Regional HSSE Specialist (Occupational Health and Safety)

UNOPS supports partners to build a better future by providing services that increase the efficiency, effectiveness and sustainability of peace building, humanitarian and development projects. Mandated as a central resource of the United Nations, UNOPS provides sustainable project management, procurement and infrastructure services to a wide range of governments, donors and United Nations organizations.

As part of its duty of care, UNOPS commits to ensuring that people do not fall sick or sustain injuries when the organisation carries out its operations. In line with its health and safety improvement initiative, UNOPS has introduced a zero tolerance approach to poor health and safety performance, and is recruiting a health and safety specialist to support the implementation of the appropriate health and safety system and requirements.

The incumbent will work with the Pristina Head of Office in his role as the acting ECR Infrastructure Specialist, and with overall guidance from the ECR Regional Director and Office, to support multi-country and country offices under ECR in developing the appropriate competences, policies, mechanisms, systems and tools to effectively manage and monitor health and safety controls across their offices, project sites and operations, including UNOPS’ hosted entities. The duties of the health and safety specialist will include extensive travel to these countries and specific project sites as necessary to review and advise on improvements required, particularly with focus on large-scale infrastructure projects and operations.

Background information- ECR

Based in Geneva, the Europe and Central Asia Regional Office (ECR) supports UNOPS offices throughout the region through: management, financial and programmatic oversight of global and country-specific portfolios, clusters and operations centres, including hosting services; fund and management advisory services; project implementation; procuring goods and services; and managing human resources.

ECR ensures that projects are executed to the highest standards, providing a shared knowledge base and ensuring that best practices and lessons learned are disseminated between business units and projects across the entire region.

ECR operates global portfolios from offices in Geneva, Brussels and New York, and country-specific programmes from its operations and project centres located in Eastern Europe and Central Asian countries.

Functional Responsibilities

Technical Advisory & Support

Supporting the Pristina Head of Office, as well as MCO Directors, Country Managers and other managers across the region in establishing effective performance monitoring of HS for the projects and the office;
Support Programme Managers, Project Managers, relevant managers and project teams in the region with implementing health and safety requirements;
Evaluate practices and procedures at UNOPS-managed premises and construction sites in the region to assess risk and adherence to UNOPS HSSE requirements;
Review HSSE plans of UNOPS offices, units and projects/sites to ensure project implementation is fully aligned to UNOPS HSSE guidelines;
Review risk assessments, inspections, incident investigations and other reports and offer advice to project teams to ensure that good practices are upheld;
Assist project teams to correct deviations from health and safety requirements including managing breaches of requirements and poor performance by personnel and contractors.

Monitoring Performance and Addressing Incidents

Carry out inspections and system reviews to ensure that UNOPS operations are complying with corporate HSSE requirements and international best practices;
Carry out incident investigations;
Follow up on actions to address non-conformities or issues raised in incident investigations, inspections and audits to ensure that the issues have been effectively addressed and lessons learned shared;
Carry out actions to improve the effectiveness of health and safety critical controls in the field offices;
Use trend analysis of monitoring data from field offices for the purposes of addressing poor performance;
Carry out initiatives to support the improvement of health and safety culture including ensuring that actions in the organisation’s safety improvement plan are carried out.

Training and Knowledge Management

In close coordination with the UNOPS HQ HSSE Unit and the Regional Office, support and facilitate trainings to improve the capacity of UNOPS personnel, contractors and partners in implementing UNOPS health and safety requirements;
Facilitate practical training for contractors and project teams so that they ‘learn by doing’ and ensure continuous safe operations during project execution
Be the focal point for health and safety knowledge building and sharing across the region with a focus on context-specific good practices;
Support the development and implementation of other HSSE initiatives as assigned by the Regional Office.

Education/Experience/Language requirements

Education:

An advanced university degree (Master's or equivalent) in a relevant field such as civil engineering, architecture or health and safety management, and 5 years of experience; OR;
A first-level university degree (Bachelor's or equivalent), in a relevant field such as those listed above, and 7 years of relevant experience OR
A tertiary education diploma (Technical/Professional Diploma or equivalent), in a relevant field and 9 years of relevant experience.

