Occupational Health and Safety Specialist at UN Women

Key Functions and Accountabilities:

Provide technical support, guidance, and advice to the CO/MCO/RO:

• Provide timely and accurate Occupational Safety and Health (OHS) advice and recommendations to the CO/MCO/RO.
• Clarify, interpret, and implement existing UN and UN Women OHS regulation and guidance.
• Design and implement reporting system for maintaining and analyzing records of all safety and health activities, including accident and injury data, workplace inspections, and training and education.
• Ensure timely reporting of any accidents or injuries and that any required reports are filed promptly.
• Provide recommendations regarding effective OHS risk prevention, including recommendations for possible UN Women support needs and improvements.
• Conduct outreach missions to regional and field offices to deliver OHS training and to assess OHS risk and assist offices in developing and implementing preventative measures.
• Provide remote OHS support to UN Women personnel, offices, programmes and projects.
• Advise and support UN Women OHS Focal points with regard UN Women online OHS systems.

Liaise with and participate in the global OHS community:

• Liaise and coordinate with UN OHS community on development of policies, guidelines, training material and exchange of best practices.
• Participate as a member of OHS and UNOHSM working groups as directed by the UN Women Global Security Advisor.
• Provide an advisory presence at various internal and external fora.
• Represent UN Women on behalf of the Global Security Advisor at OHS meetings, and attends OHS workshops/training sessions, working groups and conferences as needed.

Collect, update, and communicate OHS information:

• Conducting regular workplace inspections, analyzing accident and injury data, and identifying trends and patterns that may indicate the presence of hazards.
• Monitor changes in the workplace that may affect the safety and health of employees, such as the work environment,  new equipment, processes, activities, etc.
• Provide updates and information to HQ in relation to the Security and Safety Services intranet portal and documentation.
• Dissemination of OHS information and measures to personnel.

Develop, maintain, manage and implement the UN Women OHS Plan:

• Manage the preparation and review of the UN Women Security OHS plan and provide technical support in its implementation.
• Provide advice and recommendations in the selection and purchasing of equipment that might affect OHS of UN Women personnel.
• Develop standards that will assist offices in purchasing OHS equipment.

Monitor, manage and implement UN Women compliance of the OHS measures identified in the UN Women Security and Safety Compliance System (SSCS):

• Conduct annual review of OHS measures in the SSCS survey and provide guidance on adjustments.
• Provide technical support to and advise the UN Women OHS Focal Points in the completion and updating of the SSCS.
• Provide technical support to and advise the UN Women OHS Focal Points in the evaluation and implementation of the UN Women OHS Compliance Action Plan (SSCAP).
• Provide technical advisory support to the Security OHS Focal Points for the UN Women Security and Safety Compliance Enhancement Funding (SSCEF).
• Provide technical support to OHS compliance input of all UN Women offices, projects and programmes, including programme process.

Report OHS incidents affecting UN Women personnel:

• Provide guidance to HQ/RO/MCO/CO/PPOs on OHS reporting.
• Collate information and provide OHS reports as necessary.
• Oversee OHS evaluations and surveys of HQ/RO/MCO/CO/PPOs.
• Conduct OHS investigations of serious incidents as directed.,
• Develop accurate and timely written OHS briefings; inputs to HLCM and similar high-level documents, add inputs to position papers from a field perspective.

Develop and conduct training courses on OHS awareness, preparedness, mainstreaming, and specialized OHS functions:

• Developing and implementing OHS programmes to minimize or eliminate hazards. This includes developing and implementing policies and procedures, such as mental health and wellbeing, emergency evacuation plans, fire and road safety plans, hygiene plans, etc. The OHS manager must also ensure that these programmes are regularly reviewed and updated to reflect any changes in the workplace or new regulations.
• Assist Security and Safety Services staff to deliver OHS training sessions.
• Responsible for coordinating with other departments within the organization to ensure that OHS policies and procedures are integrated into all aspects of the UN Women operations. This includes working with the human resource and facilities departments to ensure that safety and health policies are included in the employee induction programme, premises management, etc.;
• Closely cooperate with other UN Women departments, sections and offices to ensure that safety and health policies are integrated into relevant procedures.
• Identify, develop and deliver specialized OHS training under the guidance of the Global Security Advisor.

Manage OHS programme budget and finances:

• Manage the OHS annual work plan and related budget, initiate budget revisions for approval.
• Prepare OHS budgets as well as completion of OHS related UN Women SSCEF funding requests.
• Provide substantive OHS inputs to UN Women BWP/SN, programme appraisal bodies, and related budgets.
• Monitor and support allotted UN Women OHS funds to budget and utilize them in a timely manner.
• Monitor that costs and expenditures remain within budget and approved limits through the monitoring of monthly budget reports.
• Keep the Global Security Advisor updated on expenditures in the operational budget and follow closely remaining expenditure.
• Handle budget closures and prepare reports as per HQ processes.
• Ensure that all projects and programmes contribute resources to implementation of OHS measures.

The incumbent performs other duties within their functional profile as deemed necessary for the efficient functioning of the Office and the Organisation. This includes but is not limited to maintaining liaison with other UN and non-UN organizations OHS focal points.

Competencies :

Core Values:

• Integrity;
• Professionalism;
• Respect for Diversity.

Core Competencies:

• Awareness and Sensitivity Regarding Gender Issues;
• Accountability;
• Creative Problem Solving;
• Effective Communication;
• Inclusive Collaboration;
• Stakeholder Engagement;
• Leading by Example.

Functional Competencies:

• Excellent knowledge of occupational health and safety risk management.
• Excellent knowledge of health, wellbeing and medical structures and processes 
• Excellent knowledge of countries situations and laws, related to OHS.
• Ability to be client focused.
• Excellent analytical skills.
• Ability to create, edit and present information in clear, presentable and concise formats.
• Ability to build effective client relationships and partnerships.
• Ability to interact at all levels of staff/organization.
• Excellent interpersonal skills.
• Ability to provide guidance and support to others.
• Ability to plan, prioritize and deliver tasks on time.
• Ability to develop creative solutions.
• Ability to function effectively in crisis and stressful circumstances. 

Recruitment Qualifications:

Education and Certification:       

• Master's degree or equivalent in occupational health and safety management, business administration, leadership, political/social science, psychology, international relations or a related field is required.
• A first-level university degree in combination with two additional years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.
• A certification in occupational safety, industrial hygiene, safety risk management, or equivalent from a national or international professional society/board is desirable.

Experience:        

• A minimum of 5 years of progressively responsible relevant experience within the extensive field of OHS is required.
• Experience with management of health and safety reporting systems is required.
• Experience in conducting assessments, incident investigation and delivery of training is required.
• Experience in the usage of computers and office software packages (MS Word, Excel, etc.) and spreadsheet and database packages, experience in handling of web-based management systems is required.
• Experience working in the UN System is desirable.