Under the guidance and direct supervision of the Director of the United Nations University Institute for the Advanced Study of Sustainability (UNU-IAS), the successful incumbent will carry out the following functions:

• Assist the Director to formulate procedures on all administrative management, financial and human resources planning matters.
• Have operational responsibility in terms of planning, organizing, supervising and managing the functioning of administrative services/logistics support-related to finance, budget, human resources, procurement, travel and inventories.
• Ensure compliance with UN Staff and Financial Regulations and Rules, UNU procedures and the policies of UNU-IAS.
• Supervise the monitoring of agreements with contractors and donors; oversee donor contributions, including liaison with governments and agencies, other UN agencies, etc.
• Provide day-to-day office management involving administrative and executive decisions.
• Serve as a member of UNU-IAS internship committee, local contracts committee, the IT task force and personnel review committee.
• Serve as a focal point for UNU-IAS asset management.
• Support all activities related to UNU-IAS personnel recruitment, including advertisement, interviews and reporting.
• Approve payments and obligations as designated by the Director.
• Manage administrative functions related to promotion and implementation of UNU-IAS’s research, education and training and fund-raising.
• Prepare reports, minutes, communications and other documents required by the Director.
• Supervise a number of local staff performing administrative and programme-support tasks.
• Coordinate the Institute’s biennium programme and budget planning and preparation.
• Serve as focal point for UN External Audit for UNU-IAS Programme and Budget related matters.
• Perform any other duties as may be assigned or required.

Requirement and qualifications

• Advanced university degree in economics, business administration or related field of study with at least five years of work experience in financial, human resources and programme management, preferably in an international environment. Applicants with a bachelor’s degree with at least seven years of similar experience will also be considered.
• Familiarity with the United Nations system and with administrative aspects of research management and working experience in an academic institution would be highly desirable.
• Strong IT skills; experience in using ERP systems like PeopleSoft system would be advantageous.
• Excellent organizational, supervisory and planning skills.
• Ability to establish work priorities and deliver within tight deadlines and handle multiple concurrent activities.
• Ability to work with minimal supervision and with a high level of resilience.
• Must be fluent in both oral and written English and Japanese languages with excellent drafting skills.
• Good team player with strong interpersonal skills demonstrated by the ability to work in a multicultural, multi-ethnic environment with sensitivity and respect for diversity.

Remuneration

Remuneration will be commensurate with the qualifications and experience of the successful candidate and will be within the salary scale of NO-A level of the National Professional Officer salary scale for Japan (duty station) in the UN Common System salary scale, plus benefits. For more information, please visitwww.un.org/Depts/OHRM/salaries_allowances/salaries/japan.htm.

Duration of contract

This is a full-time position. Initial appointment will be a fixed-term appointment of two (2) years with the possibility of renewal on a rolling fixed-term appointment basis, subject to requirements and excellent work performance. The mandatory age of retirement for United Nations staff is 65 years old.

Staff members of the United Nations 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 United Nations University. The Rector reserves the right to appoint a candidate at a level below that advertised.

This is a locally recruited post. National Professional Officers must be of Japanese nationality (the host country where UNU-IAS is located). Suitably qualified women applicants are particularly encouraged to apply.

For full details on the position, please visit the UNU website.

How to apply