As the preeminent global intergovernmental organization, the United Nations offers meaningful career opportunities to tackle humanity’s greatest challenges across diverse fields. Whether in development, humanitarian assistance, peacekeeping, or advocacy, UN jobs equip professionals to directly better people’s lives.
In this blog post, we’ll explore some of the highest-paying positions currently available on the UN Careers website. For each, we’ll provide details on the role, duty station, requirements, and tips for optimizing your application.
Applying the focused strategies demonstrated here can help you secure one of these prestigious UN roles and embark on a life-changing international career.
Lucrative UN Job Opportunities Worldwide
A highly sought-after senior role with the UN Development Programme (UNDP) is open now.
Job Title: Chief Technical Advisor
Duty Station: Kabul, Afghanistan
Salary: Up to $181,481 annually
In this critical position, you’ll provide strategic technical guidance to support Afghanistan’s national development priorities. Extensive leadership experience in fragile state reconstruction is required.
Another high-impact UN job-based at headquarters is available as well.
Job Title: Director of Digital Strategy
Duty Station: New York, USA
Salary: Up to $175,694 annually
As Director, you’ll spearhead the Organization’s digital transformation agenda. Looking for a visionary leader to optimize UN operations through innovative technology solutions.
Additional Exciting UN Career Options
Some other roles offering salaries up to $150k+ globally include:
Job Title: Chief of Economic Development
Duty Station: Rome, Italy
Salary: Up to $151,423 annually
Job Title: Programme Manager, Counter-Terrorism
Duty Station: Vienna, Austria
Salary: Up to $150,176 annually
Job Title: Manager of Procurement Operations
Duty Station: Copenhagen, Denmark
Salary: Up to $136,201 annually
Regardless of specialty, UN careers provide fulfilling work advancing peace, development, and human rights worldwide. Let’s review application strategies.
Optimizing Your UN Job Application
To land one of these prestigious international opportunities, focus on:
- Leveraging 2+ years of experience directly relevant to the TOR.
- Customizing each application by researching the duty station context.
- Highlighting cultural sensitivity & language abilities for the region.
- Quantifying past impact and results through metrics when possible.
- Asking contacts within the UN system for informational interviews.
- Emphasizing transferable “soft” skills like leadership, and teamwork.
- Preparing for situational and behavioral interview questions in advance.
- Following up professionally if not selected to express continued interest.
Targeting your profile to the exact requirements increases the chances a hiring manager will select you for an interview.
Diverse Career Pathways at the UN
Beyond highly skilled individual contributor roles, the UN also offers:
- Graduates can join the Young Professionals Programme for 2-year assignments.
- Internships provide exposure to UN work while earning a graduate degree.
- The Junior Professional Officer Programme equips professionals aged 28-32 with management skills.
- Staff across duties gain expertise transferable between agencies and duties.
- Progression opportunities emerge via promotions, special assignments or mobility between offices.
Overall, the UN employs over 40,000 staff across duty stations in 193 Member States. Choose your entry point, work hard and continuously grow your impactful international career.
Real-World Impact of UN Jobs
When you join the UN, your efforts directly better humanity in tangible ways. Consider just a few impacts:
- Emergency teams save hundreds of thousands from conflict/disaster each year through aid coordination.
- Public health advisors help eradicate diseases and expand primary healthcare access to millions globally.
- Human rights monitors uphold standards that curb violence for entire populations in unstable regions.
- Environmental economists’ work supports sustainable development policies lifting entire countries out of poverty long-term.
If you seek purpose-driven, inspiring work on a massive scale, a career advancing the UN’s mission has far-reaching rewards beyond any salary. Use your skills to meaningfully change the world scene.
