Applying for Peace Operations
ZIF recruits, trains and deploys German citizens to peace operations on behalf of the German Federal Foreign Office. We currently second civilian experts, including for management positions, to operations of the EU, the OSCE, the UN, the OAS and NATO, as well as to the Council of Europe.
Who we look for
ZIF seconds civilian experts to peace operations of international organisations. Our demand for personnel is oriented toward the mandates and personnel requirements of international organisations. We look for experts, including senior-level personnel, whose training and job experience fit the profiles currently required in peace operations. Seconded positions are filled in line with the interests of the Federal Republic of Germany.
Go to our website “Missions & Mandates” for further information about the mandated tasks of peace operations.
General Profile Requirements
Since 2002, ZIF has maintained the ZIF Expert Pool for the purpose of seconding civilian experts to peace operations at short notice. The ZIF Expert Pool currently contains the profiles of over 1,400 experts with a broad range of expertise relating to peace operations. Acceptance into the ZIF Expert Pool requires German citizenship, a completed academic degree and/or relevant work experience, language, communication and driving skills, as well as specific personal attributes. Specialised competence in a particular area is desirable.
The Pathway to Peace Operations
ZIF regularly adds new expert profiles to the ZIF Expert Pool in order to be able to recruit pre-selected and trained personnel in a timely and targeted manner for international organizations and their peace operations. In the past, we have typically opened our expert pool twice a year with a specific deadline, adding up to 50 new experts with various profiles.
However, we have decided to reform our recruitment processes for 2021. There will not be a generic recruitment this year, rather we will be recruiting for position-specific job openings. Therefore, please apply directly for those vacancies on our website open to non-members of the ZIF Expert Pool.
ZIF Expert Pool
The ZIF Expert Pool is comprised of pre-selected and pre-qualified personnel available for secondment to peace operations, humanitarian operations and election observation missions. More information is available here:
- Our application page for humanitarian operations.
- Our application page for election observation missions.
Do you have questions about our selection process for peace operations? Our application management team will be happy to answer any questions you may have.
Contacts
Dominika Eichstädt
Anja van Eickels
Applying for positions in peace operations
Seconded Positions
Candidates can only apply for seconded positions through a member state or participating state, in this case Germany, through ZIF.
Contracted Positions
Contracted positions make up the majority of positions in UN peace operations and around 30% of EU and OSCE operations. The applicant’s home country is not involved in the selection process.
A typical application process for seconded jobs involves a job posting in the ZIF members-only area, online application through the website of the international organisation (EU, OSCE, UN, Council of Europe) or through ZIF (OAS, NATO), and screening and nomination by ZIF in coordination with the Federal Foreign Office. The respective international organisation then screens, interviews and ultimately selects candidates, who enter into an employment contract with ZIF upon selection.
When it comes to NATO job vacancies, both application and selection take place through ZIF and the Federal Foreign Office.
Important Information on Applying
Please note the following
The ZIF Expert Pool is comprised of pre-selected and pre-qualified personnel available for secondment to peace operations, humanitarian operations and election observation missions.
ZIF regularly recruits experts into the ZIF Expert Pool in order to be able to place pre-selected and trained experts quickly and targeted in international organizations and their peace operations. In recent years, we have recruited twice a year with a specific deadline, thus adding up to 50 new experts from a wide variety of profiles to the ZIF Expert Pool.
However, we would like to use the year 2021 to reform and digitally transform our recruiting. That is why we will not have a generic ZIF Expert Pool recruitment this year, and rather recruit for position-specific job openings. Therefore, please apply for those vacancies on our website open to non-members of the ZIF Expert Pool.
Please see here.
Please contact Anja van Eickels, ZIF recruitment manager.
Do you already have several years of experience in EU, OSCE or UN peace operations, or have you carried out comparable activities in crisis regions and have completed security training?
Please contact Anja van Eickels, ZIF recruitment manager.
After a successful interview and briefing in Berlin, we will assess whether we can admit you to the ZIF Expert Pool.
What We Offer
ZIF is an employer of German personnel seconded to peace operations around the world. ZIF provides comprehensive support and services before, during and after deployment, including a central point of contact at ZIF, security and risk management support, pre-deployment preparation and training, and an attractive salary and insurance package.
Contact and related links
Management of the team Human Resources
Head of team Human Resources: Sarah Degen-Heinemann
Deputy head of team Human Resources: Aneka Flamm
EU
OSCE
UN
Related links:
Further job exchanges, employment opportunities and advisory services:
ZAV - Central foreign and specialist placement of the Federal Employment Agency
NATO
OAS
Council of Europe
On Your Way to a Peace Operation
If you are a German national and have relevant expertise, ZIF can offer you the chance to deploy to a peace operation, as well as
- Professional pre-deployment preparation
- Comprehensive support before, during and after deployment and
- An employment contract with ZIF in accordance with German labour law and with an attractive salary.