Research Support and Coordination Expert

Volunteering

Overview

Support coordination of research projects and assist in report production and communications.

You have:

• At least 7 years professional experience in a research/evidence context
• Experience of preparing and editing research publications
• Experience of management/coordination of complex projects, ideally within a research context
• Excellent organizational skills and ability to work on own initiative
• Collaborative working skills
• Strong verbal and written communication skills in English
• Research publications record
• Experience of undertaking literature reviews
• Experience of communication and disseminating research findings
• Ability to work in Italian or in an additional UN language

Contract

This is a UNV contract. More about UNV contracts.

This assignment will be in the Planet, Participation and Well-being (PPW) research team – one of five research teams that are part of a larger office also including foresight analysis, data and analytics, data governance and programme effectiveness. The overarching aim of the office is to strengthen UNICEF’s global credibility and ability to be a global voice, influencer, and evidence leader for child rights. The PPW team is responsible for two flagship evidence reports – State of the World’s Children and the Innocenti Report Cards – as well as a range of other activity including research on child poverty and on child well-being, behavioural science research and youth engagement.

Under the overall guidance and supervision of Chief, Planet, Participation and Well-being team, the Research Support and Coordination Expert will involve in 5 main types of tasks:

1. Report production: organizing review processes, formatting and light editing of working papers, liaising with external editors and designers.
2. Knowledge management: including helping to organize our Sharepoint folders, organizing, archiving, cataloguing.
3. Project co-ordination: keeping track of time scales, keeping lists and maintaining contact with key stakeholders including advisory groups and internal partners, time scales and reminders.
4. Background research: including literature searches, writing up evidence summaries in order to contribute to reports.
5. Communications and dissemination: working with internal Comms team, drafting comms materials, drafting dissemination plans

• Ability to organize own work and work on own initiative with good judgement about when referral to others is required. • Strong interpersonal skills in establishing and maintaining positive and collaborative relationships with internal colleagues and external partners. • Ability to work effectively in a multi-cultural environment.

Essential: • At least 7 years professional experience in a research/evidence context • Experience of preparing and editing research publications • Experience of management/coordination of complex projects, ideally within a research context • Excellent organizational skills and ability to work on own initiative • Collaborative working skills • Strong verbal and written communication skills in English

Desirable: • Research publications record • Experience of undertaking literature reviews • Experience of communication and disseminating research findings • Ability to work in Italian or in an additional UN language

The office is based in a historic building (Ospedale degli Innocenti) in the centre of Florence. It is therefore easily accessible on foot or by public transport. Accommodation costs in Florence are quite high due to the high levels of tourism. The office has around 150 staff and is a recent merger of separate UNICEF HQ functions covering research/foresight, data and analytics, data governance and programme effectiveness. It is a friendly and stimulating environment in which to work for anyone interested in generating and using evidence to improve children’s lives globally.

The purpose of the allowances and entitlements paid to UN Volunteers is to enable UN Volunteers to sustain a secure standard of living at the duty stations in line with United Nations standards without incurring personal costs. The allowances are in no way to be understood as compensation, reward, or salary in exchange for the UN Volunteer’s service. You can check full entitlements at the duty station at https://app.unv.org/calculator.

Monthly Living Allowance (Per month, paid in USD): apx. EUR 4655.23 Entry lump sum (one-time payment): USD 350 Exit allowance (for each month served, paid on completion of contract): USD 120 Medical and life insurance: Cigna Private Insurance Please note that the amounts can vary according to fluctuations in the exchange rate.

Leave entitlements: Annual leave: 2.5 days accrued per calendar month Certified sick leave: UN Volunteers are entitled to up to 30 days of certified sick leave based on a 12-month cycle. This amount is reset every 12-month cycle. Uncertified sick leave: 7 days for 12 months and 4 days for shorter assignments Learning leave: 10 working days per consecutive 12 months (shorter assignments are prorated)

For more information, please consult the Condition of Service (https://explore.unv.org/cos) and visit (https://app.unv.org/calculator)

Volunteerism is understood as a wide range of activities undertaken of free will, for the general public good, for which monetary reward is not the principal motivating factor.

The security situation in Italy remains calm and stable. Regionally, terrorism is a concern, but there is NO direct threat towards UN in Italy. Vigilance and awareness are recommended. Crime is not specifically targeted at UN staff, but opportunistic thefts are the most reported incidents impacting UN staff and dependents. Travelers should exercise normal precautions to avoid being pickpocketed.

Different types of long-term accommodation are available in Rome: standalone houses, houses in gated compounds, apartments. These could be furnished and/or fully serviced, or unfurnished.

As this is a national UN Volunteer assignment, the UN Volunteer will be responsible for arranging his/her own housing and other living essentials.

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Potential interview questions

Added 29 days ago - Updated 11 days ago - Source: unv.org