Job Description
Strategic and Project Support Intern – Department of Operational Support (DOS), United Nations
Work Location:
In person in New York strongly preferred. Remote internships may be considered under exceptional circumstances. Full-time or part-time modalities will be considered.
Expected Duration:
3–6 months
Desired Start Date: September 2025
Duties and Responsibilities
The internship is located in the Performance and Analytics Section (PAS) of the Office of the Under-Secretary-General for Operational Support (OUSG-DOS). DOS provides operational support to UN Secretariat entities including peace operations and special political missions, with services such as:
- Supply chain management
- Human resources
- Health-care management
- Training
- Support to uniformed capabilities
- ICT services
- UNHQ facility management
The Strategic and Project Support Intern will work under the supervision of a staff member and collaborate closely with the PAS team, which supports DOS strategy, planning, innovation, performance, and analytics.
Internship Responsibilities include:
- Provide strategic and project support in areas such as data, digital transformation, organizational culture, behavioural science, strategic foresight, and innovation
- Support the preparation of PowerPoint presentations, background documents, and talking points
- Assist with knowledge management tasks, including facilitating communities of practice, information dissemination, and managing knowledge resources
- Contribute to process optimization and development of performance metrics
- Collect, draft, and share best practices, case studies, and lessons learned using tools like surveys, workshops, and focus groups
- Support data analytics efforts by maintaining datasets, models, indices, and reports
- Conduct research and assist in applying behavioural science insights to strategy, communications, and decision-making
This role is consulting-like, requiring strong skills in conceptual thinking, presentation design, and project management.
Qualifications / Special Skills
To be eligible, applicants must meet one of the following criteria:
- Be enrolled in, or have completed, a graduate school program (second university degree or equivalent, or higher); or
- Be enrolled in, or have completed, the final year of a first university degree program (minimum bachelor’s degree or equivalent)
Preferred Backgrounds:
- Data
- Digital transformation
- Organizational culture
- Behavioural science
- Strategic foresight
- Innovation
- Related fields
No professional experience is required, but relevant coursework or skills should contribute meaningfully to the internship. Prior UN internship experience (if applicable) should be indicated, including entity and dates.
The ideal candidate is:
- A collaborative and reliable team player
- Aware of current developments in organizational management and behavioural science
- Committed to supporting team objectives
Languages
- Required: Fluency in English
- Desirable: Knowledge of another official UN language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian, or Spanish)
Additional Information
Visa & Work Authorization Requirements (for internships in the U.S.):
- Non-U.S. citizens/permanent residents will require a G4 visa
- Selected candidates are responsible for ensuring they have a valid visa and approved employment authorization (CPT/OPT/AT)
Internship-Specific Information
- Internships with the United Nations are unpaid
- Interns are responsible for their own travel, visas, accommodation, and living expenses
- Interns not residing in the host country must ensure compliance with relevant visa and work authorization requirements prior to the internship start date
Deadline : Aug 7, 2025