Experience:

Progressively responsible experience in Health, Safety, Social and Environmental (HSSE) management, as well as engineering and construction management or in other high risk industries is required.
Experience in HS (Health and Safety) risk assessments, inspections, incident investigation and/or training facilitation is required.
Minimum of 2 years in managing and implementing project related health and safety matters is an asset.
Field experience in developing countries, is an asset.

Language Requirements:

Full working knowledge of English.
Knowledge of another UN language, in particular Russian, is an asset.

Competencies

Develops and implements sustainable business strategies, thinks long term and externally in order to positively shape the organization. Anticipates and perceives the impact and implications of future decisions and activities on other parts of the organization.

Treats all individuals with respect; responds sensitively to differences and encourages others to do the same. Upholds organizational and ethical norms. Maintains high standards of trustworthiness. Role model for diversity and inclusion.

Acts as a positive role model contributing to the team spirit. Collaborates and supports the development of others. Acts as positive leadership role model, motivates, directs and inspires others to succeed, utilizing appropriate leadership styles.

Demonstrates understanding of the impact of own role on all partners and always puts the end beneficiary first. Builds and maintains strong external relationships and is a competent partner for others (if relevant to the role).

Efficiently establishes an appropriate course of action for self and/or others to accomplish a goal. Actions lead to total task accomplishment through concern for quality in all areas. Sees opportunities and takes the initiative to act on them. Understands that responsible use of resources maximizes our impact on our beneficiaries.

Open to change and flexible in a fast paced environment. Effectively adapts own approach to suit changing circumstances or requirements. Reflects on experiences and modifies own behavior. Performance is consistent, even under pressure. Always pursues continuous improvements.

Evaluates data and courses of action to reach logical, pragmatic decisions. Takes an unbiased, rational approach with calculated risks. Applies innovation and creativity to problem-solving.

Expresses ideas or facts in a clear, concise and open manner. Communication indicates a consideration for the feelings and needs of others. Actively listens and proactively shares knowledge. Handles conflict effectively, by overcoming differences of opinion and finding common ground.

Additional Considerations

Please note that the closing date is midnight Copenhagen time
Applications received after the closing date will not be considered.
Only those candidates that are short-listed for interviews will be notified.
Qualified female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply.
UNOPS seeks to reasonably accommodate candidates with special needs, upon request.
Work life harmonization - UNOPS values its people and recognizes the importance of balancing professional and personal demands. We have a progressive policy on work-life harmonization and offer several flexible working options. This policy applies to UNOPS personnel on all contract types
For staff positions only, UNOPS reserves the right to appoint a candidate at a lower level than the advertised level of the post
For retainer contracts, you must complete a few Mandatory Courses (around 4 hours) in your own time, before providing services to UNOPS.
The incumbent is responsible to abide by security policies, administrative instructions, plans and procedures of the UN Security Management System and that of UNOPS.

It is the policy of UNOPS to conduct background checks on all potential recruits/interns.

Recruitment/internship in UNOPS is contingent on the results of such checks.

Contract type, level and duration

Contract type: Individual Contractual Agreement - ICA

Contract level: IICA 2

Contract duration:Open-ended, subject to organizational requirements, availability of funds and satisfactory performance.

For more details about the ICA contractual modality, please follow this link:

https://www.unops.org/english/Opportunities/job-opportunities/what-we-offer/Pages/Individual-Contractor-Agreements.aspx

Background Information - UNOPS

UNOPS is an operational arm of the United Nations, supporting the successful implementation of its partners’ peacebuilding, humanitarian and development projects around the world. Our mission is to help people build better lives and countries achieve sustainable development.

UNOPS areas of expertise cover infrastructure, procurement, project management, financial management and human resources.

Working with us

UNOPS offers short- and long-term work opportunities in diverse and challenging environments across the globe. We are looking for creative, results-focused professionals with skills in a range of disciplines.

Diversity

With over 4,000 UNOPS personnel and approximately 7,000 personnel recruited on behalf of UNOPS partners spread across 80 countries, our workforce represents a wide range of nationalities and cultures. We promote a balanced, diverse workforce — a strength that helps us better understand and address our partners’ needs, and continually strive to improve our gender balance through initiatives and policies that encourage recruitment of qualified female candidates.

Work life harmonization

UNOPS values its people and recognizes the importance of balancing professional and personal demands.

Follow the LINK to apply