Policy Assistant, Political 4 - UN Horizontal issues Section
The European Union Delegation to the United Nations New York is looking for an:
Policy Assistant in the Political 4 -UN Horizontal Issues Section (UNGA, ECOSOC, administration, financial and budgetary issues)
The European Union (EU) is an economic and political partnership between 27 European countries. It plays an important role in international affairs through diplomacy, trade, development aid and working with global organizations. Abroad, the EU is represented through more than 140 diplomatic representations, known also as EU Delegations, which have a similar function to those of an embassy.
As a UN observer with enhanced status, the EU Delegation to the United Nations in New York works in close coordination with the 27 EU Member States so as to speak with one voice. The EU also works closely with the UN secretariat and its Agencies, funds & programs, partnering on a range of global issues and challenges.
We offer:
We are looking for an enthusiastic and service-minded candidate to fill the post of Policy Assistant, Political Section 4 – UN Horizontal issues, a Local Agent Group II. It is a 2-year contract, with the possibility of two renewals, leading to a maximum employment term of 7 years under successive fixed-term contracts. There is a possibility of an Indefinite contract upon completing the seven-year term, under reserve of budgetary availability and operational considerations. For internal candidates holding an indefinite-term contract, alternative contractual arrangements may apply in accordance with institutional policies. The team consists of -3 people and there are occasional atypical working hours.
Under this post, the recruited person will be attributed to functions depending on the needs of the Delegation, and on the changes of these needs. The successful candidate will serve under the supervision and responsibility of the Head of UN Horizontal Issues Section, providing support, expertise and assistance in the substantive work on UN accountability: the oversight mechanisms (internal: the Office of Internal Oversight Services (OIOS), and external: the UN Joint Inspection Unit (JIU)), as well as the internal appeal system for misbehavior and system wide strategies for the internal organization and accountability of the UN
Following main tasks and duties are currently required:
- Assist the Head of Section in the coordination of experts from EU Member States in intergovernmental negotiations on items on the agenda of the UN General Assembly Fifth Committee, primarily on accountability-related issues, while providing support on other agenda items as required.
1. System of Administration of Justice (AoJ) at the UN.
2. Joint inspection unit (JIU) reviews and annual programme of work.
3. Office of Internal oversight services (OIOS).
4. Administration of internal justice.
5. Activities of the Ethics Office.
- Represent the EU on behalf of the Head of Section when necessary.
- Draft policy language for negotiations and support consultations within the EU27 and with the group of like-minded countries when applicable, as well as negotiations in the General Assembly.
- Contribute to the drafting of reports, analyses and political assessments for the EU headquarters on UN developments, negotiations and meetings on the topics under responsibility, and on other horizontal matters (e.g. coverage of UNGA General Debate).
In addition, the local agent would perform a number of coordination tasks in close consultation with the Press, Information and Coordination section:
- Assist with the preparation of policy and strategy papers, as well as analytical materials on horizontal issues and mappings on various political issues and processes, including for the EU Deputy Permanent Representatives’ consideration.
- Provide support for the preparations for the UNGA Ministerial/High-Level Week: cover UN consultations and preparations, draft speaking points, reports and correspondence.
- Provide a planning overview of the UNGA High-Level Week high-level events, in collaboration with the EU headquarters and the EU Member States.
- Create and maintain comprehensive overviews and statistics on the alignment of EU candidate countries to EU statements at the UN and their voting patterns.
- Assist with the coordination and consolidation of input for the Annual Management Plan (AMP) of the EU Delegation, as well as for the annual Delegation’s record of achievements under the Lisbon Treaty Obligations (statistical table), and for other reporting requests from EU headquarters that require cross-sectional input and internal coordination.
- Contribute to other cross-sectional briefs and speaking points for the Head of Delegation and Deputy Head of Delegation for bilateral meetings (e.g. courtesy calls) and UN discussions.
This job function may be slightly modified in accordance with the needs of the Delegation.
We offer a collegial atmosphere in an international environment and work in close coordination with the Administration team in supporting colleagues across the EU Delegation. The office is located at 666 Third Avenue, New York, NY 10017.
Salary level ranges is dependent on relevant and verified employment experience, starting from $89K (2 years of experience), $93K (6 years of experience), $97K (10 years’ experience) etc.
There is a competitive benefits package including personal leave days and public holidays, flexible working hours, health and dental insurance and a retirement savings plan. Working hours are 37.5 hours per week.
The expected start date will be October 1st, 2026.
Minimum requirements / eligibility criteria (necessary for the application to be considered)
- Bachelor’s degree required, master’s degree is an asset
- Minimum of 2 years of experience in public administration and/or international relations. The professional experience must be acquired after the date on which the qualification allowing access to the post was obtained.
