Org. Setting and Reporting

This position is located in the UNHQ. The focus of the position is to support occupational safety risk management aspects of workplace safety and health management and includes the identification of workplace hazards; application of a data and prevention-based methodology to eliminate hazards and mitigate risk; review and analysis of root causes of incidents; develop of subsequent hazard avoidance or elimination control measures in order to prevent recurrence. These actions ensure the operations are conducted effectively whilst meeting the organizations duty of care for the health & safety and wellbeing of staff and those who may be affected by their work. The Occupational Health and Safety Officer – OSO (P3) reports to the OSH Section Chief.

Responsibilities

Ensure the anticipation, identification and evaluation of hazardous conditions and practices: • Drafting and implementing methods for using tools and a range of information sources to identify, assess and primarily eliminate, avoid or transfer of hazards and secondary mitigate residual risks in existing or future systems. • Supporting planning teams in completing hazard identification, hazard elimination, risk assessments, risk control systems and safety plans. • Reporting in UN Hazard and Incident Reporting System, compiling and analyzing data from incidents reports and other sources to identify causes, trends, and relationships. • Participate in managing Duty station’s impact of incident investigations to determine and implement root cause corrective actions. • Monitoring health and safety performance against UN key performance indicators by collating information from various sources including the incident reporting system. • Providing advice about compliance with safety, health, and environmental laws, codes, regulations, and standards within the Area of Responsibility. Develop hazard and risk control designs and/or programs: • Implementing cost-effective and multilayered, interdisciplinary, system controls to minimize safety hazards, risk, exposures, accidents, and losses and to primary reduce the probability and secondary the severity of injuries, illnesses, and losses when hazards or risk cannot be eliminated. • Proposing methods to integrate safety performance into the goals and operations of organizations and their management systems. • Preparing occupational safety standards in close collaboration with health and environmental guidance (procedures, codes, and standards) for integration into overall OSH operations. Implement hazard and risk control programs: • implementing the recommendations for hazard and risk controls that are based on analysis of accident, exposure, loss event, and other data. – delivering Safety & Health educational and training materials or courses. – implementing and managing hazard controls and risk control programs. – completing preparedness and implementation of measures for general safety of emergency and disaster incident operations with a focus on first responder safety. Perform safety audits, inspections and evaluation of the effectiveness of hazard and control programs: • Implementing techniques for risk assessment and analysis, cost-benefit analysis, work sampling, loss rate, and similar methodologies. • Implementing methods to evaluate the costs and effectiveness of hazard and risk control programs. • Developing of management accountability and audit programs to maximize interoperability with Environmental Health & Safety (EHS) benchmarks and UN EHS strategies, policies or standards where possible. Progress the UN’s Occupational Safety & Health Management System by: • Developing the global and local OSH policy, standards and guidance. • Providing occupational health and safety advice to local OSH committees. • Developing occupational health and safety programs such as road safety, fire safety, food safety, natural hazard safety, workplace safety, etc. • Developing occupational health and safety aspects of business continuity plans. • Ensuring that all operations are interoperable or compliant with participating Organizations and UN OSH Policy. Other(s): • In the absence of the Chief Section/Senior Safety Officer, oversees the daily operations of the section – Performs other duties as may be assigned

Competencies

Professionalism: Knowledge of Occupational Safety policies and procedures. Shows pride in work and in achievements. Demonstrates professional competence and mastery of subject matter. Is conscientious and efficient in meeting commitments, observing deadlines and achieving results. Is motivated by professional rather than personal concerns. Shows persistence when faced with difficult problems or challenges; remains calm in stressful situations. Takes responsibility for incorporating gender perspectives and ensuring the equal participation of women and men in all areas of work. Teamwork: Works collaboratively with colleagues to achieve organizational goals. Solicits input by genuinely valuing others’ ideas and expertise; is willing to learn from others. Places team agenda before personal agenda. Supports and acts in accordance with final group decision, even when such decisions may not entirely reflect own position. Shares credit for team accomplishments and accepts joint responsibility for team shortcomings. Planning and organizing: Develops clear goals that are consistent with agreed strategies. Identifies priority activities and assignments; adjusts priorities as required. Allocates appropriate amount of time and resources for completing work. Foresees risks and allows for contingencies when planning. Monitors and adjusts plans and actions as necessary. Uses time efficiently.

Education

Advanced university degree (Master’s Degree or equivalent) in Occupational Safety & Health, or Clinical Health Practice, with an OSH Certificate or Diploma when OSH is not included in the primary degree, is required. A first-level university degree (BS/BA degree) in occupational safety, occupational safety and health, occupational hygiene, security risk management, engineering, environmental science, clinical health practice or related field in combination with two (2) additional years of qualifying experience in an occupational safety and health role in an international organization; corporate or industrial setting may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.

Job – Specific Qualification

Not available.

