JOBS AND FELLOWSHIPS

Graduate Professional Programme

Location: Geneva, Switzerland Department: UNIDIR Type: GPP

UNIDIR offers a limited number of unpaid positions through its Graduate and Professional Programme. However, eligible candidates will receive a stipend, as a contribution towards living expenses.

The Graduate and Professional Programme is intended to provide successful candidates practical experience in a research institute that serves the global community on questions of international security and assists with disarmament efforts. Selected candidates will be given an opportunity to become part of our team, working directly with outstanding and inspiring career professionals and senior management. Individuals will be exposed to high-profile conferences, participate in meetings, and contribute to analytical work as well as organizational policy of the United Nations. Initial workload will depend on individual capacity; UNIDIR is invested in the growth of its personnel.

Applicants may be undergraduate, graduate, or post-graduate students, or they may have completed their studies. Selected candidates will be based in Geneva.

Specific responsibilities vary based on the needs of particular programmes, but ideal candidates would be self-motivated, client- and solution- oriented. Typical Graduate and Professional backgrounds include but are not limited to: disarmament, international relations, peace and security, communications, law, business/public administration. English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat and are used in day-to-day professional exchanges. Knowledge of an additional official language (Arabic, Chinese, Russian, Spanish) is an advantage.

Successful candidates should be able to provide proof of enrolment in a Medical Insurance valid in Switzerland, as well as a Medical Certificate of good health. The acquisition of the necessary visas, travel costs and arrangements and living accommodation are the responsibility of the applicant.

Graduate Professional - Strategic Communications

Location: Geneva Department: UNIDIR Type: GPP

Starting date: 1 September (negotiable)

Duration: Six months

Remuneration: Unpaid (eligible candidates will receive a modest stipend, as a contribution towards living expenses)

The United Nations Institute for Disarmament Research – UNIDIR is a voluntarily funded, autonomous institute within the United Nations. One of the few policy institutes worldwide focusing on disarmament, UNIDIR generates knowledge and promotes dialogue and action on disarmament and security. Based in Geneva, UNIDIR assists the international community to develop the practical, innovative ideas needed to find solutions to critical security problems. UNIDIR offices are located in the Palais des Nations, Geneva.

The Graduate and Professional Programme position is full-time (40 hours/week) and based in Geneva, Switzerland.

The Graduate and Professional Programme (GPP) is for a duration of six months.

Duties of the Graduate Professional include, but are not limited to:

Support UNIDIR advocacy and outreach activities to internal and external audiences
Create graphic design materials
Support the management and development of UNIDIR social media channels and its website
Engage with UNIDIR programme teams, specifically related to generating multimedia materials and website updates
Prepare outreach material such as newsletters and presentations
Perform other tasks, as required by programmatic staff.

Competencies

Core competencies are the skills, attributes and behaviours which are considered important for United Nations staff, regardless of their function or level, as well as Graduate Professionals. The Core Competencies for Graduate Professionals at UNIDIR include:

Communication: Speaks and writes clearly and effectively; listens to others, correctly interprets messages from others and responds appropriately; asks questions to clarify, and exhibits interest in having two-way communication; tailors language, tone, style and format to match audience; demonstrates openness in sharing information and keeping people informed.
Teamwork: Works collaboratively with colleagues to achieve organizational goals; Solicits input by genuinely valuing others’ ideas and expertise; is willing to learn from others; Places team agenda before personal agenda; Supports and acts in accordance with final group decision, even when such decisions may not entirely reflect own position; Shares credit for team accomplishments and accepts joint responsibility for team shortcomings
Client Orientation: Considers all those to whom services are provided to be “clients” and seeks to see things from clients’ point of view; Establishes and maintains productive partnerships with clients by gaining their trust and respect; Identifies clients’ needs and matches them to appropriate solutions; Monitors ongoing developments inside and outside the clients’ environment to keep informed and anticipate problems; Keeps clients informed of progress or setbacks in projects; Meets timeline for delivery of products or services to client

Education

To qualify for a GPP with the United Nations Graduate and Professional Programme, applicants must meet one of the following requirements:

be enrolled in a graduate school programme (second university degree or equivalent, or higher); or
be enrolled in the final academic year of a first university degree programme (minimum Bachelor’s level or equivalent); or
have graduated with a university degree (as defined above) and, if selected, must commence the graduate professional programme within a one-year period of graduation.