- Thorough working knowledge of written and spoken English
It is important to note that the Delegation of the European Union to the United Nations does not sponsor visas for Local Agents. Applicants must have an existing and valid US work authorization that does not require sponsorship by the Delegation (i.e. EAD card, green card, US citizen, only G1 or G3 visas for the spouses of EU officials posted at an EU Member State Mission to the United Nations.
Assets/selection criteria (basis for awarding points to select the best applicant)
- Flexibility is the key. The candidate should be willing to work flexible hours, as required
- Ability to work effectively both independently, with minimal supervision, and as part of a team.
- Strong coordination skills, including the ability to listen actively, consult effectively, and share information and ideas with colleagues and stakeholders.
- Capacity to communicate clearly and effectively, both orally and in writing; Ability to present complex matters in a simple way, demonstrate solid analytical skills, and produce high-quality briefing notes, reports and written analyses.
- Ease adapting to new technology and digital tools.
- Excellent interpersonal skills: with a positive, proactive and solution-oriented attitude. Ability to work effectively and remain calm under pressure.
- Openness to cultural diversity.
- Strong problem-solving skills, including the ability to identify and define problems, gather and analyze relevant information, and develop practical and effective solutions.
- Excellent organization and time-management skills, with the ability to stay on top of multiple files at once. Ability to plan ahead and monitor implementation and follow-up.
- Data analysis skills are considered an asset.
- Experience with the work of the UN General Assembly Fifth Committee is considered an asset.
How to apply
The applicant must send:
- a cover or motivation letter, signed.
- a Curriculum Vitæ (to include, at the minimum, exact job titles, employers’ names and detailed tasks descriptions). For traineeships, please indicate if these were paid or unpaid. For the Curriculum Vitae, please use the Europass templates available at: https://europass.europa.eu/en
- The resume must also include the names and contact details of at least two referees who can attest to your professional and personal attributes in the event you are shortlisted for the post.
- Indicate which type of US work authorization you have (visa type, US citizenship, Green card, EAD).
Send your complete application to eeasjobs-185@eeas.europa.eu and delegation-new-york-jobs@eeas.europa.eu no later than August 21st, 2026, Noon (Eastern Time). Mention in the email the subject : Ref: 455074 – JOB TITLE: Policy Assistant, UN Horizontal Issues Section “
The deadline for applications is August 21st, 2026 at noon (EST)
Caution: The applicant must verify that he/she fulfills all the conditions. For easy verification, the applicant must mark all the squares r relating to each document or application condition. The absence of one of these conditions or documents is a reason for the rejection of the application
The process
After the deadline, the applications will be reviewed by a Selection Committee set up for this purpose. The Selection Committee will prepare a shortlist of candidates who are considered to be the most suitable for the post on the basis of a preliminary assessment of the information provided in the cover letter and resume. The shortlisted candidates will be invited to an assessment phase which will include an interview. During this phase, the selection committee will assess the suitability of the candidates for the post.
The candidates who have not been shortlisted will not be contacted individually; however, the Delegation will inform the remaining candidates once the recruitment procedure has been completed and that a candidate has (or has not) been recruited. During the selection process, please do not contact the members of the Selection Committee, but address your questions and comments de Delegation-new-york-jobs@eeas.europa.eu.
Candidates who wish to lodge a complaint regarding the recruitment process may submit written communication to the functional mailbox to which they sent the initial application. Upon receipt, the Delegation will review the matter and, where appropriate, consult Headquarters before providing a response.
EQUAL OPPORTUNITIES:
The European Union is committed to an equal opportunities policy for all its employees and applicants for employment. As an employer, the EU is committed to promoting gender equality, preventing discrimination on any grounds and ensuring a zero-tolerance approach to any form of harassment. It actively welcomes applications from all qualified candidates from diverse backgrounds. We aim at a service which is truly representative of society, where each staff member feels respected, is able to give their best and can develop their full potential.
If pre-selected, candidates with disabilities are invited to contact the Delegation at Delegation-new-york-jobs@eeas.europa.eu in order to accommodate any special needs and provide assistance to ensure equality of opportunities with other candidates.
If a candidate with a disability is selected and recruited, the EEAS is committed to appropriate measures in order to accommodate his or her special needs to the working place or working conditions in accordance with Art 4 of the Decision ADMIN(2025)13 of the Director-General for Resource Management of the European External Action Service on providing reasonable accommodation for local staff with disabilities working in Union Delegations.
DATA PROTECTION NOTICE:
Job Types: Full-time, Contract
Pay: $7,600.00 - $9,000.00 per month
Benefits:
- 401(k) matching
- Dental insurance
- Flexible schedule
- Health insurance
- Paid time off
- Vision insurance
Application Question(s):
- How is your previous experience relevant to this role? Why are you a good fit for this job?
- Can you provide us with at least two referees who can attest to your professional and personal attributes ?
Experience:
- paid relevant: 2 years (Required)
Ability to Commute:
- New York, NY 10017 (Required)
Work Location: In person