regulatory affairs specialist

director of people & culture

United-Nations-Foundation

From a purely objective standpoint, UNF is a great place to work, especially for young professionals who are keen to learn and do good for the world. The pay is generally fair, and the benefits are excellent. By far the most enjoyable part of working there is the fantastic and kind people you work with, especially at the junior staff level. In many ways, however, the Foundation does not live up to its own hype.

It is more accurate to think of UNF as an incubator versus a foundation. Outside of its core programs, it is composed of several small alliances and initiatives (e.g. Nothing But Nets, FP2020, Clean Cooking Alliance) that operate fairly independently under their own brands. Consequently, each individual's experience may vary widely depending on the team (and the supervisor) one works with. A few things are relatively constant: UNF employees can generally expect to be overworked for not quite enough pay (typical for a non-profit). Staff turnover is high, and Senior Leadership appears to have very little touch on (or understanding of) what happens on the ground level in each initiative.

My own experience at the Foundation was mixed. On the positive side, I traveled often (to five new countries), developed critical career skills, gained exposure to the UN system and knowledge about how it works, had the opportunity to build a program from the ground up, and formed lasting bonds with coworkers and partners. On the other hand, I feel that much of the above was due to my own initiative and the guidance of one or two good managers I was fortunate to have.

On the negative side, UNF is not good at acknowledging or rewarding hard work and merit. Despite having a manager who advocated for me, I worked for UNF as a consultant nearly full time for over a year before they hired me (a policy they have now changed), and only then because the entire (two) program staff in my area had departed. In the three years since, I've had three different line managers, one of whom was herself a consultant. Consequently, I work fairly independently, doing a Manager's job without the title or pay. 

With the exception of working for/under certain teams and individuals, I wouldn't discourage anyone from working at the UN Foundation. It's generally a good place to learn and grow - overall a friendly and welcoming environment - but I would advise managing one's expectations. Opportunities for advancement are rare, as are long career tenures. Make what you can of it, then move on.

There is no such thing as a typical day at work. Every day was a new challenge and a new set of opportunities. However, having the opportunity to work on creating the innovation program from the ground up, allowed me experience what life is like on so many different teams and what their respective roles are (ranging from partnership to strategy). 

On the one hand, this organization is undergoing much restructuring and the senior management seems a bit disconnected from the junior staff. On the other hand, as people, the management are genuine people who make an effort to get to know you and sharpen your skills.

My co-workers were absolutely wonderful. I was always impressed with what they brought to the table. There was somewhat of a feeling at times, though, that we get paid to work together, not to be friends.

The hardest part of my job was managing conflicting and strong personalities. Because I was worked externally and internally, it was often difficult to translate between the two as well as meet expectations. This is where I think I made the most progress and learned the most.

All in all, a great place to work. I would definitely recommend this as a positive experience in my life and one that is fulfilling on both professional and personal levels.

A typical day at work involved a lot of reading and knowledge of United Nation's materials.

I learned to humble myself and have a professional mind and look at all times.

The management was new (as well as the agency) and had many flaws to iron out.

My co-workers were very pleasant and diverse.

The hardest part of my job was keeping up with the key-log.

The most enjoyable part of my job was meeting people like the owner, Ted Turner.

As an intern, the experience and opportunity to learn was great. I enjoyed working with my team. No micromanagement. The hardest part of the job was commuting back and forth. As a recent graduate it was hard working part-time at two jobs just to afford to commute to UNF. The most enjoyable part of the job was the experience and the friendliness of the team I worked with. Internships at UNF are unpaid and provide no compensation.

The United Nations Foundation is a great place to work for young professionals. People are smart and hard-working and as I always tell new hires that this job can be as big as you want or as small as you want. Everyone has the flexibility to expand their professional horizons by taking on more responsibilities that can add to their experience.

Staff is professional, smart, and friendly. Only drawback seems to be lack of professional advancement opportunities after a certain period.

United Nations Foundation partners with the United Nations on goals that benefit many countries. We have many campaigns that is rewarding. I feel that although I am not a team member for an individual campaign I still contribute by processing payments for the work to be done.

Good place to start but there is very little room for advancement. The foundation generally looks out for its image more than the people that work there.

Colleagues are generally supportive and friendly. Streamlined HR and operational processes.Fast paced organization, with little room for advancement- often dependent on Management's favorites. Very little opportunity for professional development. Your experience will depend on your department, and role.

Good work-life balance, collaborative and uplifting work environment, and great employees that are genuinely passionate about their work. As an intern, my colleagues made sure to treat me as an equal and cared about seeing my succeed.

Top Job Titles	Average Salary
Regulatory affairs specialist 1 salary reported	$70,000 per year
Director of people & culture 1 salary reported	$70,000 per year

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