Director, Unu-merit

**About UN University (UNU)**:
The United Nations University (UNU) is an international community of scholars engaged in policy-oriented research, capacity development and dissemination of knowledge in furthering the purposes and principles of the Charter of the United Nations (UN). UNU’s mission is to contribute, through research and capacity building, to efforts to resolve the pressing global problems that are the concern of the UN and its Member States.

**About The United Nations University - Maastricht Economic and Social Research Institute on Innovation and Technology (UNU-MERIT)**:
UNU-MERIT contributes to UNU’s mission through high-quality research and education in the fields of innovation, development, and public policy. It aims to contribute to a better understanding of complex global challenges and how to govern them, from its core expertise, to help create a world where societies champion well-being and inclusive sustainable development.

**Close Collaboration with Maastricht University**:
The UNU‐MERIT Institute and the INSPIRE department of the School of Business and Economics (SBE) of Maastricht University work together in the UNU-UM Collaboration - which goes by the brand name UNU-MERIT - through a joint strategic plan and integrated activities. Taken together, UNU‐MERIT is currently one of the largest UNU institutes counting some 40 full time academic staff, about 30 in house PhD fellows and 90 MSc students, following the UM-UNU dual degree MSc programme on Public Policy and Human Development. In addition to the degree programs, UNU-MERIT engages in capacity building activities for professionals working in innovation, development and public policy.

The Director will lead and manage the UNU-MERIT Institute, the UNU-UM Collaboration, and INSPIRE. Therefore, the Director will be accountable to both the Rector of UNU and the Rector of UM on the respective parts of the Collaboration, overseen by a Steering Committee, composed of the UNU Rector, the UM President, and an independent member, and follow the applicable UNU and UM rules and regulations. The Director will also be appointed as a University Professor at UM - through a formal secondment of 40 % (or 0.4 FTE).

**Responsibilities**:
**Leadership and strategic management**
- Serve as the Chief Academic and Administrative officer of UNU-MERIT and have overall responsibility for the direction, organisation, administration, and programmes of UNU-MERIT (the Collaboration, the UNU Institute, and INSPIRE (UM)).
- Oversee the recruitment of personnel, research associates, fellows and trainees of UNU-MERIT and ensures academic excellence in all activities.

**Research and education programmes**
- Lead and oversee the implementation of an impact-driven programme of substantive research, education and capacity-building.
- Promote gender equality and gender mainstreaming in all research, education and training programmes.

**Resource mobilization and donor relations**
- Develop excellent donor relationships, increase and diversify funding.
- Oversee the fundraising, development and strengthening of research programmes, ensuring that research outputs are of the highest quality and policy recommendations are channeled effectively to the UN system, policymakers, and other stakeholders.
- Coach researchers in preparing excellent proposals and in engaging with research partners and donors.

**Represent UNU-MERIT and establish strategic partnerships**
- Develop the programme of work, budget estimates of UNU-MERIT, and personnel plans and submit those to UNU and UM through their respective channels.
- Direct both the UNU and UM personnel of UNU‐MERIT within the framework of the collaboration agreement between UNU and UM.
- Establish advisory bodies as necessary in connection with the activities of the Institute. Make arrangements with relevant national, regional and international institutions and organizations with a view to offering and receiving services related to the activities of the Institute.

**Knowledge sharing and collaboration**
- Facilitate the dissemination and translation of the Institute’s knowledge products to key stakeholders and the public.
- Co‐ordinate the programme of work of UNU-MERIT with the other UNU institutes.
- Participate in the periodic Conference of Directors of UNU institutes, and in the “Bestuurlijk Overleg” of the UM School of Business and Economics.

**Key performance indicators**:

- UNU-MERIT is seen as a reliable and trustworthy partner by national and international donors, governments, research partners, civil society, Maastricht University, and the UN System.
- Implementation of a high-quality research and education programme for UNU-MERIT, including delivering research outputs, capacity building activities, and events. A high level of academic excellence is guaranteed in the UNU-MERIT’S academic activities.
- Donor support of UNU-MERIT is increased, by building excellent donor relationships and diversifying funding sou