Work Experience

A minimum of five (5) years of progressively responsible experience in occupational safety, occupational safety & health or a directly related field with a significant safety component is required. At least three (3) years working in or managing an OSH program in an international Organization is required. A minimum of two (2) years of experience in the use of Health & Safety Management (HSM) software and coding according to established international classification of occupational injury and illness is desirable. Experience in development, implementation and coordination of OSH programs, workplace accommodations, return to work plan coordination, review of health-related constraints and support services in, to or for UN field operation or similar international organization is desirable.

Languages

English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For the position(s) advertised, fluency in English is required; and fluency or knowledge of French is desirable. Knowledge of another official United Nations language is an advantage.

Assessment

Evaluation of qualified candidates may include an assessment exercise which may be followed by competency-based interview.

Special Notice

Appointment or assignment against this position is for an initial period of one year. The appointment or assignment and renewal thereof are subject to the availability of the post or funds, budgetary approval or extension of the mandate. Pursuant to section 7.11 of ST/AI/2012/2/Rev.1, candidates recruited through the young professionals’ programme who have not served for a minimum of two years in the position of their initial assignment are not eligible to apply to this position. The United Nations Secretariat is committed to achieving 50/50 gender balance and geographical diversity in its staff. Female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply for this position. At the United Nations, the paramount consideration in the recruitment and employment of staff is the necessity of securing the highest standards of efficiency, competence and integrity, with due regard to geographic diversity. All employment decisions are made on the basis of qualifications and organizational needs. The United Nations is committed to creating a diverse and inclusive environment of mutual respect. The United Nations recruits and employs staff regardless of gender identity, sexual orientation, race, religious, cultural and ethnic backgrounds or disabilities. Reasonable accommodation for applicants with disabilities may be provided to support participation in the recruitment process when requested and indicated in the application.

United Nations Considerations

According to article 101, paragraph 3, of the Charter of the United Nations, the paramount consideration in the employment of the staff is the necessity of securing the highest standards of efficiency, competence, and integrity. Candidates will not be considered for employment with the United Nations if they have committed violations of international human rights law, violations of international humanitarian law, sexual exploitation, sexual abuse, or sexual harassment, or if there are reasonable grounds to believe that they have been involved in the commission of any of these acts. The term “sexual exploitation” means any actual or attempted abuse of a position of vulnerability, differential power, or trust, for sexual purposes, including, but not limited to, profiting monetarily, socially or politically from the sexual exploitation of another. The term “sexual abuse” means the actual or threatened physical intrusion of a sexual nature, whether by force or under unequal or coercive conditions. The term “sexual harassment” means any unwelcome conduct of a sexual nature that might reasonably be expected or be perceived to cause offence or humiliation, when such conduct interferes with work, is made a condition of employment or creates an intimidating, hostile or offensive work environment, and when the gravity of the conduct warrants the termination of the perpetrator’s working relationship. Candidates who have committed crimes other than minor traffic offences may not be considered for employment. Due regard will be paid to the importance of recruiting the staff on as wide a geographical basis as possible. The United Nations places no restrictions on the eligibility of men and women to participate in any capacity and under conditions of equality in its principal and subsidiary organs. The United Nations Secretariat is a non-smoking environment. Reasonable accommodation may be provided to applicants with disabilities upon request, to support their participation in the recruitment process. By accepting a letter of appointment, staff members are subject to the authority of the Secretary-General, who may assign them to any of the activities or offices of the United Nations in accordance with staff regulation 1.2 (c). Further, staff members in the Professional and higher category up to and including the D-2 level and the Field Service category are normally required to move periodically to discharge functions in different duty stations under conditions established in ST/AI/2023/3 on Mobility, as may be amended or revised. This condition of service applies to all position specific job openings and does not apply to temporary positions. Applicants are urged to carefully follow all instructions available in the online recruitment platform, inspira, and to refer to the Applicant Guide by clicking on “Manuals” in the “Help” tile of the inspira account-holder homepage. The evaluation of applicants will be conducted on the basis of the information submitted in the application according to the evaluation criteria of the job opening and the applicable internal legislations of the United Nations including the Charter of the United Nations, resolutions of the General Assembly, the Staff Regulations and Rules, administrative issuances and guidelines. Applicants must provide complete and accurate information pertaining to their personal profile and qualifications according to the instructions provided in inspira to be considered for the current job opening. No amendment, addition, deletion, revision or modification shall be made to applications that have been submitted. Candidates under serious consideration for selection will be subject to reference checks to verify the information provided in the application. Job openings advertised on the Careers Portal will be removed at 11:59 p.m. (New York time) on the deadline date.

No Fee

THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CHARGE A FEE AT ANY STAGE OF THE RECRUITMENT PROCESS (APPLICATION, INTERVIEW MEETING, PROCESSING, OR TRAINING). THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CONCERN ITSELF WITH INFORMATION ON APPLICANTS’ BANK ACCOUNTS.