Human Resources

UNU Human Resources-related information, documents, and processes

UNU Headquarters Japan

UNU carries out its work in cooperation with research institutions, international organizations and individual scholars and scientists throughout the world. UNU employs both full-time and part-time personnel at its headquarters in Tokyo and at UNU institutes and offices across the globe.

If you are interested in working for UNU, please visit the UNU Careers website for a list of current vacancies.

Please note that UNU will only consider applications that are sent in response to a currently advertised vacancy.

HR Documents and Forms

Contract Types

An individual may be engaged by UNU under one of three basic types of contracts: a fixed-term (staff) appointment, a Personnel Service Agreement, or a consultant contract.

“Staff members” engaged under fixed-term appointments

The terms and conditions of service of staff members employed by the United Nations University are governed by the Staff Regulations and Rules of the United Nations and the UNU Personnel Policy. Staff member positions include academic and administrative appointments in the Professional (P), National Officer (NO) and General Services (GS) job categories.

All staff member positions are fixed-term appointments. A fixed-term appointment does not carry any expectancy, legal or otherwise, of renewal or conversion, irrespective of the length of service.

For academic staff, initial appointment shall normally be for a fixed term of one year. Subsequent appointment is subject to satisfactory service, and is limited to a maximum period of three years. The combined total of such fixed-term appointments (initial and renewal) normally shall not exceed six years.

For administrative staff, initial appointment shall normally be for a fixed term of one year. Such fixed-term appointments may be renewed thereafter for period of up to four years, subject to satisfactory service.

“Personnel” engaged under a Personnel Service Agreement (PSA)

The terms and conditions of service of personnel engaged under a PSA are not governed by the Staff Regulations and Rules of the United Nations, but only by the UNU Personnel Policy.

Personnel engaged under a PSA may be involved in either academic or administrative work. Initial appointment shall normally be for a period of one year, with the possibility of renewal on a rolling, fixed-term basis; however, the combined total appointment shall not exceed six years.

“Individuals” engaged under consultant contracts

The terms and conditions of service for individuals engaged under consultant contracts shall be directly linked to work assignments as set out in the contract. A consultant may accumulate no more than 24 months of accrued service within a consecutive thirty-six month period.

The terms and conditions of service of individuals engaged under consultant contracts are not governed by the Staff Regulations and Rules of the United Nations, but only by the UNU Personnel Policy. Please refer to Annex II "Conditions of Service for Consultants” in the UNU Personnel Policy.

Recruitment and Selection Process

Preparing and submitting an application

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

  • fill out the UNU P11 form;
  • provide a motivation statement (in the P11 form); and
  • answer a few questions that are tailored to the position

Once you have identified a job opening of interest, you should update your P11 form to highlight important facts relevant to the job you are applying for, as well as provide answers to questions in the online application. It is also important to accurately complete and update all the information as it serves as a basis for evaluating your eligibility and suitability for a job opening.

If you have submitted your job application successfully, you will receive an automated acknowledgment by e-mail.

Evaluation of the application

Your application is evaluated in terms of required and desirable evaluation criteria (e.g. experience, education, and languages). You may be invited to participate in assessment exercises and/or an interview only if it is determined that you meet all the required evaluation criteria, and any additional desirable criteria that the hiring manager decides to apply for screening.

If you are not invited to participate further in the selection process for a particular job, you will be informed, at the appropriate time, that your application was unsuccessful for this job. In this case, you should not be discouraged, but apply for other jobs for which you feel you are qualified.

Assessment exercise

The assessment exercises might include a written exam, simulation exercise, case study, or other appropriate evaluation mechanism. You will be informed in advance of the time, type, and length of the assessment. If, based on the result of the assessment, you are short-listed for a competency-based interview, you will be informed accordingly.

If you are not short-listed for the competency-based interview, you will be so informed at the appropriate time. Please note, however, that the type and frequency of correspondence with individual candidates may vary throughout the application process.

Interview(s)

The interview is typically conducted via Microsoft Teams or Zoom. If invited for an interview, you will be notified in advance of the time, duration, means, and/or place of the interview. During the interview, we learn more about your combination of skills, attributes, and behaviours that are directly related to your successful performance on the job.

UNU typically conducts a competency-based interview. To prepare for a competency-based interview, please familiarise yourself with the UN Values and Behaviours Framework and the information on the UN Careers website.

There may be a second interview for some positions, typically management positions.

Selection notification

Qualified candidates are recommended for selection following the outcome of the various assessment stages. Recommendations for appointment are then submitted to, and evaluated by, an independent review body composed of staff and management representatives to ensure that the applicable procedures have been followed correctly.

After the review body has endorsed the recommended candidate(s), a selection decision is made by the head of the respective institute or office usually for one individual, or if several positions are available, for the corresponding number of vacancies.

You will be notified if you are the selected candidate for the job.

If you are in the group of candidates recommended for the job opening but are not selected, you will be placed on the roster for similar functions at the level and category of the job opening for possible future selection.

If you are not included in the pool of candidates recommended for selection, you will be notified accordingly.

Understanding Roster Management

A roster is a pool of candidates who have already been vetted as viable candidates through the application process and who are ready for immediate selection.

If you have been informed of your inclusion in the roster, you can potentially be selected for an upcoming job opening without having to undergo the entire application process.

Understanding Education/Employment Verification and Reference Checks

Appointment at the United Nations University is subject to satisfactory and complete verification of academic qualifications and employment and reference checks. If you are a candidate who has been recommended for the position and is under consideration, the information you provide will be verified and you will be notified accordingly.

Regarding academic qualifications, only applicants with academic qualifications from accredited (officially recognised) universities or institutions are considered eligible. The accreditation status of an educational institution is verified through this reference check procedure.

Employment verification: if you have indicated in your application that you have objections to contacting your current employer, this employer is not contacted until you have been selected for, and you have confirmed your interest in, a position.

Contact

Human Resources
United Nations University
Menara PJH, Level 10
No. 2, Jalan Tun Abdul Razak
Precinct 2
62100 Wilayah Persekutuan
Putrajaya, MALAYSIA

Tel: +603 88810481
Email: careers@unu.edu