Thank you for your interest in joining the American Model United Nations International Secretariat. The success of the AMUN Conference depends greatly on the dedication of its all-volunteer Secretariat. There are currently more than 100 members of the AMUN Secretariat, including undergraduate, graduate and law school students, as well as professionals in a variety of fields. We hope you can join us!
Application and Interview
Please fill out our New Staff Application available in your committee room or at Conference Services.
Once you have completed the application please take it to Conference Services in order to submit it and get scheduled for an interview. Interview slots tend to fill up quickly, so we encourage you to sign up early and no later than Tuesday at 9:00 a.m.
Interviews will last about 15 minutes; please meet the interviewer at the Conference Services desk on the Ballroom level at the appointed time. New Secretariat interviews will be held at the following times:
- Sunday, 24 November: 2:00 p.m. – 4:30 p.m. & 7:30 p.m. – 9:30 p.m.
- Monday, 25 November: 8:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. & 5:30 p.m. – 9:30 p.m.
- Tuesday, 26 November: 8:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.
Staff Requirements
Making AMUN a success is a year-long process. Staffers are expected to (1) attend Labor Day Training in Chicago to prepare for their at-Conference roles, (2) attend Conference and pre-Conference training, and (3) participate in a pre-Conference working group.
Labor Day Weekend (30 August–1 September). All Secretariat members must be at the designated meeting site by 9:00 a.m. Saturday, 30 August 2025 and expect to stay until the morning of Monday, 1 September 2025. AMUN will provide lodging to staff members who arrive on Friday, 29 August 2025. Travel to the meeting location and some meals during the meeting are the responsibility of individual Secretariat members. AMUN will pay for hotel rooms (3–4 Secretariat members in each room) and some meals and snacks. Secretariat members must stay at the training facility and with the group for the entire weekend—there is very little unstructured free time, and participation is required at all events, including meals and evening activities. This applies to all staff members, including those who live near the hotel.
Conference Staffing and Conference Move-In and Move-Out (20–26 November). In addition to staffing the Conference, each Secretariat member is expected to assist with either the Move-In or Move-Out of the Conference. Secretariat members assisting with Move-In are required to be at the Sheraton Grand in Chicago on Thursday, 20 November 2025, by 10:00 a.m. and may depart on Wednesday, 26 November 2025 at any time. Secretariat members assisting with Move-Out are required to be at the Sheraton Grand in Chicago on Friday, 21 November 2025 no later than 9:00 a.m. and may depart Conference activities after 5:00 p.m. on Wednesday, 26 November 2024. Secretariat duties will encompass all hours and all days between arrival and departure. As at the Labor Day meeting, Secretariat members must stay at the meeting facility and with the group for the entire Conference, and participation is required at all events, including meals and evening activities. This applies to all staff members, including those who live near the hotel. As with the Labor Day meeting, individual staff members are responsible for travel to and from Chicago and most meals, while the AMUN Conference pays for basic lodging and most meals and snacks.
Pre-Conference Working Groups. First-year staffers are generally assigned to the Research Working Group (RWG) for pre-Conference preparation. The RWG provides information for the online AMUN Handbook. RWG members research and write the topic overviews included in the handbook, as well as collect bibliographic information to assist representatives at Conference.
At-Conference Working Groups
There are eight at-Conference working groups that comprise the AMUN Secretariat. The Secretary-General uses individual staffers’ preferences and input and works with the Executive Committee and Department leadership to determine staffing levels and placements for the year. Many Secretariat members move between AMUN departments from year-to-year as they discover which areas of the Conference best suit their skills and interests. Departments that are open to participation by first-year Secretariat Members are detailed below:
The Committee Chair (CC) Working Group consists of dais personnel for most of AMUN’s simulations. CC staff specialize in the rules and procedures for the General Assembly committees and Special Committees and Commissions. CC staff work closely with staff in the Rapporteur Department. This department provides opportunities for staff who are interested in seeing the simulation from the other side of the dais.
The Home Government (HG) Working Group is the source of all substantive information at Conference. HG provides roleplays requested by representatives to bring information to their committee aiding their educational experience. HG also provides topic briefings to representatives to aid them with their committee participation. HG staff work closely with staff in the Rapporteur department. HG staff also work closely with staff in the International Press Delegation department through their participation in Press Conferences. Those who thrive on public speaking, research and writing will do well here.
The International Court of Justice (ICJ) Working Group acts as a resource for the justices participating in the ICJ Simulation. ICJ staff perform topic research on the ICJ cases and potential future cases throughout the year. This department provides opportunities for staff who are interested in international law.
The International Press Delegation (IPD) Working Group helps the IPD representatives publish the AMUN Chronicle, the Conference newspaper. This department is suited to future journalists, writers and copyeditors, or those who are interested in learning more about the importance of the International Press Corps.
The Rapporteur Department (Rapp) Working Group facilitates the resolution and reporting process from inception through introduction in General Assembly bodies, ECOSOC Commissions, and the Special Committees. They act as the first line of content advice in the committee room, helping representatives stay within their committee’s purview, and also work closely with the rules staff on resolution administration. This department provides opportunities for staff who are interested in working very closely with Representatives to help them achieve their goals and who have some interest in both rules and content.
The Security Council (SC) Working Group consists of dais personnel for the Contemporary Security Council and the Historical Security Councils. SC staff work closely with Simulation Directors, veteran AMUN staffers that help craft each year’s unique Security Council simulations. This department provides opportunities for staff who are interested in seeing the simulation from the other side of the dais.
Any Questions?
If you have any questions about staffing requirements or questions about the Conference in general, please feel free to contact the 2024 Secretary-General, Madeline Glass, by emailing her at sg@amun.org.
Applications for the 2024 Secretariat are presently closed. Applications for the 2025 Secretariat will be accepted in November 2024.