of fundraising and securing grants for projects is desired.
• An excellent team player with strong interpersonal skills, as demonstrated by the ability to work in a multicultural, multi-ethnic environment with sensitivity and respect for diversity.

Language Requirements:

• Fluency in English is required.
• Knowledge of another UN official working language is an asset.

Source: https://careers.unu.edu//o/researcher-wash-psa-richmond-hill-on-canada-2