UN occupational groups: A primer

Whether you have a background in engineering, law or administration, the United Nations may be a good fit. That’s because the organization’s workforce reflects the multifaceted nature of its mandate. Most U.N. employees are classified as professional or general service staff. They are further differentiated by area of activity, or occupational group. All professional staff must hold an advanced degree. Junior professionals are classified P-2, and recruited for occupational groups such as economics, administration, finance, statistics and political affairs. P-2 candidates must have at least two years of related work experience, while candidates for P-3 positions must have at least five years and those at the P-4 level must have seven. Those vying for general service staff positions must have completed secondary school and pass either a general aptitude or typing test, or both. GS staff tend to do secretarial or clerical work. Regardless of the position, one factor can spell success in landing a job with the U.N. “Learn another official foreign language,” said Jasmina Popin, an employee of the U.N. Industrial Development Organization. “This is a major advantage and could be the deciding factor between two candidates of similar caliber.” The official U.N. languages are Arabic, French, Spanish, English, Russian and Chinese. Here are some of the most common U.N. occupational groups: Administrative Administrative officer Administrative officers deal with administration, budgetary and financial management issues. ● Category: Professional ● Educational background: Master’s or equivalent degree in business or public administration ● Work experience: For P-3 positions, at least five years in finance, business administration, human resource management, accounting or financial operations, including at least two years at the international level ● Skills requirement: Ability to read, write and speak English, preferably with knowledge of another official U.N. language Administrative assistant Administrative assistants provide office support to other U.N. staff. ● Category: General service ● Educational background: High school diploma or equivalent ● Work experience: Several years of general administrative office support ● Skills requirement: Excellent computer and language skills Chief of unit/section ● Category: Professional ● Educational background: Advanced degree in management, business administration, international relations or related fields ● Work experience: Five to 15 years of professional experience ● Skills requirement: Ability to read, write and speak English, preferably with knowledge of another official U.N. language Civilian police The first U.N. police officers served in Congo in the 1960s. Today, the U.N. has more than 9,000 police officers who hail from about 90 countries. It is eager to hire more women for peacekeeping jobs. Conference services Translator or interpreter ● Category: Professional ● Skills requirement: Ability to translate from at least two of U.N.’s six languages for translators; ability to interpret simultaneously into one of the official languages and full auditory comprehension of at least two other U.N. languages for interpreters ● Special requirement: Passing a rigorous test Editorial and desktop publishing assistant Editorial and desktop publishing assistants help lay out documents, incorporate changes from editors and translators, and proofread copy. This position is available in different languages such as English, Spanish and Russian, and the language should be the applicant’s primary one. ● Category: General service ● Educational background: High school diploma or equivalent ● Skills requirement: Knowledge of one of the working languages of the U.N. Secretariat — English or French — on top of the primary language ● Special requirement: Passing specialized tests for grammar, verbatim, formatting and speed typing in the primary language Drug control and crime prevention Expert The U.N. Office on Drugs and Crime hires those with expertise in anti-migrant smuggling, drug control and anti-human trafficking. ● Category: Professional ● Educational background: Master’s or higher degree in law, criminology, international relations, political science, economics, statistics or public administration Economic affairs Economic affairs officer Many U.N. agencies need economists. The U.N. Development Program hires development economists, the Food and Agriculture Organization seeks agricultural economists, and the International Labor Organization needs labor economists. An economic affairs officer may provide quantitative and qualitative analysis on a variety of development issues, lead research projects to assist policymakers, and develop draft policy recommendations. ● Category: Professional ● Educational background: Advanced degree in economics ● Work experience: At least five years of specialized work experience for P-3 positions, at least seven years with four or more years in an international setting for P-4 level ● Skills requirement: Ability to read, write and speak English, preferably with knowledge of another U.N. language Engineering Engineer The International Atomic Energy Agency and World Health Organization hire engineers. ● Category: Professional ● Educational background: Master’s or equivalent degree in civil engineering, electrical engineering or mechanical engineering ● Work experience: Field experience ● Skills requirement: Knowledge of a second language Finance Accountant Accountants prepare financial reports, analyze accounts, or respond to audit observations. ● Category: Professional ● Educational background: Master’s or equivalent degree in business administration, finance or accounting ● Work experience: Field experience; preferably with