UN Secretariat Jobs 2026
United Nations Secretariat
Explore current vacancies with United Nations Secretariat (UN Secretariat), including hiring locations, requirements, duties, salaries, grades, contracts, career insights and application links.
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All UN Secretariat Jobs
Showing 2 of 2 active roles.
Popular UN Secretariat Job Searches
Common ways candidates explore UN Secretariat careers by opportunity type, location and field.
About UN Secretariat
The United Nations Secretariat is the UN’s international civil service, carrying out the Organization’s day-to-day work under mandates from the General Assembly and other principal organs. Led by the Secretary-General, it is organized into departments and offices that support peace and security, human rights, sustainable development, legal affairs, communications, administration and field operations. Its staff serve at headquarters, regional offices, commissions and missions worldwide.
- Established
- 1945
- Global Workforce
- ~35,231
- Annual Budget
- —
- Global Presence
- 193 countries
UN Secretariat Hiring Locations
Countries with active UN Secretariat vacancies right now.
Working with UN Secretariat
Working in the UN Secretariat means implementing mandates set by the General Assembly, Security Council and other UN organs. Careers span nine job networks, from political affairs, humanitarian coordination, development, law and public information to ICT, logistics, finance, HR, conference management and security. Posts can be internationally or locally recruited and are based at Headquarters, major offices, regional commissions, country duty stations or field missions. Contract type, mobility and selection requirements depend on the opening.
Why Work at UN Secretariat?
Serve a universal global mandate
Help 193 Member States address peace, rights, development and collective security.
Find roles across nine networks
Build specialized or cross-functional careers across the Secretariat’s diverse professional disciplines.
Work across global duty stations
Pursue posts at headquarters, regional commissions, offices, missions and country duty stations.
How to Apply for UN Secretariat Jobs
Once you find a suitable UN Secretariat vacancy on IGO Jobs or the UN Secretariat careers page, submit your application through UN Secretariat's official recruitment portal. Below is a guide on how to apply.
Official UN Secretariat application route ↗1Search the UN Careers Portal strategically
All UN Secretariat job openings are published on UN Careers. Use filters for job network, category, level, department or office, duty station and recruitment type, then open the full job description. Confirm the responsibilities, requirements, contract, location and deadline before applying; the Secretariat includes many distinct departments, offices, regional commissions and field operations.
2Check the staff category and entry route
Identify whether the vacancy is Professional, National Professional Officer, General Service or another category, and read its eligibility rules carefully. General Service and related staff are generally locally recruited, while many Professional posts are internationally recruited. For early-career routes such as internships, YPP or JPO, follow the separate official eligibility information rather than treating them as standard vacancies.
3Create or update your Inspira profile
Select **Apply Now** and sign in to Inspira, the UN Secretariat online recruitment system. Create an account if needed, then complete your candidate profile and application. Record education, professional experience, languages, skills, achievements, references and eligibility information accurately. Save regularly while working, because your profile is the extended online résumé used to assess suitability.
4Tailor the application and motivation statement
Address the education, experience, languages, competencies and technical requirements in the exact job opening. Complete the required motivation statement with evidence-based examples that show why your experience fits the advertised responsibilities. Update your profile for each application rather than reusing an unfocused response across unrelated job networks or departments.
5Review and submit before the deadline
Check mandatory fields, employment dates, declarations, screening answers and requested attachments before submitting in Inspira. Confirm the closing date and time in the live listing, retain the confirmation and job-opening number, and monitor the email linked to your account. The portal permits updates before submission, but late applications are not accepted.
6Prepare for the Secretariat selection process
Applications are assessed against the requirements in the job opening. Candidates who progress may complete a written test, technical exercise, recorded video interview, presentation, assessment-centre exercise or another role-specific assessment, followed by a competency-based interview. Education, employment, reference and other checks may follow before a selection decision.
Recruitment safety: No. The United Nations does not charge fees for applications, interviews, processing or training, and does not ask candidates for bank-account information during recruitment. Verify every opportunity in the UN Careers Portal and treat payment requests, unsolicited offer letters and unofficial job links as fraudulent.
UN Secretariat Market Insights
Current vacancy activity and the career areas represented across active UN Secretariat listings.
Active jobs
2
Added this month
1
+1 vs last monthTypical posting age
797 days
Most active month
August
Least active month
June
Most active duty station
New York
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 UN Secretariat careers
Where do I apply for UN Secretariat jobs?+
All UN Secretariat job openings are published on the United Nations Careers Portal. Select a suitable listing and use Apply Now to submit an application in Inspira. Create or update your account and Personal History Profile, then complete the application for that opening. A CV alone does not replace the required online form or motivation statement.
What kinds of jobs does the UN Secretariat offer?+
The Secretariat recruits in Professional, National Professional Officer and General Service categories, plus appointments. Its nine job networks range from political affairs and development to ICT, legal, logistics, public information, conference management, administration, science and security. The listing sets grade, contract and eligibility.
Where can UN Secretariat staff be based?+
Secretariat staff work at UN Headquarters in New York, major offices in Geneva, Nairobi and Vienna, five regional commissions, country duty stations and field missions. The UN describes offices in 193 countries. The duty station, travel, mobility and work arrangement are specific to the listing, so do not assume a role is New York-based or remote.
What happens after I submit a UN Secretariat application?+
The Secretariat evaluates an Inspira application against the criteria listed in the job opening. Candidates who progress may complete a written test, technical exercise, recorded video interview, presentation or assessment, followed by a competency-based interview. Reference, education, employment and other checks can follow before selection.
Are there entry routes for early-career candidates?+
Yes. The Secretariat offers internships and entry routes such as the Young Professionals Programme and Junior Professional Officer Programme. They have different nationality, sponsorship, experience and participation rules. Use the programme page and individual announcement because eligibility cannot be inferred from a standard staff vacancy.
Does the UN Secretariat charge an application fee?+
No. The United Nations does not charge fees for applications, interviews, processing or training, and does not ask candidates for bank-account information during recruitment. Verify every opportunity in the UN Careers Portal and treat payment requests, unsolicited offer letters and unofficial job links as fraudulent.