Preference will be given to applicants with post-graduate degree qualifications relevant to the Institute’s specific current needs, for instance in the fields of social or behavioral sciences (such as politics, international affairs, strategic studies), international law or communications. However, other disciplines will be considered.

Work Experience

Applicants:

are not required to have professional work experience for participation in the programme, but interest and experience in communications is desirable;
familiarity with or interest in social media, Adobe Creative Suite, Canva, or other graphic design programmes is desirable;
experience with website content management systems and search engine optimization;
experience with and exposure to publications, marketing, the UN system, and international affairs is preferred;
have a demonstrated keen interest in the work of the United Nations and have a personal commitment to the ideals of the Charter; and
have a demonstrated ability to successfully interact with individuals of different cultural backgrounds and beliefs, which includes willingness to understand and be tolerant of differing opinions and views.

Languages

For the position advertised, fluency in English (both oral and written) is required.
Knowledge of French and other official UN languages are desirable.

Interested in this position?

Please send us your CV and cover letter in PDF format titled as SURNAME_Name_CV-CL to Mr. Aaron J. Buckley, Strategic Communications Officer (buckleya@un.org). with “UNIDIR Communications GPP Application” in the subject line. Your cover letter should include your: • degree programme • software/design skills • relevant experience • available start date.

The application deadline is 2 August 2021.

We thank all those who apply, however, only candidates selected for an interview will be contacted.

*Applicants for the Graduate and Professional Programme must show proof of valid medical insurance coverage to cover the full period of the GPP and provide a medical certificate of good health prior to the Graduate Professional’s commencement. The United Nations accepts no responsibility for the medical insurance of the Graduate Professional or costs arising from injury, illness or death that may occur during the Graduate and Professional Programme.

Graduate Professional - Conventional Arms Programme

Location: Geneva, Switzerland (or remote) Department: Conventional Arms Programme Type: GPP

Starting Date: 1 October 2021 (Negotiable)

Duration: Six months, with the possibility of extension

Location: Geneva, Switzerland (or remote)

Remuneration: Unpaid (eligible candidates will receive a modest stipend, as a contribution towards living expenses)

I. Background
The United Nations Institute for Disarmament Research – UNIDIR is an autonomous institution within the United Nations that conducts independent research on disarmament and related problems, particularly international security issues. The vision of UNIDIR is a stable and more secure world in which States and people are protected from threats of arms-related violence. The role of UNIDIR is to support Member States, the United Nations and policy and research communities in advancing ideas and actions that contribute to a more sustainable and peaceful world. UNIDIR is based in the Palais des Nations, Geneva.

UNIDIR’s Conventional Arms Programme (CAP) is seeking a Graduate Professional to assist with research and to support the implementation of project activities. The overall objectives of the programme are to engage with States, the United Nations system, and the international security expert community to build knowledge and put in place measures to regulate conventional weapons and related parts, components and technologies in order to prevent and address armed conflict and armed violence, and contribute to efforts to enhance sustainable peace, security, and development. CAP currently pursues three research priorities:

Strengthening policy and practice on weapon and ammunition management;
Adapting conventional arms control to the changing nature of conventional warfare; and
Preventing and mitigating armed violence in urban and local settings.

More information on the Programme’s research and activities can be found at: https://unidir.org/programmes/conventional-arms.

Costs and arrangements for travel, visas, accommodation and living expenses are the responsibility of the Graduate Professional or their sponsoring institutions.