experience in the U.N. financial system, rules and regulations for some positions Auditor Auditors may lead an audit of complex operations, draft audit reports and present findings of audit results to senior management. ● Category: Professional ● Educational background: Master’s or equivalent degree in finance, accounting or business administration ● Special requirement: Professional certification as public accountant or internal auditor Finance officer Finance officers oversee other professionals, such as accountants and auditors. Their duties may include implementing and monitoring insurance programs, overseeing budgets, and representing their department at meetings. ● Category: Professional ● Educational background: Advanced degree in business administration, finance or accounting ● Work experience: At least five years of relevant experience for P-3 positions and seven years for P-4 level Human resources Human resources officer People in this position help develop and implement human resource practice and procedures, monitor and fill vacant jobs, and prepare job offers for successful candidates. ● Category: Professional ● Educational background: At least a master’s degree in public administration or human resource management ● Work experience: At least five years in business administration or human resources ● Skills requirement: Knowledge of various computer applications such as databases used for staffing, and a second U.N. language Human rights Human rights officer Individuals in these jobs promote respect for human rights in various countries. They collect information about the human rights situation in the nation or nations they are responsible for as well as inform governments and other institutions about human rights. ● Category: Professional ● Educational background: Master’s or equivalent degree in law, political science or international relations ● Work experience: At least five years in human rights; experience in a certain region such as Africa is required in some positions ● Skills requirement: Ability to speak certain languages for some positions Humanitarian affairs Humanitarian affairs officer Duties for this position include organizing and preparing studies on emergency relief and humanitarian issues, partnering with other humanitarian organizations and providing advice on policy issues, and organizing conferences. ● Category: Professional ● Educational background: Master’s or equivalent degree in political science, social science, economics, public administration or international studies ● Work experience: At least five years in humanitarian affairs, crisis or emergency relief management, or emergency preparedness; more specialized experience or two years of field work may be required for some positions Information systems and technology Information systems officer This role may require maintaining or upgrading computer systems, developing and maintaining computer programs, evaluating new technologies, and training staff. Aside from understanding computers, the candidate must need to understand people. ● Category: Professional ● Educational background: Master’s or equivalent degree in computer science, information systems or human resource management ● Work experience: At least five years in planning, developing, designing, implementing and maintaining computer information systems Information systems assistant Someone in this position helps senior staff with needs assessments for new computer systems or provides basic technical support to employees. ● Category: General service ● Educational background: High school diploma or equivalent ● Work experience: Several years in technical writing, software development, information systems analysis and programming, or systems administration and maintenance ● Special requirement: Passing the U.N. Administrative Support Assessment Test Legal affairs Legal officer Legal officers offer legal advice on complex issues, conduct extensive legal research, or draft legal texts for the United Nations. ● Category: Professional ● Educational background: Advanced degree in law, such as juris doctorate ● Work experience: At least five years in law, with a significant part at the international level, ideally in an international public organization; specialized experience in an area such as administrative law, commercial law, international law or comparative law, or litigation experience for some positions Political affairs Political affairs officer Political affairs officers serve as desk officers for several countries in a region. They monitor political developments, participate in fact-finding missions, prepare reports, and work with other sections of the U.N., international organizations or governments. ● Category: Professional ● Educational background: Advanced degree in economics, political science, international relations or law ● Work experience: At least five years in political science, international relations, law, conflict resolution or peace and security for P-3 positions, and seven years of related experience for P-4 level ● Skills requirement: English fluency, preferably with knowledge of French or another U.N. language Population affairs Population affairs officer Population affairs officers write technical and research reports about policies on population growth and structure, international migration, fertility and contraception, and related topics. They also help organize events such as seminars and expert group meetings on population policy, as well as develop and maintain databases related to national population policies. ● Category: Professional ● Educational background: Advanced degree in demography, or sociology or economics with an emphasis on demography ● Work experience: At least five years in population research and analysis Procurement