Occupational Safety Officer

This position is located in the Medical Services Section of the United Nations Support Office in Haiti (UNSOH), in Port-au-Prince. Pursuant to Security Council resolution 2793 (2025), UNSOH provides support primarily to the Gang Suppression Force, the United Nations Integrated Office in Haiti, the Haitian National Police, and the Haitian Armed Forces in the context of joint or coordinated operations with the Gang Suppression Force, and provides technical assistance to the Organization of American States. The Occupational Safety Officer supports the implementation of the United Nations Occupational Safety and Health Management System across UNSOH operations. The incumbent identifies workplace hazards; applies data-driven and prevention-based methods to eliminate hazards and reduce risks; supports incident reporting and root-cause analysis; develops corrective and preventive measures; and advises managers and personnel on safe systems of work. The position contributes to the Organization’s duty of care for the health, safety and well-being of personnel and other persons who may be affected by UNSOH activities. The incumbent reports to the Chief Medical Officer. The position maintains the applicable technical coordination and reporting relationship with the Occupational Safety and Health Section, Division of Healthcare Management and Occupational Safety and Health, Office of Support Operations, Department of Operational Support, at United Nations Headquarters.

Within delegated authority, the Occupational Safety Officer will be responsible for the following duties: Safety Risk Assessment and Risk Management • Contributes to the development and implementation of methods, tools and information sources for identifying, assessing, preventing and mitigating occupational hazards, verifying controls and reassessing residual risks in existing and planned activities. • Supports planning teams and managers in conducting safety risk assessments and preparing safety risk management plans, including hazard identification, risk ratings, activity safety plans and risk-control systems. • Records and reports relevant information in United Nations incident-reporting systems and compiles and analyses data from incident reports, inspections and other sources to identify causes, trends and relationships. • Participates in investigations of occupational incidents, dangerous occurrences and near misses, and supports the identification, assignment and follow-up of root-cause corrective actions. • Monitors occupational safety and health performance against United Nations indicators and provides evidence-based reports and recommendations to the Chief Medical Officer, management and relevant committees. • Advises on compliance with applicable United Nations policies and relevant host-country occupational safety, health and environmental laws, codes, regulations and standards. Hazard Prevention and Control • Develops practical, cost-effective and layered controls to eliminate or minimize occupational hazards, exposures, accidents and losses, and to reduce the likelihood and severity of injury or illness when hazards cannot be eliminated. • Proposes approaches for integrating occupational safety performance into work plans, operational processes, procurement, facilities management, engineering, transport, aviation, medical support and other mission-support activities. • Prepares and updates occupational safety standards, procedures, checklists and guidance in coordination with occupational health, environmental, security and operational stakeholders. • Implements and monitors hazard-control and risk-control programmes and verifies completion and effectiveness of agreed mitigation measures. • Supports emergency and disaster preparedness with a focus on responder safety, including mass-casualty, fire, road-safety, natural-hazard and other contingency arrangements. Training, Communication and Safety Culture • Develops and delivers occupational safety and health induction, awareness, toolbox-talk and specialized training for personnel at all levels. • Produces clear educational materials, alerts, briefings and lessons learned tailored to the mission’s operational risks and workforce. • Promotes consultation, participation and a positive reporting culture, including timely reporting of hazards, near misses and incidents without fear of reprisal. • Provides technical advice and secretariat support, as required, to the local occupational safety and health committee and related working groups. Inspections, Audits and Performance Evaluation • Plans and conducts workplace inspections, safety audits and programme evaluations at offices, clinics, accommodation, warehouses, workshops, transport facilities, project sites and other UNSOH locations. • Uses appropriate audit and analytical techniques, including risk assessment, work sampling, trend analysis and cost-effectiveness review, to assess the adequacy of controls. • Tracks findings, corrective actions and deadlines, validates closure evidence and escalates persistent or critical risks through the established reporting line. • Contributes to management accountability and audit programmes aligned, where practicable, with United Nations environmental, health and safety strategies, policies and standards. OSH Management System and Coordination • Supports implementation and continual improvement of the United Nations Occupational Safety and Health Management System within UNSOH. • Assists with the development of local OSH policies, standards, guidance, annual work plans and performance reports. • Develops or contributes to programmes covering road safety, fire safety, food safety, ergonomics, workplace safety, natural hazards and related occupational risks, ensuring alignment with the overall OSH management system. • Integrates occupational safety and health considerations into business continuity, emergency preparedness, contractor management and project planning. • Liaises with mission components, United Nations entities, host-country counterparts, contractors and technical specialists to promote coordinated risk management and consistent standards. • Guides and mentors personnel assigned occupational safety responsibilities and may supervise staff, consultants or contractors within delegated authority. • Performs other related duties as required.

