United Nations common system
United Nations common grades
Understand Professional, General Service, National Officer, Field Service, Director and senior UN leadership grades.
Important: Experience figures are practical benchmarks, not universal eligibility rules. The vacancy notice always controls, and G, NO and some Field Service roles are locally or nationally recruited.
UN grades
Professional
Internationally recruited professional posts from entry through principal specialist level.
Entry professional
Usually 0–2 years
Grade guide and jobs →Associate professional
Usually at least 2 years
Grade guide and jobs →Professional specialist
Usually at least 5 years
Grade guide and jobs →Senior professional
Usually at least 7 years
Grade guide and jobs →Principal professional
Usually at least 10 years
Grade guide and jobs →UN grades
Director and senior leadership
Director and appointed executive leadership levels.
Director
Typically 15+ years
Grade guide and jobs →Senior director
Typically 15+ years
Grade guide and jobs →Assistant Secretary-General
Extensive senior leadership experience
Grade guide and jobs →Under-Secretary-General
Extensive senior leadership experience
Grade guide and jobs →Secretary-General
Highest-level public leadership experience
Grade guide and jobs →UN grades
General Service
Locally recruited administrative, operational and technical support roles.
General Service level 1
Experience requirements are set locally
Grade guide and jobs →General Service level 2
Experience requirements are set locally
Grade guide and jobs →General Service level 3
Experience requirements are set locally
Grade guide and jobs →General Service level 4
Experience requirements are set locally
Grade guide and jobs →General Service level 5
Experience requirements are set locally
Grade guide and jobs →General Service level 6
Experience requirements are set locally
Grade guide and jobs →General Service level 7
Experience requirements are set locally
Grade guide and jobs →UN grades
National Professional Officer
Nationally recruited professional roles requiring local knowledge and normally local nationality.
Early national professional
Usually comparable to P-1/P-2
Grade guide and jobs →National professional
Usually comparable to P-2
Grade guide and jobs →Experienced national professional
Usually comparable to P-3
Grade guide and jobs →Senior national professional
Usually comparable to P-4
Grade guide and jobs →Principal national professional
Usually comparable to P-5
Grade guide and jobs →UN grades
Field Service
Operational and technical grades used mainly in field settings.
Field Service level 4
Varies by function and duty station
Grade guide and jobs →Field Service level 5
Varies by function and duty station
Grade guide and jobs →Field Service level 6
Varies by function and duty station
Grade guide and jobs →Field Service level 7
Varies by function and duty station
Grade guide and jobs →Using this guide
Choose by duties, not code alone
- 1
Start with the system
Confirm the employer and whether the label is a staff grade, contract level or institution-specific band.
- 2
Read the exact grade
Use the career-stage and scope notes as orientation, then check the official vacancy requirements.
- 3
Open current jobs
Each grade page connects the guide to active vacancies indexed with that exact, system-aware grade.
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