Insurance Expert, Germany

• Organization: UNU - United Nations University
• Country: Germany
• City: Bonn
• Office: UNU Bonn

Closing date: Sunday, 18 June 2017

POSITION: Personnel Service Agreement
REFERENCE NO.: 2017/UNU/EHS/PSA/EE/12
LOCATION: Bonn, Germany
Timezone: UTC +2
CLOSING DATE: 2017 06 18
Organisational Unit: UNU Institute for Environment and Human Security (UNU-EHS)
United Nations University objectives
The United Nations University (UNU) is an international community of scholars engaged in research, postgraduate teaching and capacity development, and dissemination of knowledge in furtherance of the purposes and principles of the Charter of the United Nations. The mission of UNU is to contribute, through research and capacity building, to efforts to resolve the pressing global problems that are the concern of the United Nations and its Member States.
UNU Institute for Environment and Human Security (UNU-EHS)
UNU-EHS, established in December 2003, is part of the UNU system, a worldwide network of research and training institutes. Its mission is to advance human security through knowledge-based approaches to reducing vulnerability and environmental risks. For more information, please visit www.ehs.unu.edu.
The Environmental Migration, Social Vulnerability & Adaptation Section (EMSVA) undertakes empirical research on social vulnerability and resilience as well as human mobility. The section also addresses climate change adaptation including a range of activities such as disaster risk reduction and insurance-related approaches to help vulnerable countries and communities.
Munich Climate Insurance Initiative (MCII) The MCII was initiated as a charitable organisation by representatives of insurers, research institutes and NGOs in April 2005 in response to the growing realization that insurance solutions can play a role in adaptation to climate change, as suggested in the Framework Convention and the Kyoto Protocol. This initiative is hosted at the United Nations University Institute for Environment and Human Security (UNU-EHS). It is focused on developing solutions for the risks posed by climate change for the poorest and most vulnerable people in developing countries. MCII provides a forum and gathering place for insurance-related expertise applied to climate change issues.
MCII plays a technical advisory function to the InsuResilience Initiative — a policy and development intervention of the Group of Seven (G7) that aims to provide insurance coverage to an additional 400 million people affected by climate change impacts.
From 2011 to 2014, MCII led and coordinated the Climate Risk Adaptation and Insurance in the Caribbean project (funded by BMUB) to help target countries in the Caribbean address some of the challenges to sustainable development posed by a changing climate. Phase I developed and implemented two index-based insurance products to help vulnerable people in the low income segment of the population better recover from impacts of extreme weather events on their livelihoods. From 2017 to 2019, MCII will lead and coordinate Phase II of the project, with the aim to solidify the efforts of the first phase and to scale up into two additional countries to further develop, refine and enhance climate risk insurance products across the Caribbean region.
Responsibilities
Under the authority of the Director of UNU-EHS and the guidance of the MCII Executive Director, the successful candidate will be entrusted with the following tasks

• lead the technical review and refinement process of the climate risk insurance solutions that have been implemented in Phase 1 of the Climate Risk Adaptation and Insurance in the Caribbean project (incl., inter alia, event recurrence intervals, trigger design and technical documentation, policy wording, payout structure, improving administrative handling, improving distribution etc.)
• monitor product performance and maintain oversight of technical adjustments to the products as needed over time
• oversee and provide input to the actuarial analysis for the functional area, and document and communicate assumptions, results, and alternatives to actuarial staff of internal and external partners
• optimise knowledge management products, training materials, and workshops aimed at building the capacity of insurance regulators, local primary insurers, and clients in the target countries, and contribute insurance expertise to ongoing research activities of MCII
• provide support with regard to technical insurance questions to contribute to MCII's advisory role to the G7 initiative on climate risk insurance (InsuResilience) and support the strategic dialogue with different stakeholders (incl., but not limited to, target countries, private sector, civil society, etc.)
• represent the organisation at national and international events, expert meetings, and conferences
• travel (national and international) as needed to attend workshops and meetings with key partners

Required qualifications and experience
Required qualifications and experience include

• a degree in Business Administration, Insurance, Economics, Mathematics or a related field
• proven background and experience in underwriting; background in actuarial processes (incl. modeling, programming, quantitative analysis) is desired
• detailed knowledge of insurance processes and functions, and at least three years of experience within the insurance industry
• experience in development cooperation is required
• experience with the implementation of different Nat-Cat insurance solutions, e.g., micro-insurance, parametric insurance approaches, etc., and/or experience with the application of insurance or other related financial solutions for target groups in developing countries would be an asset
• excellent presentation and communication skills with fluency in English; knowledge of Spanish would be advantageous
• initiative-taker with the ability to negotiate with partners and a good team worker would be preferred
• empathy and flexibility, enjoy working with people from different cultures

Remuneration
Remuneration will be commensurate with qualifications and experience.
Duration of contract
This is full-time employment on a one (1) year Personnel Service Agreement (PSA) contract with the possibility of renewal subject to requirements and satisfactory work performance. The combined duration of appointments shall not exceed six (6) years.
This is a locally recruited post; no relocation allowances apply. The successful candidate will be employed under a local contract and will not hold international civil servant status nor is he/she a 'staff member' as defined in the United Nations Staff Rules and Regulations.
Starting date
As soon as possible.