Senior Leadership Vacancies

As Chief Administrative Officer of the United Nations, the Secretary-General has the discretionary authority to appoint senior leaders.  The Secretary-General exercises this authority with great care and has established a recruitment and selection process, bearing in mind the need to balance the transparency of the process with the need to share information with Member States and the public, while protecting the confidentiality and impartiality of the process and the privacy of the candidates.

 Upcoming vacancies for specific senior leadership positions are communicated through a Note Verbale to all Member States and advertised through a vacancy announcement on this webpage. They are also distributed through various outreach networks to reach the widest possible audience and attract more diverse and inclusive candidates.  Prospective candidates may also join the Senior Leadership Talent Pool.

All nominations and applications are treated with the strictest confidence.  Due to the large number of nominations and applications that are received, only those candidates who are short-listed for an interview will be contacted.  Short-listed candidates will undergo a rigorous assessment process, reference, and background checks, including human rights conduct and conflicts of interest screening.

Senior Leaders, as international civil servants, serve as role models of the United Nations Values (Inclusion, Integrity, Humility and Humanity) and Behaviours Framework (Connect and Collaborate; Analyse and Plan; Deliver Results with Positive Impact; Learn and Develop; Adapt and Innovate) and the desired behaviours of the United Nations System Leadership Framework.

The United Nations is committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce and encourages all candidates to apply to become a part of the Organization.  The United Nations does not tolerate sexual exploitation and abuse, any kind of harassment, including sexual harassment, and discrimination.

English and French are the working languages of the United Nations. Fluency in oral and written English is required for all senior leadership positions.  A working knowledge of another United Nations official language will be an advantage.

If you have any questions or encounter any technical problems, please contact us at seniorleadershipvacancies@un.org.