Senior Researcher - Team Lead (P3) BASED IN MACAU

About UN University (UNU)

The United Nations University (UNU) is a global think tank and postgraduate teaching organization within the United Nations System. UNU engages in policy-relevant research, capacity development, and knowledge dissemination in furtherance of the purposes and principles of the United Nations. The work of UNU contributes to solving pressing global problems that are the concern of the United Nations and its Member States.

For the past five decades, UNU has been a source of impartial research on sustainability, human security, and economic development. With hundreds of researchers working at institutes in 12 countries, UNU's expertise spans the full breadth of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals, generating policy-relevant knowledge to effect positive global change. UNU collaborates closely with other UN entities and leading research institutions across the globe. For more information, please visit

About the Institute

UNU Institute in Macau (UNU Macau) is one of 13 research and training Institutes that comprise the think tanks in the UNU system. UNU Macau is dedicated to research, training, and education on digital technologies for sustainable development. It promotes evidence-based actions and policies to support the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals. 

UNU Macau is located in the Macao Special Administrative Region (SAR) of China, the only UN entity in the city. Situated within the Greater Bay Area, one of the most dynamic regions in the world, UNU Macau benefits from its proximity not only to mainland China and Hong Kong SAR but also to many other Asian countries, offering unique opportunities for researchers and experts to maximize research impact. For more information, visit .

Responsibilities

The UNU Institute in Macau’s research team consists of a dynamic and highly professional group of multi-disciplinary researchers from across the world. The research team works collaboratively to seek big-sized research grants and conduct research projects together for policy impact. The team also collaborates on training and education programmes.

Under the guidance and direct supervision of the Head of Research, and the overall guidance of the Director of the Institute, the successful candidate will be entrusted with the following tasks:

1. Lead research focusing on the achievement of the following results:

• Based on the Institute plan and KPI, develop research programmes aligned to their expertise with their team, and carry out research relevant to the vision and strategy of UNU-Macau at an international level;

• Manage a team of inter-disciplinary researchers while overseeing multiple projects carried out within the team;

• Oversee the budget and finance of projects delivered by the researcher’s team;

• Manage, mentor and coach junior researchers and student researchers/interns, when applicable;

• Demonstrate professionalism, flexibility, and ability to work with realistic deadlines, creative thinking, results driven, foreseeing risks and allowing for contingencies when planning.

• Play a key role in Institutional events such as conferences and events; take the lead on conference deliverables, organization of sessions and proceedings/books.

2. Partnerships and Resource Mobilization focusing on the achievement of the following results:

• Lead the development of resource mobilization strategies for policy-relevant topics in the assigned portfolio; implement the resource mobilization strategies on behalf of the Institute and with the multidisciplinary team;

• Establish and maintain partnerships with government, UN entities, private sector, NGOs and other key, stakeholders and donors to collaborate actively, and achieve fundraising results;

• Oversee MoU and agreement signing on academic collaboration and UNU hub formation, with partners, and negotiate deliverables and grant funding with donors;

• Establish reporting accountability framework to ensure that donors are duly informed on a timely basis. Plan financial and human resources needed for grant projects;

• Execute grant and project funds with full compliance to donor agreements; and

• Engage policy consumers from research conceptualization and collaborate closely along the way.

3. Exercise the highest professional and ethical standards when conducting research, and ensure high quality research outputs are delivered focusing on the achievement of the following results:

• Ensure that all relevant research projects undertaken in her/his team have met requirement of the Ethical Review Board (ERB)’s reviews before data collection;

• Monitor and evaluate research activities, including supervising project leaders in drafting and submitting periodic reports;

• Prepare presentations and reports on programme activities for various audiences;

• Publish in high quality academic journals;

• Create diverse written products related to the research projects or areas of expertise, such as academic papers in high-ranking peer-reviewed journals, blogs, op-eds, policy briefs, and UN reports; and

4. Communicate research accomplishments at academic conferences, and especially high-impact international venues (e.g. UN conferences) focusing on the achievement of the following results:

• Explore and suggest academic conferences and events to present research results; participate if approved;

• Contribute to the Institute’s publication/social media platforms to release academic achievements, such as to produce blog posts, policy briefs, briefs of journal articles, tweets, etc.

5. Lead and oversee training or educational activities in the research areas of their team; participate in Institute events focusing on the achievement of the following results:

• Teach educational and training programmes on behalf of the Institute;

• Collaborate with the Training and Educational team; design and develop educational and training programmes for diverse audiences, such as policymakers, youth and technology community, among others.

6. Perform other tasks as assigned by the Head of Research and Director.

Key performance indicators

• Timely and quality development and implementation of the Institute’s strategy, research programmes, projects and workplans.

• Timely and quality delivery on operational goals.

• Timely and quality delivery of curated fundraising opportunities.

• Timely and quality research publications.

• Quality and level of engagement with partners, related networks and working groups.

• UNU Macau is seen as a reliable and trustworthy partner by research partners, governments, donors, and civil society.

• Performance of research team personnel; produces quality knowledge products.

