Health, Safety, Social and Environmental (HSSE) Officer/Retainer

Contract

This is a LICA Specialist-8 contract. This kind of contract is known as Local Individual Contractor Agreements. It is normally only for nationals. It's an external contract. It usually requires 0 years of experience, depending on education. More about LICA Specialist-8 contracts.

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.

Background Information – Amman

The UNOPS Hub in Amman implements projects in Jordan, Lebanon, Iraq, Syria, Turkey, and Yemen, in partnership with bilateral donors, national governments, and other UN agencies. With an established presence across the region, the office runs operations including large-scale procurement, project development, and technical management, and provides financial, human resources, and infrastructure-related services. The functional objective of UNOPS Hub in Amman is to deliver its projects in an efficient and effective manner and in line with the principles, rules and regulations of UNOPS, in order to support the response to the current needs and national priorities in the region.

The incumbent is responsible to abide by security policies, administrative instructions, plans and procedures of the UN Security Management System and that of UNOPS.

UNOPS is committed to achieving a fully diverse workforce.

Background Information - Job-specific

On 4 August 2020, barely six months after the first confirmed COVID-19 case in Lebanon, a devastating explosion hit the Beirut Port, leaving at least 180 people dead and over 6,500 injured or disabled, and an estimated 300,000 homeless. The explosion affected a large area, not only surrounding areas around the Beirut Port but also across the Greater Beirut Area, causing massive damage. In the aftermath of the explosion, given the scale of destruction, the Government of Lebanon declared a state of emergency in the capital. Hospitals and health centers have been severely affected, at least six hospitals and more than 55 primary healthcare centers (PHCs) clinics were damaged including existing medical equipment. Even though various health actors have provided assistance, the restoration of health facilities has not been completed and further support is needed.

The Beirut Port explosion, compounded with the COVID-19 outbreak, and the socio-economic situation in Lebanon has created significant immediate humanitarian needs and severe long-term consequences. In this context, UNOPS is undertaking a project funded by the Government of Japan, that aims to to strengthen the operational capacity of the health sector in Lebanon, which will contribute to the response to the COVID-19 pandemic, through provision of critical equipment (medical equipment and furniture), and renewable energy solutions to critical targeted governmental hospitals and primary health care centers in the host communities through installation of solar hybrid system. The project will be implemented in close coordination with the Ministry of Public Health (MoPH) in Lebanon

Functional Responsibilities

The Health Safety, Social and Environmental (HSSE) Officer will report directly to the Project Manager and will ensure full coordination with the Regional Infrastructure Advisor, the Hub HSSE Specialist,Quality Senior Engineer , Programme team and Projects’ teams members.

Under the guidance and direct supervision of the Project Manager, the main duties of the HSSE Officer is to facilitate compliance with UNOPS Health, Safety, Social and Environmental (HSSE) systems and provide advice on control measures needed in order to minimize harm resulting from hazards in the project implemented under the UNOPS Hub in Amman.

The incumbent needs to establish a safe workplace according to UNOPS health and safety management systems, as well as fostering a culture of health and safety in all the phases of the implemented project. Specifically, He/ She will be responsible for the following duties:

HSSE Planning, Coordination, and Implementation

• Provide support on various health and safety procedures relevant to the ongoing project (such as noise levels, use of protective equipment, and use of machinery etc.);
• Coordinate the development of health and safety systems, and procedures in line with corporate policies and guidelines;
• Support all health and safety related matters during all phases of the project, project planning and implementation;
• In line with the UNOPS HSSE policies and procedures, raise risk mitigation actions required outlining potential threats, risks levels and recommended mitigation strategies during project implementation, taking into consideration relevant and existing assessments;
• Provide support for the PM to prepare health and safety work plans including budget for all aspects of the projects implementation in compliance with UNOPS HSSE policies, procedures and guidelines;
• Liaise and regularly coordinate with the PM to ensure their respective contractors meet its statutory obligations as well as UNOPS requirements in all areas pertaining to health, safety and welfare at work, including statutory training and reporting.
• Follow up on the implementation of the Environmental Social Management Plan (ESMP) and Health and Safety plan on work sites.

HSSE Monitoring and Reporting

• Propose and control projects’ budgets for health and safety and monitor related expenditures;
• Conduct regular field inspection and monitoring visits to the project sites to identify possible areas/issues of non-conformity (e.g. unsafe work at heights and in excavations), prepare project’s health and safety related reports on occurrences, and provide statistical information to upper management;
• Provide technical contributions and oversight services to ensure that health and safety is a core component of all activities and that appropriate funding is provided based on actual needs;
• Ensure that all accidents are documented, reported internally and/ or externally as per the agreed reporting protocols, investigated while ensuring that any recommended improvements are implemented in a timely manner.

HSSE Compliance

• Perform health and safety projects’ risk assessments, both routine and exceptional, as required, to ensure optimal health and safety standards are in place and to ensure that all Health & Safety policies, procedures, rules and regulations are adhered to and are regularly reviewed;
• Devise a plan and conduct periodic projects on-site HSSE inspectionsand ensure closure of action items. in close coordination with the Project Manager and the Hub HSSE Specialist

Competencies

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. For people managers only: 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.

Education/Experience/Language requirements

Education: Bachelor degree preferably in health and safety management, natural science, engineering ,or relevant fields is required. A Master’s degree from a recognized University is desired.

Experience: - A minimum of 2 years of progressively responsible experience in Health, Safety, Social and Environmental (HSSE) management is required, with at least 1 year in managing and implementing projects’ related health and safety matters. - Experience in Health and Safety risk assessments, inspections, incident investigation, and training facilitation is required; - High proficiency with computers, and other software/ platforms related to the position's field of expertise is required. - Experience with third party certification audits for Health & Safety and Environment Management is desired; - Experience of working at UN agencies or other international Humanitarian/ Development organizations is highly desired. - Experience in working with the G-Suite platform including, Google Drive, Google Calendar, Gmail, Google Sheets, Docs, and Slides is an asset.

Language:

Fluency in English and Arabic is required.

Contract type, level and duration

Contract type: ICA ( Individual Contract Agreement) Contract level: LICA 8 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

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.
• ****This position is a local position and is open to nationals only.****
• Beirut is designated as non-family duty station.
• 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.