UNIDIR Position Announcement - Assistant Researcher

[David Boromisza-Habashi]

United Nations Institute for Disarmament Research (UNIDIR)
Téléphone : + 41 (0)22 917 11 41
Téléfax : + 41 (0)22 917 01 76
areidon.unidir at unog.ch
www.unidir.org
PALAIS DES NATIONS
CH-1211 GENÈVE 10

Position: Assistant Researcher (100%)

The United Nations Institute for Disarmament Research (UNIDIR) is
hiring an Assistant Researcher for the second phase of the Security
Needs Assessment Protocol project
(SNAP). The goal of the Security Needs Assessment Protocol (SNAP) is
to improve the operational effectiveness of humanitarian, development,
and security initiatives by using cultural research to understand
security from the point of view of communities. By then helping
agencies design services on the basis of the research findings, SNAP
aims to create more locally viable and sustainable field programmes at
local-levels. During Phase II of the project, UNIDIR will be piloting
and refining the Protocol developed in 2007-2008.

Description of Responsibilities

Working under the supervision of the Researcher & Assistant Project
Manager, the Assistant Researcher will have the following
responsibilities:

Research

- Assist in the conduct of security needs assessments;
- Assist in the evaluation and analysis of data sets and reports
produced by consultants and assessment teams;
- Assist in the development of case-specific research agendas for
security needs assessments;
- Conduct original research through application of the SNAP framework
in each phase of research (pre-field, field, and post-field);
- Participate in all field research activities (including desk
research, interviews, observations, group research meetings,
briefings);
- Produce original analysis and interpretation as required;
- Collaborate with other experts and scholars as required;
- Remain current on developments in the subject area;
- Make contributions or revisions to the Protocol Handbook and other
related documents as requested; and
- Work in cooperation with partners or collaborating agencies as required.

Mission Planning and Conduct

- Assist in the organization, preparation and conduct of security
needs assessments;
- Contribute substantively to the planning and conduct of all relevant
aspects of prefieldwork, fieldwork, and post-fieldwork in connection
to SNAP Phase II;
- Oversee the collection and organization of data sets and analysis
produced by consultants and assessment teams;
- Liaise with field team members;
- Travel to field sites as necessary; and
- Assist in the direction of field research and management of field
research teams as requested, and in the absence of the SNAP
Researcher.

Communications

- Participate in outreach activities of the project as requested;
- Liaise with the Advisory Group;
- Network with research communities;
- Attend relevant meetings and conferences upon request;
- Assist in the preparation of the key project outputs including
authored and coauthored reports or presentations; and
- Provide editorial support to team and field team members as requested.

Qualifications Required

- Thesis-based MA in the field of communication, with a specialization
in cultural communication, the ethnography of communication, or
related sub-disciplines; or
cultural (interpretive) anthropology or related sub-disciplines, with
advanced coursework towards the PhD or ABD status considered
favourable;
- Excellent ethnographic research skills, demonstrated through
field-based research experience either as an independent researcher or
as part of a team (minimum of two
years);
- Strong international work or research experience in one or more
developing countries (minimum of six months);
- Excellent English (both written and spoken);
- Excellent organizational skills, with the ability to manage
different tasks and modes of activity at once;
- Ability to travel to field sites as required, and work in varied
conditions and cultural settings, including post-conflict
environments; and
- Ability to work both independently and as part of a close-knit team
in highly consultative processes.

Terms

The Assistant Researcher will work at the Institute, located at the
Palais des Nations in Geneva, Switzerland.
Salary: CHF 6,500-6,770 per month (which includes the Institute's
contribution to the medical and pension plans of the candidate's
choice), depending on experience. No relocation expenses will be paid
by the Institute.
Starting date: 2 June 2009.
The initial appointment shall be from June 2009 through December 2009,
with the expectation that the successful candidate will be renewed
from January 2010 to December
2010 (end of project).

Application procedure

Applications should be sent by e-mail to application-unidir at unog.ch
with "SNAP Researcher" in the subject line. (If the applicant has
limited Internet access, applications can be posted to the attention
of "SNAP Project Manager", UNIDIR, Palais des Nations, 1211 Geneva 10,
Switzerland.)
Only applicants with training in the specific and related fields will
be considered.
Please submit an introductory letter, CV, the name/contact details of
three references, three letters of recommendation, and a writing
sample - ideally the methods section of a thesis, or other scholarly
paper that attends to ethnographic methods of analysis in detail.
Materials should be submitted electronically to unidir at unog.ch.
Include "SNAP Assistant Researcher Application" in the subject line.
Only complete applications will be considered.
The deadline for submission of applications is Monday, 2 March 2008.
Only short-listed candidates will be contacted.
No phone calls or emails will be accepted concerning this position.

About UNIDIR

The United Nations Institute for Disarmament Research develops
practical ideas for building peace and security through
forward-looking analysis on disarmament and security issues. UNIDIR's
activities address the entire security spectrum—human, regional and
global security—and seek to strengthen linkages to areas such as human
rights, humanitarian law and public health. The Institute's work
encompasses a diverse range of issues, from small arms to weapons of
mass destruction, from the reintegration of former combatants to
preventing an arms race in outer space.

Through its research projects, publications, conferences and expert
networks, UNIDIR serves as a bridge between decision makers,
researchers, practitioners, civil society groups,
Member States and United Nations agencies to promote creative thinking
and dialogue on both current and emerging security challenges.

Established in 1980 by the General Assembly as an autonomous institute
within the United Nations, UNIDIR is based in Geneva, the
international centre for security and disarmament negotiations, the
Conference on Disarmament, and humanitarian agencies. UNIDIR is funded
by voluntary contributions from governments and foundations. This
ensures the Institute's freedom to conduct impartial and balanced
research and provide policy recommendations to actors in the United
Nations system and beyond.

----------------------------

-- 
David Boromisza-Habashi, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor
Department of Communication
University of Colorado
270 UCB
Boulder, CO 80309-0270, USA

office location: Hellems 78
work phone: +1 (303) 735 5076
work fax: +1 (303) 492 8411

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