Job Overview
Senior Liaison Officer, P-4
Join UNESCO in New York as a Senior Liaison Officer to strengthen UN-wide cooperation.
Are you a seasoned professional in international relations with a passion for global cooperation? UNESCO is seeking a Senior Liaison Officer to join our New York Liaison Office. This is an excellent opportunity to drive UNESCO’s priorities within the UN system and advance its mandate on the world stage.
About UNESCO & Your Role
The UNESCO New York Liaison Office (NYO) is a key part of our mission. It works to develop and maintain cooperation with the United Nations Secretariat and other UN agencies in New York. The office ensures UNESCO’s mandate is integrated into all relevant UN activities.
Under the guidance of the Director of the New York Liaison Office, you will strengthen UNESCO’s cooperation with the UN Secretariat and Member States’ Permanent Missions to the UN. Consequently, you will maintain consistent contact with various UN departments and representatives to promote UNESCO’s mission.
What You’ll Do
- Monitor & Analyze: You will monitor and analyze major developments at the UN. For this reason, you will follow the activities of UN governing bodies and their sub-committees, including new resolutions. Furthermore, you will assess the implications for UNESCO and prepare reports with recommended follow-up actions.
- Draft & Provide Expertise: You will ensure UNESCO’s priorities are recognized in major UN Headquarters activities. Therefore, you will provide expertise during negotiations for relevant General Assembly, ECOSOC, and Security Council resolutions. You will also draft strategic analyses for senior management’s participation in UN governing bodies.
- Liaise & Engage: You will support the Director in liaising with Permanent Missions of Member States to the UN. You will engage with their representatives to ensure they recognize UNESCO’s mandate in their discussions. In addition, you will prepare meeting notes and briefings for these engagements.
- Process & Prepare: You will process and prepare correspondence and speeches for the Director and senior management’s participation in high-level UN meetings.
- Organize & Advocate: Finally, you will organize meetings and events to build partnerships with the UN system and other partners. This includes implementing strategic advocacy and awareness-raising campaigns to promote UNESCO’s mandate.

Senior Liaison Officer
Required Qualifications for Senior Liaison Officer
Education You must have an advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) in international relations, political science, communications, or a related social or human sciences field.
Experience You must have at least seven years of progressively responsible experience in international relations, UN coordination, or a related field. We require at least three of those years to be at an international level.
Skills & Competencies You should have proven analytical, organizational, and coordination skills. Furthermore, we require excellent oral and written communication skills with the ability to draft high-quality documents and briefings. A sense of objectivity, diplomacy, and professional integrity is also essential.
Languages You must have excellent written and spoken knowledge of English and a good working knowledge of French.
Apply on the official website
Salary & Benefits
The approximate annual starting salary for this P-4 post is $148,599 USD. UNESCO also provides a comprehensive benefits package, including 30 days of annual leave, medical insurance, and a pension plan.
FAQs for Senior Liaison Officer
Q1: What are the language requirements for this position?A: You must have an excellent command of English and a good working knowledge of French. Knowledge of another official UNESCO language (Arabic, Chinese, Russian, or Spanish) is a desirable qualification.
Q2: Is this a permanent position?A: This is a fixed-term appointment for two years, with the possibility of renewal.
Q3: Is this a remote position?A: No, this position is based at the UNESCO New York Liaison Office.
Q4: Does UNESCO charge a fee for applications?A: No, UNESCO never charges a fee at any stage of its recruitment process.
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