Under the overall supervision of the Director of the UNU-IAS and under the direct guidance and supervision of the Academic Programme Advisor, the Programme Assistant shall be responsible for the following duties: 

1. Provide administrative support for the implementation of the research funding programmes, including Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (JSPS), Japan Science and Technology Agency (JST), among others, in cooperation with the Administration Unit of the UNU-IAS; 

• Assist in the management of external grants, including application, update, and reporting processes, in coordination with the applicants and project investigators pursuant to the instructions provided by the donors,
• Provide support in producing financial reports and documents for externally funded research engagement, 
• Assist in preparing contractual agreements, maintaining and monitoring the implementation of contracts for funded research programmes, 
• Assist in the Institute’s fundraising activities by collecting and disseminating information on various external research grants, in cooperation with the Communication Team of UNU-IAS,
• Provide operational support for the UNU-JSPS Postdoctoral Fellowship programme. 

2. Assist in the implementation of academic and knowledge management activities under the programme, focusing on the following areas:

• Assist in the production and communication of digital knowledge products relevant to the programme, including website information and videos,
• Assist in providing logistical support for organising conferences, meetings, and other public events,
• Assist  with daily communications within UNU-IAS and with partners related to project operations,
• Maintain supporting documents and a filing system for the project.

3. Provide administrative support for the ICT-related coordination for the Institute:

• Support day-to-day communication as a primary contact point for the technical team of the UNU Centre
• Support ICT procurement activities in coordination with the UNU Centre 
• Support inventory management and verification processes as required

4. Perform other duties as assigned by the supervisors.

• Knowledge and working experience with the organisation of conferences, including logistical and financial arrangements is desirable
• Work experience in processing contractual agreements is an asset
• Proficiency in MS Office Applications (MS Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Outlook)
• Ability to establish priorities, work within tight deadlines and handle multiple concurrent activities

• Good team player with strong interpersonal skills demonstrated by the ability to work in a multi-cultural, multi-ethnic environment with sensitivity and respect for diversity

Remuneration

The successful candidate will be employed under a national PSA contract. UNU offers an attractive compensation package including a monthly net salary in the range of JPY 360,333 to 398,333 commensurate with the experience and qualifications of the candidate. Benefits include 30 days annual leave and a health insurance scheme.

UNU is not liable for any taxes that may be levied on the remuneration you receive under this contract. Payment of any such taxes remains the sole responsibility of PSA holders.

Duration of contract

The duration of the initial contract is 1 year. This is Personnel Service Agreement (PSA) contract with UNU, with the possibility for renewal subject to requirements and satisfactory work performance. The combined duration on a PSA contract with UNU may not exceed six (6) years. The mandatory age of retirement for PSA holders is 65 years.

How to Apply:

Please visit: https://unu.recruitee.com/o/programme-assistant-psa2

• Apply via the apply link
• Fill out the UNU P11 form (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

Application Deadline:  

15 October 23:59 (JST) 2025