Professionalism: Knowledge of occupational safety and health principles, policies, procedures and risk-control methodologies. Ability to identify hazards, analyse incident and inspection data, develop proportionate controls and provide sound technical advice in a complex field environment. Shows pride in work and achievements; demonstrates professional competence and mastery of subject matter; is conscientious and efficient in meeting commitments, observing deadlines and achieving results; persists when faced with difficult problems; remains calm in stressful situations; and takes responsibility for incorporating gender perspectives and ensuring equal participation in all areas of work. Planning and Organizing: Develops clear goals consistent with agreed strategies; identifies priority activities and assignments; adjusts priorities as required; allocates appropriate time and resources; foresees risks and allows for contingencies; monitors and adjusts plans and actions; and uses time efficiently. Client Orientation: Considers all those to whom services are provided to be clients and seeks to understand their point of view; establishes productive partnerships based on trust and respect; identifies client needs and matches them to appropriate solutions; monitors developments inside and outside the client’s environment; keeps clients informed of progress or setbacks; and meets timelines for delivery.

Advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) in occupational safety, occupational safety and health, occupational hygiene, safety or risk management, engineering, environmental science, clinical health practice, or a related field is required. A first-level university degree in one of these fields, 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 an equivalent discipline from a recognized national or international professional society, board or accreditation body is desirable.

A minimum of five years of progressively responsible experience in occupational safety or in a directly related field with a substantial safety component is required. Experience working in or managing a corporate or industrial safety programme within national or international production, service operations or a comparable environment is required. Experience conducting safety risk assessments, workplace inspections, audits and incident investigations is required. Experience applying an occupational safety and health management system and developing corrective and preventive action plans is desirable. Experience in a United Nations common-system organization, international organization, peace operation, humanitarian operation or comparable field environment is desirable. Experience delivering occupational safety and health training and using electronic incident-reporting or safety-performance systems is desirable.

English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For this job opening, English is required. French is desirable. Knowledge of another United Nations official language is an advantage. The final required proficiency levels should be confirmed in accordance with the United Nations Language Framework. (please consult

https://languages.un.org

for details).

.headtable { font-family: arial, sans-serif; border-collapse: collapse; width: 100%; border: 1px solid gray; border-radius: 10px; overflow: hidden; } .headTitle { font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; /*color: rgb(65, 98, 145);*/ color:black; } .headtable tr td, .headtable tr th { text-align: center; vertical-align: middle; padding: 6px; } .headtable th{ background-color: #F4F4F4; color: #002d62; font-weight: bold; text-align: center; vertical-align: middle; padding: 12px; border-right: 1px solid #ccc; } .headtable td { text-align: center; vertical-align: middle; background-color: white; border-top: 1px solid #ccc; border-right: 1px solid #ccc; } .headtable th:last-child, .headtable td:last-child { border-right: none; } .headtable tr:last-child td { border-bottom: none; } .rounded-table-wrapper { border-radius: 12px; border: 1px solid #ccc; overflow: hidden; }

Required Languages

Language

Reading

Writing

Listening

Speaking

English

UN Level II

UN Level II

UN Level II

UN Level II

Desirable Languages

Language

Reading

Writing

Listening

Speaking

French

UN Level II

UN Level II

UN Level II

UN Level II

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

This temporary job opening is available for up to nine (9) months and is being advertised for advance planning purposes pending formal approval of the relevant funding and staffing structures. An appointment may be terminated, or post level adjusted in accordance with the Staff Rules for such reasons as abolition of post or reduction of staff or committee funding approvals, for example in the event that the funding for the post is not approved or the mandate of the mission is not extended. The selected candidate will be expected to temporarily deploy for a maximum of nine (9) months. If the selected candidate is a staff member from the United Nations Secretariat, the selection will be administered as a temporary assignment. While this temporary assignment may provide the successful applicant with an opportunity to gain new work experience, the selection for this position is for a limited period and has no bearing on the future incumbency of the post. The United Nations Secretariat is committed to achieving 50/50 gender balance in its staff. Female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply for this position. Retirees above the mandatory age of separation who wish to be considered for the current temporary job opening must indicate the reason for their last separation as "retirement." Such retirees shall not be employed by the Organization, unless (a) the operational requirements of the Organization cannot be met by staff members who are qualified and available to perform the required functions; and (b) the proposed employment would not adversely affect the career development or redeployment opportunities of other staff members and represents both a cost-effective and operationally sound solution to meet the needs of the service. Please note that pursuant to the Staff selection system policy (ST/AI/2025/2): (1) Applicants for positions in the Field Service category cannot be of the nationality of the country where the position is located, and (2) Applicants for positions in the Professional and higher categories in a mission, field operation, or resident coordinator’s office cannot be of the nationality of the country where the position is located. For currently serving staff of a United Nations Common System organization, only the UN-recognized nationality will be considered for the purposes of these restrictions.

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. All external candidates recruited in accordance with section 2.2 (a) of ST/AI/2025/3 for a fixed term appointment without limitation and all external candidates recruited in accordance with section 2.2. (c) of ST/AI/2025/3 for a fixed term appointment limited to the entity are subject to an initial probationary period of one year under a fixed-term appointment. Job openings advertised on the Careers Portal will be removed at 11:59 p.m. (New York time) on the deadline date.

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.