Background Information - UNOPS

UNOPS – an operational arm of the United Nations – supports the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by successfully implementing its partners’ peacebuilding, humanitarian, and development projects around the world. Our mission is to help people build better lives and countries achieve peace and sustainable development.

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

Working with us

We are proud of our people. With a wealth of knowledge and skills in various disciplines – engineering, finance, human resources, ICT, leadership, project management, procurement, and more – they help tackle some of the biggest challenges of our time. Their work around the world supports progress toward the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).


At UNOPS, we offer a range of short- and long-term opportunities in various environments and duty stations – from Denmark and Kenya to Mexico, Switzerland, Myanmar, Senegal, Uganda, and many more.

Diversity

With over 5,000 UNOPS personnel and approximately 7,400 personnel recruited on behalf of our partners, spread across 80 countries, our workforce represents a range of nationalities and cultures. We promote a balanced and diverse labor force — a strength that helps us better understand and address our partners’ needs. We continually strive to maintain our gender-balanced workplace. We encourage qualified underrepresented groups as per UNOPS Gender, Diversity, and Inclusion Strategy to apply for our vacancies.

 Background Information - Afghanistan

Afghanistan

With more than 20 years of experience in the country, UNOPS Afghanistan focuses on providing maximum support to the people of Afghanistan through the delivery of projects and services that improve the lives of people in need. The UNOPS Afghanistan Country Office (AFCO) serves as an organizational mechanism to deliver a range of projects for which UNOPS has been designated as the implementation agency.  At present, UNOPS AFCO activities cover a range of sectors including humanitarian, basic human needs, cash for work, infrastructure, development, procurement and HR services. 

The functional objective of UNOPS AFCO is to contribute to improving the lives of girls, boys, men and women living in Afghanistan. The aim of UNOPS AFCO is to provide efficient and cost-effective implementation services on behalf of all our partners to support the humanitarian response and development of the country. UNOPS AFCO’s mission is to exceed the expectations of all stakeholders in the delivery of AFCO services, at all times, in all places, in all circumstances, in order to improve the lives of Afghans in need. 
 

Project Information

The UNFPA country office in Afghanistan owns office premises and guesthouse accommodation located within the UNOCA Compound in Kabul. As a result of significant growth in the country programme and the staff population, both the office premises and guesthouse accommodation have become inadequate.

UNFPA plans to redevelop both Office and Accommodation through construction of a new 2 storey office annex, with basement, along with remodeling and refurbishment of the existing single storey office building and construction of two new 2 storey accommodation blocks, with basement(s), along with remodeling and refurbishment of the existing 2-storey guesthouse block.  

 Background Information - Job-specific

Job-Specific Information

The Health Safety, Social and Environmental (HSSE) Associate will work under the supervision of the Project Manager and report also to the HSSE specialist in AFCO/ The HSSE Associate will verify and monitor that Project/Site HSSE plans and procedures are properly implemented throughout the projects’ life cycle. The incumbent needs to liaise continuously with the Project Manager/ Quality engineer and the Project Team, and to provide support on HSSE issues in coordination with the HSSE Specialist in AFCO.

 Functional Responsibilities

Key responsibilities:

1. Technical Support Services

2. Office Administration

3. Knowledge Building and Knowledge Sharing

Technical Support Services

• Administrative support the Project Team on various health and safety and environmental related matters in the ongoing projects.

• Help the Project Manager and quality Engineers in developing the HSSE plan.

• Assist in monitoring and reporting on site-specific ESMPs for activities conducted by the UNOPS field Offices.

• Support field level review of health, safety, social and environmental management plans on a regular basis and ensure these are up to date at all times.

• Administrative coordination of the implementation, monitoring and reporting of Environmental and Social Management Tools including Labor Management Procedures (LMP), Gender Based Violence Action Plan, Sexual Exploitation and Abuse Prevention Action Plan and Child Protection Action Plan.

• With the guidance of the Project Manager, perform field inspections and monitoring visits to the project’s sites to highlight possible areas/issues of non-conformity (e.g. unsafe work at heights and in excavations), draft project’s health and safety related reports on occurrences, and provide statistical information.

• Ensure that relevant safety risk assessments are compiled and support the enforcement of preventative measures on HSSE for all project activities.

• Support in the development and review of HSSE guidelines and operating procedures.

Office Administration

• Carry out a series of spot checks to ensure mitigation measures are properly implemented in line with the guideline.

• Provides general administrative services for the work area, managing the information flow, following up on the timeliness of responses for initiatives, correspondence, and queries, with internal and external stakeholders.

• Provides recommendations on administrative measures and actions required for ensuring the compliance with HSSE requirements.

• Participate in regular site meetings to report on relevant HSSE matters and to provide necessary advice.

• Record relevant project HSSE reports in line with UNOPS policies and procedures.

Knowledge Building and Knowledge Sharing

• Liaise with the Project Team to ensure their respective contractors meet their statutory obligations in all areas pertaining to health, safety and welfare at work, including statutory training, reporting, permit to work system, equipment utilized on site etc.

• In coordination with the HSSE guideline, implement the procedures for reporting all health and safety and environmental incidents.

• Carry out training and capacity building on HSSE and learning initiatives for UNOPS personnel, contractors and partners.

Impact and Results: 

The effective and successful achievement of results by the HSSE Associate directly impacts on the development and performance of the project. 

Monitoring and progress controls will be in accordance with work plans that the Supervisor and incumbent will prepare at the beginning of the assignment.

 Education/Experience/Language requirements

1. Education

• High School Diploma is required;

• A Bachelor’s Degree or equivalent in Health and Safety Management, Environmental Management, Civil Engineering, Natural Resource Management or any other relevant discipline will be considered as an asset and may substitute some of the required years of experience.

1. Work Experience

Required:

• With high school diploma, a minimum of 6 years of work experience in Occupational Health and Safety; 

• Experience in H&S risk assessments OR on site inspections OR permit to work system OR incident investigation OR H&S reporting is required

Desired:

• A proven track record experience managing health and safety in construction, manufacturing, mining or similar production environments is an asset.

• Training facilitation in HSSE matters;

• Experience with third party certification audits for Health & Safety and Environment Management; 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.

1. Languages

• Fluency in English and Dari/Pashto are required.

Please click on the below link for actual vacancy announcement to see the complete details and submission guideline as this is only an attempt for attracting female applicants for gender parity in organization. Please make sure you fill your profile/application properly with all relevant details in order to be considered for the next stage of recruitment/selection.

https://jobs.unops.org/pages/viewvacancy/VADetails.aspx?id=29314