Hazardous materials Specialist/WEC

Contract

This is a ICRC - Open-ended contract. More about ICRC - Open-ended contracts.

What we do

The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) works worldwide to provide humanitarian assistance to people affected by conflict and armed violence. We take action in response to emergencies and at the same time promote respect for international humanitarian law. We are an independent and neutral organization, and our mandate stems essentially from the Geneva Conventions of 1949. We work closely with National Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies and with their International Federation in order to ensure a concerted, rational and rapid humanitarian response to the needs of the victims of armed conflict or any other situation of internal violence. We direct and coordinate the international activities conducted in these situations.

What we do in the Weapon contamination (WeC) Unit

The ICRC is regularly faced with challenges related to weapon contamination. Such contamination can be of conventional or non-conventional weapons, and includes weaponized or incidental leaks of industrial chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear (CBRN) hazards.

The ICRC undertakes a range of activities to minimize the impact of weapon contamination on affected populations and to ensure a rapid and effective response.

The ICRC WeC services are focused on the following four strategic areas:

• Assist in managing risks posed by weapon related hazards to own staff and partners as a part of the organisations ‘duty of care’ processes,
• Assist in maintaining the integrity of the organisation by securing continuation of key operations in situations where weapons or weapons systems pose a risk,
• Assist in protecting the vulnerable in situations of armed conflict (e.g. risk education, risk management or contribute to a more robust Conduct of Hostilities reporting) and;
• Support the development of the National Societies of the Red Cross and Red Crescent in their implementation of WeC activities.

Role Description

The WeC Delegate – Hazardous materials (HAZMAT) response Specialist works under the administrative authority of the Head of Delegation of the duty station in which the coordinator is based or the WeC Coordinator when applicable.

The Hazardous materials response specialist should be able to perform:

• Toxic industrial materials (TIM) Hazards (chemical, radiological and biological hazards);
• Capacity building activities on HAZMAT response for first responders at the local and National level:
• Role and response capacity assessment of the first responders the local and National level;
• Identification of the capacity gaps;
• Development of roadmap to fill the gaps (doctrine, procedure, training,equipment, sustainability, personnel...);
• Risk awareness and risk education on TIM hazards, including in urban armed violence contexts;

AND

• Risk based training to increase resilience for civilians in armed conflict;
• Non-technical survey and technical reconnaissance activities;
• Development of guidelines and SOPs;
• Provide support/expertise for the clearance of CBR hazard contaminated areas;
• Capacity building of Red Cross and Red Crescent National Societies, government agencies and authorities.

Main activities

• In her/his country of deployment, to ensure that weapon contamination related needs are effectively understood by the ICRC management team and properly relayed to the Regional Weapon Contamination Manager (or the WeC Coordinator when applicable) on top of ensuring necessary resources are availed to implement TIM reconnaissance and risk reduction related activities.
• Develop a thorough understanding of the weapon contamination situation in her/his area of responsibility and provide ICRC management with hazards identification and risk assessments of the likely impact of weapon contamination on staff, operations and civilians in affected areas.
• Develop and maintain Standing Operating Procedures (SOPs) and other guidelines for ICRC TIM related activities.
• Manage all aspects of ICRC TIM operations including survey, data management, planning, prioritisation and task implementation.
• Contribute to ICRC reports to authorities by providing technical forensic assessments of specific locations after a CBR event.
• Provide feedback and lessons learned from programmes to further develop and improve weapon contamination operational policy at the institutional level.
• Creatively overcome challenges presented by operating in a conflict or post conflict environment.

Desired profile and skills

Motivation and generic skills:

• Strongly motivated by humanitarian work
• Ability to meet deadlines and work calmly (autonomously and in teams) under considerable pressure in a potentially dangerous environment
• Strong representation, communication, diplomatic and negotiation skills;
• Excellent organisational skills and the ability to coordinate multiple activities.

Education:

Highly recommended for this position but is not disqualifying in case of absence:

• Advanced university degree (preferably a master degree or equivalent) in HAZMAT/Toxic Industrial Material (TIM) response management or in a related scintific field (applied chemistry, human physiology, micro biology, applied physics related to ionizing radiation).

TIM operational response experience:

• Minimum of 5 years of relevant HAZMAT/Toxic Industrial Material (TIM) operati****onal response experience
• Practical operational experience in TIM reconnaissance operations as hazard detection operator, sampling operator, first responder or preferably as team leader in a recognized institution such as Fire brigade, National army at the senior Non-Commissioned Officer (NCO) or officer level (or equivalent), Civil Defense;
• Instructor qualification and experience is a strong asset;
• Demonstrated capabilities in management, planning and implementation of training/capacity building;
• A demonstrated ability to establish effective working relationships at all levels both internally and externally

Languages

• Excellent oral and written English skills as mandatory; French big added value
• Chinese, Arabic, Russian or Spanish language skills as an asset;

Our operational & field constraints

• In line with the principle of neutrality, the ICRC does not assign personnel to a country of which they are nationals
• Candidates must be in good health and will have to do a medical check-up prior to departure in the field
• Candidates must possess a driving license (for manual transmission vehicles)
• Candidates must be prepared to accept unaccompanied postings (i.e. no spouse, partner, children or dependents) for at least the first 24 months

What we offer

• Rewarding work in a humanitarian and multicultural environment
• Opportunities for further in-house training
• Attractive social benefits
• Minimum length of assignment: short term (few weeks up to 3 months) or long term mission (1 year min)
• Deadline for application: 30.11.2021