Before the appointment of Buttenheim, she was Director of the Middle East and West Asia Division in the Department of Political Affairs from January 2009. She previously served in the same department as Director of the Asia and Pacific Division from January to December 2008. She was Director of the Asia and Middle East Division in the Department of Peacekeeping Operations from April 2004 to December 2007. She served as Director and Head of the United Nations Office in Belgrade from March 2003 to March 2004.