II. Responsibilities
Within UNIDIR’s Conventional Arms Programme, the Graduate Professional shall perform the following duties under the supervision of the Programme Lead:

Background research;
Assisting in the planning and implementation of programme activities (e.g. meetings, workshops, conferences, field missions);
Providing administrative support to projects;
Communicating with project partners; and
Performing other tasks, as required by programmatic staff.

III. Key Skills/ Interests

Project management and/or implementation;
Research and presentation;
Ability to synthesize information into concise, high-quality written briefs;
Organization and coordination of multiple tasks;
Interpersonal, teamwork and communication skills (written and oral);
Proficiency with Microsoft Office tools (in particular Word, Excel and PowerPoint);
Should have an interest in international peace and security, disarmament and/or the work of the United Nations.

IV. Competencies
The Graduate Professional is to demonstrate the core values of the United Nations: Professionalism, Integrity, and Respect for Diversity.
In addition, in this role, the Graduate Professional will demonstrate the following competences:

Communication: Identifies the information needs of target audiences and tailors communication accordingly, drafts clearly and concisely, good written and oral language skills, demonstrates openness in sharing information and keeping people informed.
Teamwork: Good interpersonal skills, ability to work collaboratively with colleagues from different national and cultural backgrounds to achieve organizational goals.
Planning & Organizing: Uses time efficiently, foresees risks and allows for contingencies when planning, monitors and adjusts plans and actions as necessary to ensure tasks are completed.
Creativity: Actively seeks to improve programmes or services, offers new and different options to solve problems, takes an interest in new ideas and ways of doing things, is not bound by current thinking or traditional approaches.
Client Orientation: Considers all those to whom services are provided to be ‘clients’ and seeks to understand and reflect the clients’ points of view in their work.

Qualifications and Experience
Education
To qualify for a GPP with the United Nations Graduate and Professional Program, applicants must meet one of the following requirements:

be enrolled in a graduate school programme (second university degree or equivalent, or higher); or
have graduated with a university degree (as defined above) and, if selected, must commence the Graduate and Professional Program within a one-year period of graduation.
have graduated with a university (first or second university degree, as defined above) and, if selected, must commence the graduate professional programme within a one-year period of graduation.

Preference will be given to applicants with post-graduate degree qualifications relevant to the Conventional Arms Programme’s specific current needs, for instance in the fields of social or behavioral sciences (such as politics, international affairs, strategic or security studies), or international law.

Work Experience
Applicants:

are not required to have professional work experience for participation in the programme, while demonstrated experience/interest in conventional arms control will be considered an asset;
shall be computer literate in standard software applications;
have a demonstrated keen interest in the work of the United Nations and have a personal commitment to the ideals of the Charter; and
have a demonstrated ability to successfully interact with individuals of different cultural backgrounds and beliefs, which includes willingness to understand and be tolerant of differing opinions and views.

Languages

For the position advertised, fluency in English (both oral and written) is required.
Knowledge of at least one other official UN language is desirable (knowledge of French, Portuguese, or Spanish is an asset).

To apply
Please send us a cover letter and your CV in PDF format titled as SURNAME_Name_CV-CL to Ms. Erica Mumford, Programme Assistant (erica.mumford1@un.org) with “UNIDIR Conventional Arms Programme GPP Application” in the subject line. Deadline for submission of applications is 20 August 2021. Closing date is midnight Geneva time.
Please note that incomplete applications will not be processed.
Please note that due to the high volume of applications received, only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.
*Applicants for the Graduate and Professional Program must show proof of valid medical insurance coverage to cover the full period of the GPP and provide a medical certificate of good health prior to the Graduate Professional’s commencement. The United Nations accepts no responsibility for the medical insurance of the Graduate Professional or costs arising from injury, illness or death that may occur during the Graduate and Professional Program.
UNIDIR promotes the core values of the United Nations: Integrity, Professionalism and Respect for Diversity. Women are encouraged to apply.