We value diversity and recruit from a broad range of backgrounds so that we benefit from fresh experiences and perspectives. You could work in the UN Headquarters in New York, one of our regional logistics hubs or in one of the field peacekeeping operations. Read more about careers in the UN and specifically about working in a field mission.
Civilian
There are many opportunities to work as a civilian within UN Peace Operations. Browse our current vacancies located on the UN careers website for full-time, temporary, consultant, and internship opportunities.
The UN Volunteers (UNV) programme also recruits thousands of specialists, youth, and online volunteers to serve with our field missions and at Headquarters each year. Enroll today on the UNV website.
Government-Provided Personnel: Justice and corrections experts can be nominated by their government to serve with a United Nations peace operation as justice and corrections government-provided personnel. Read more here.
Police
Peacekeeping wants to recruit more police officers. UN police are recruited as:
- Individual Police Officers (IPO): About one third of police officers are nominated by their government to serve the United Nations for a period of up to two years. Individual Police Officers are seconded or loaned national police officers and continue to receive their national salary, while the UN pays a daily Mission Subsistence Allowance (MSA).
- Formed police Units (FPUs): About two thirds of all police are deployed as a trained and equipped, cohesive unit. The Member State is responsible for the payment of any emoluments, allowances and benefits owed to its personnel, while the UN reimburses the Member State for the formed police unit personnel and equipment during the period of assignment to the mission.
- National seconded police officers on professional posts: About hundred officers (1 percent) are seconded as temporary staff members of the United Nations. Senior positions in police components in field missions, such as the Head of the police component (at P-5 to D-2 level), are usually employed on seconded professional posts.
- Police components also recruit about two dozen civilian experts with specialised skill sets. They can be recruited, similarly to Individual Police Officers, nominated/ loaned by a member state or on professional posts.
Find out how to serve in one of our missions.
Military
The UN does not have its own military force; it depends on contributions from Member States. Any queries about working for the UN in a military capacity should be addressed within an applicant's own country first.
All military personnel working under the Blue Beret are first and foremost members of their own national armies and are then seconded to work with the UN for periods normally of up to one year in the field, or two years in the UN headquarters.
Recruiting women in to senior civilian positions
We are looking for senior qualified women with proven leadership skills, integrity, and commitment to the ideals of the UN Charter to create a 'talent pipeline' of Directors in UN Peacekeeping and Special Political Missions.
We seek seasoned managers who have worked in the areas of conflict management, governance, political analysis, media/strategic communication, law, amongst others, to compete for senior positions in our field missions. These roles are mostly at non-duty family stations in conflict or post conflict settings, at the D-1 and D-2 levels in the areas of:
- Political/Civil Affairs
- Public Information and Communication
- Rule of Law and Security Institutions
- Senior Resources Management Positions
- Supply Chain Management
- Service Delivery
- Director and Deputy Director Mission Support
Who is eligible?
Women with an advanced level university degree, with at least 15 years of relevant professional work experience in one of the areas listed above, and fluent in English. Additional fluency in French or Arabic is strongly desirable. You do not need to have prior UN experience, but it is generally required to have experience in conflict-affected or post-conflict countries or humanitarian emergencies. We have asked Member States to help us identify women with the above eligibility criteria for the talent pipeline. Women at the P-5 level and above in the United Nations agencies, funds and programmes, as well as women in our partner intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations are also welcome to express their interest directly. This initiative is part of the Secretary-General's effort to improve the representation and retention of women in the UN system.
Career support activities for women staff members at the P4 to D1 levels are currently being developed.
Why would I want to join this initiative?
Members of the talent pipeline will benefit from regular updates on field mission vacancies for which they are qualified, as well as guidance on the application and assessment process. Note that being a member does not constitute an automatic offer to a post, and all members of the talent pipeline would apply to specific openings via the UN Careers website.
How do I express my interest?
Referrals or applications to the talent pipeline should include a cover letter and a detailed curriculum vitae (or PHP) (which should describe, amongst others, the different positions encumbered, managerial and budgetary experience as well as experience in post-conflict countries or emergencies) and are welcomed via the following website https://www.impactpool.org/un-peace-operations/swtp. E-mailed applications are not considered. For questions about the initiative, please reach out to the Senior Women Talent Pipeline team via TalentPipeline@un.org.”