Competencies

Values:

• Inclusion — take action to create an environment of dignity and respect for all, regardless of age, culture, disability, ethnicity, gender, gender identity, gender expression, geography, grade, language, nationality, racial identity, religion, sex, sex characteristics, sexual orientation, social origin or any other aspect of identity

• Integrity — act ethically, demonstrating the standards of conduct of the United Nations and taking prompt action in case of witnessing unprofessional or unethical behaviour, or any other breach of UN standards

• Humility — demonstrate self-awareness and willingness to learn from others

• Humanity — act according to the purposes of the United Nations: peace, dignity and equality on a healthy planet

Behaviours:

• Connect and collaborate — build positive relationships with others to advance the work of the United Nations and work coherently as One UN

• Analyse and plan — seek out and use data from a wide range of sources to understand problems, inform decision-making, propose evidence-based solutions and plan action

• Deliver results with positive impact — hold oneself and others accountable for delivering results and making a positive difference to the people and causes that the United Nations serves

• Learn and develop — pursue own learning and development and contribute to the learning and development of others

• Adapt and innovate — demonstrate flexibility, agility and the ability to think and act in novel ways

1) Education and certification

PhD in computer science, information studies, human-computer interaction, data science, digital technology and ethics, economics, communication studies, development studies, computer-based modelling, computational social science or related field is required.

We are looking for a researcher working on Artificial Intelligence (AI) and its impact on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The selected candidate is expected to have a inter-disciplinary perspective on AI, expertise in utilizing AI tools and techniques, and a focus on research application to meet diverse global challenges and policy-relevant issues.

• Areas of expertise may include but are not limited to:

  1. Impacts of AI on the SDGs;

  2. AI and sustainability;

  3. AI for Good;

  4. Agent-based modelling, distributed AI or social simulation;

  5. Multicultural, cross-cultural, or cross-national aspects of AI;

  6. AI governance;

  7. Ethics of AI and public policy, regulatory frameworks and guidelines; ethics operationalization and contextualization;

  8. AI and data ethics: algorithmics biases and discrimination, accountability and transparency, synthetic data;

  9. AI as related to peace and security issues;

  10. Gender perspectives on AI.

2) Required skills and experience

Required:

• Doctoral degree with at least five (5) years of post-doctoral full-time, progressive experience in managing successful academic research programs, some of which should include managing teams of at least two (2) staff;

• A track record of excellent academic publications and/or policy briefs commensurate with the stage of the researcher’s career;

• Experience managing research operations including human resources, finance and budgeting of research teams;

• Strong people management skills and experience in supervision ;

• Good team player with strong interpersonal skills demonstrated by the ability to work in a multicultural environment with sensitivity and respect for diversity;

• Passion for the mission of the United Nations and enthusiasm to contribute to the achievement of the SDGs;

• The post is Macau-based. Selected candidates are required to reside full-time in Macau. This is not a remote position.

Desirable:

• Experience working with diverse stakeholders including public, private, non-profit and intergovernmental organizations;

• Experience in managing a multi-disciplinary team;

• Experience working with United Nations system;

3) Language Requirements

• Strong communication and presentation skills, along with excellent drafting skills, and fluency in English.

• Knowledge of another UN official working language is an asset.

Remuneration

UNU offers an attractive, tax exempt compensation package including an annual net salary (subject to mandatory deductions for pension contributions and health insurance), 30 days annual leave, dependency benefits, pension plan and health insurance scheme. For more information please see:

Duration of contract

This is a full-time, fixed-term appointment. The initial appointment will be for one (1) year with the possibility of renewal on a fixed-term appointment basis, subject to satisfactory work performance.

For academic positions, the combined duration of fixed-term appointments with UNU may not exceed six (6) years. The mandatory age of retirement for United Nations staff is 65 years.

Starting Date

Immediate

How to Apply

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

• Apply via the apply link;

• fill out the  (please avoid using similar forms provided by other United Nations organisations);

• provide a motivation statement (in the P11 form); and

• answer a few questions that are tailored to the position.

You may wish to refer to the for more information.

Application Deadline

09 August, 2026

Submissions must be received by 11:59pm, Macau time zone GMT +8; late entries will not be accepted.

** Application page (submission) no longer operational beyond application deadline.

Assessment

Evaluation of qualified candidates may include an assessment exercise which may be followed by a competency-based interview, background checks and references.

Special notice

Staff members of the United Nations University are international civil servants subject to the Rector's authority. They 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.

UNU is committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce, and encourages all candidates, irrespective of gender, nationality, religious and ethnic backgrounds, including persons living with disabilities to apply and become part of the organisation. Applications from developing countries, and from women are strongly encouraged. Eligible internal applicants are also encouraged to apply.

UNU has a zero-tolerance policy on conduct that is incompatible with the aims and objectives of the United Nations and UNU, including sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment, abuse of authority and discrimination.

If you have supervisory function, you need to have awareness on gender related issues.

Information about UNU rosters

UNU reserves the right to select one or more candidates from this vacancy announcement. We may also retain applications and consider candidates applying to this post for other similar positions with UNU.

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