ISA Jobs 2026
International Seabed Authority
Explore current vacancies with International Seabed Authority (ISA), including hiring locations, requirements, duties, salaries, grades, contracts, career insights and application links.
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All ISA Jobs
Showing 2 of 2 active roles.
Popular ISA Job Searches
Common ways candidates explore ISA careers by opportunity type, location and field.
About ISA
The International Seabed Authority (ISA) is the autonomous organization through which States Parties to the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea organize and control mineral-resources-related activities in the international seabed Area for the benefit of humankind. It develops the regulatory framework for these activities, oversees contracts and must ensure effective protection of the marine environment from harmful effects of deep-seabed activities.
- Established
- 1994
- Global Workforce
- 2027–2028
- Annual Budget
- USD 26.427m (2025–2026 biennium)
- Global Presence
- 172 Members; the Area covers around 54% of world oceans
ISA Hiring Locations
Countries with active ISA vacancies right now.
Working with ISA
Working at ISA means applying law, marine science and public administration to deep-seabed governance beyond national jurisdiction. The Kingston Secretariat supports Member States, the Assembly, Council, Legal and Technical Commission and Finance Committee; it develops regulations, manages contracts and data, supports marine research and environmental stewardship, and organizes sessions. Roles span legal affairs, marine science, environmental management, contract compliance, GIS, finance, HR, procurement, communications and conference services.
Why Work at ISA?
Govern a global ocean commons
Contribute to decisions governing an Area covering around 54 per cent of oceans.
Work at law-science interface
Combine legal, scientific and environmental expertise in a uniquely multilateral mandate.
Shape safeguards before exploitation
Help create standards and information systems for responsible deep-seabed decision-making.
How to Apply for ISA Jobs
Once you find a suitable ISA vacancy on IGO Jobs or the ISA careers page, submit your application through ISA's official recruitment portal. Below is a guide on how to apply.
Official ISA application route ↗1Start on ISA’s Career Opportunities page
Check ISA’s official Career Opportunities page for fixed-term and temporary posts, consultants and individual contractors, internships, and calls for proposals. Open the relevant opportunity rather than relying on a general UN vacancy search; ISA posts are grouped by recruitment type and link to their official application route.
2Check the vacancy-specific and ISA-wide eligibility requirements
Read the full vacancy before applying. ISA says it seeks citizens of an ISA Member State with strong academic backgrounds, preferably postgraduate qualifications, significant professional expertise and intercultural working ability. The job opening remains authoritative for the grade, main technical specialization, experience, language, duty station and any role-specific eligibility requirement.
3Create and confirm your Inspira account
For staff, consultancy and internship opportunities, use the vacancy link to access Inspira. New users must create an account, confirm their email address and follow the system guidance to complete the Personal History Profile. In Inspira, ISA vacancies can also be found under **Department/Office: International Seabed Authority**.
4Turn the profile into an actual application
A completed Personal History Profile does not itself apply you for a job. Select the advertised ISA vacancy, use the application wizard and submit the application required for that opening. Complete every requested field with accurate qualifications, experience and language information; ISA states that applications sent by email or another application system cannot be considered.
5Submit well before the New York deadline
ISA states that openings close at 24:00, midnight New York local time, on the listed closing date. Applications that have not been submitted by then cannot be accepted, even if work on them began earlier. Once digitally submitted, the application cannot be modified, although you can update your profile for future vacancies. Retain the return-email acknowledgement.
6Follow the opening through selection and verification
ISA evaluates applications against the criteria in the job opening. Candidates under serious consideration are subject to reference checks, and only shortlisted candidates may be contacted for an interview. Selection stages vary by post, so use the live notice as the source of truth and keep the email connected to Inspira active for official communication.
Recruitment safety: No. ISA says it does not charge application, processing, training, interview, testing or other recruitment fees, and it does not seek bank-account information. Use the official ISA careers page and Inspira to verify vacancies. Disregard payment requests and contact [email protected] if someone claims to recruit for ISA and asks for money.
ISA Market Insights
Current vacancy activity and the career areas represented across active ISA listings.
Active jobs
4
Added this month
3
+2 vs last monthTypical posting age
25 days
Most active month
August
Least active month
July
Most active duty station
Kingston
Based on IGO Jobs internal index data. See methodology and sources.
Top Job Functions
Top Grades
Top Contract Types
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Frequently asked questions about ISA careers
Where do I apply for ISA jobs?+
Apply through the ISA Career Opportunities page or in Inspira. In Inspira, go to Job Openings and select International Seabed Authority under Department/Office, then apply for a specific vacancy. Create and confirm an account, complete your Personal History Profile and submit the application; creating a profile alone is not an application.
What kinds of jobs does ISA offer?+
ISA advertises fixed-term and temporary Secretariat posts, consultants, individual contractors, internships, and Junior and Senior Professional Officer opportunities. Roles cover budgets, legal affairs, databases, marine science and environmental management. The job description sets the category, grade, location, duties and qualifications.
Where are ISA jobs based?+
ISA’s Secretariat is seated in Kingston, Jamaica, and its career page lists Secretariat vacancies there. ISA also has a Permanent Observer liaison function in New York, but use the duty station stated in the opening. The Authority’s work concerns the international seabed Area, which covers around 54 per cent of the world’s oceans.
Do I need to be from an ISA Member State?+
ISA says it seeks citizens of an ISA Member State with a strong academic background, preferably postgraduate, considerable professional expertise and the ability to work across cultures. Every advertised opening supplies the authoritative eligibility and technical criteria. Confirm those requirements before investing time in the application.
What happens after I apply for an ISA job?+
ISA assesses applications against each opening’s criteria. Applicants under serious consideration undergo reference checks and only shortlisted candidates may be contacted for an interview. Exact stages vary by role; follow the vacancy notice and do not assume a training or contractor opportunity uses the staff-recruitment process.
Does ISA charge an application fee?+
No. ISA says it does not charge application, processing, training, interview, testing or other recruitment fees, and it does not seek bank-account information. Use the official ISA careers page and Inspira to verify vacancies. Disregard payment requests and contact [email protected] if someone claims to recruit for ISA and asks for money.