Procurement officer Procurement officers obtain various products such as furniture, food rations and office supplies, as well as services such as construction for the U.N. headquarters, peacekeeping missions and various offices around the world. They also advise others on procurement issues, conduct market research, and negotiate with vendors. ● Category: Professional ● Educational background: Advanced degree in business administration or public administration ● Work experience: At least five years in procurement or contracting in the public or private sector for P-3 level and seven years for P-4 positions Program management Program officer Program officers analyze and report on various issues or regions. Depending on the position, they may focus on studying new and existing issues affecting development in Africa, research child protection and conflict, or look at environmental policies. ● Category: Professional ● Educational background: Advanced degree in international relations, political science or law ● Work experience: At least five years for P-3 level and seven years for P-4 level, preferably with program management experience and knowledge of the U.N. system Program assistant Program assistants organize workshops and meetings, help with basic research, or organize filing systems. ● Category: General service ● Educational background: Completed secondary school ● Work experience: At least five years’ experience in program or office administration, ideally in a multicultural setting ● Skills requirement: Excellent computer skills Public information Public information officer Writing annual reports or speeches, raising public awareness about environmental issues, and working with the media might be part of a public information officer’s job. ● Category: Professional ● Educational background: Master’s or higher degree in journalism or communications ● Work experience: At least five years’ experience in public awareness, outreach or similar services for P-3 level and seven years for P-4 positions, preferably with specialized experience such as reporting on disasters or emergencies ● Skills requirement: Foreign language skills Public information assistant A public information assistant helps disseminate press releases, assist in organizing media events, respond to questions from the press, and update Web sites. ● Category: General service ● Educational background: Completed secondary education ● Work experience: Several years in public information, preferably within the U.N. system ● Skills requirement: Knowledge of certain languages and ability to work under tight deadlines Security Security coordination officer Security coordination officers monitor and research the security and safety of U.N. employees and their families in countries around the world. They also make recommendations to improve security at U.N. missions and duty stations. ● Category: Professional ● Educational background: Master’s or equivalent degree in international relations, law or public administration ● Work experience: At least five years of related work experience, preferably with crisis management or hostage incident management experience Social affairs Social affairs officer Social affairs officers support the U.N.’s mandates on social development. They may render social analysis and policy support for the mandate of the U.N. Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues. ● Category: Professional ● Educational background: Advanced degree in sociology, economics or another social science discipline ● Work experience: At least five years in social development, policy analysis or sociological research; experience working in certain regions for some positions Statistics Statistician Statisticians may supervise the development of new systems to collect statistics, conduct in-depth analyses of data, oversee how statistics are disseminated, or develop cost-of-living surveys for the United Nations. ● Category: Professional ● Educational background: Advanced degree in mathematics, statistics or economics with an emphasis on economic statistics ● Work experience: At least five years for P-3 level and seven years for P-4 positions Statistics assistant Statistics assistants update and process sets of economic data from a variety of sources such as surveys and official country publications. They may also assemble statistical material and produce reports. ● Category: General service ● Educational background: High school diploma or the equivalent, but preferably university studies in statistics or economics ● Work experience: Career experience in economic statistics Other expert areas Food, agriculture, or forestry expert FAO constantly seeks food, agriculture and forestry specialists. ● Category: Professional ● Educational background: Advanced degree in forestry, engineering, marine biology, agricultural development or economics ● Work experience: Several years of related experience ● Skills requirement: English, French or Spanish, and limited knowledge of another language Public health expert WHO recruits medical officers, epidemiologists, environmental health specialists, health economists, policy analysts, statisticians, and other people in the health care field with strong analytical abilities and knowledge of public health. Education expert UNESCO sometimes hires people to create, promote and organize educational programs. ● Category: Professional ● Educational background: At least a master’s degree in education ● Work experience: Several years in teacher training Foreign language teachers The U.N. hires foreign language teachers to help staff members learn to speak its official languages. Check out more career advice stories online, and subscribe to Doing Good to receive top international development career and recruitment news.