Tiered Approach
In line with the commitment to safeguard capacity and support personnel already in the Organization, a majority of UNDP UNCDF/UNV vacancies are advertised using a tiered application process whereby:
- Tier 0: UNDP/UNCDF/UNV IP staff holding permanent (PA) and fixed-term (FTA) appointments, whose posts will be abolished, or contracts will be terminated or not renewed during 2026.
- Tier 1: Other UNDP/UNCDF/UNV staff holding permanent (PA) and fixed-term (FTA) appointments
- Tier 2: UNDP/UNCDF/UNV staff holding temporary appointments (TA), personnel on regular PSA contracts, and Expert and Specialist UN Volunteers
- Tier 3 or no tier indicated: All other contract types from UNDP/UNCDF/UNV and other agencies, and other external candidates
Please make note of the Tier(s) indicated in the vacancy title, if any, and ensure that you satisfy the eligibility to apply.
Background
UNDP is the knowledge frontier organization for sustainable development in the UN Development System and serves as the integrator for collective action to realize the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). With presence in 170 countries and territories, UNDP endeavors to help countries develop strong policies, skills, partnerships and institutions so they can sustain their progress. UNDP personnel are united by a common purpose: to help countries and communities across the world; and pursue peaceful, prosperous lives, lived in harmony with the planet.
The Office of General Operations (OGO) within the Bureau of Management Services (BMS) supports UNDP Bureaux, Independent Units, Country Offices (COs), Regional Hubs and programmes and projects in the effective management of their operational support functions. OGO’s mandate includes premises, facilities, asset and travel management.
Given the various ongoing corporate initiatives, including Consolidation of UNDP HQ in DC1 Building Project, and to increase its capacity in the implementation of the OHSW strategy and operations across UNDP’s global footprint, UNDP is looking for an Occupational Health and Safety Specialist to reinforce OHS governance, ensure consistent standards across duty stations, and strengthen organizational compliance with UN system requirements.
The Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) Specialist will provide OHS expertise across UNDP globally, with a particular focus on supporting the implementation of the corporate OSH Management System, assessing risk, reviewing premises‑related OHS components, and ensuring alignment with UN system-wide OSH, wellbeing, and accessibility frameworks.
Duties and Responsibilities
Ensure Corporate Occupational Health & Safety Governance
- In consultation with UN Division of Healthcare Management and Occupational Safety and Health (DHMOSH), UNDP’s OGO, Security Office and OHS Bureau Focal points, coordinate the further implementation of the UNDP corporate OHS Management system in Regional and Central Bureaux, Independent Offices, Regional Hubs and Country Offices as per the UN Chief Executives Board (CEB)/ High-Level Committee on Management (HLCM) “OSH Framework” and UN Secretary General’s bulletin on “OHS Risk Management”.
- Provide technical OHS support to OHS Focal Points globally and recommend proper hazards control measures.
- Monitor, measure and report on organizational OHS KPIs and risk indicators; propose corrective actions where required.
- Review and record OHS incidents and hazards reported by UNDP personnel through the UNDP on-line incident reporting system/application, ensuring timely follow‑up and lessons learned.
- Conduct OHS related assessment and audits as appropriate.
- Participate in the UNDP OHS meetings and UN/HLCM/OSH Forum meetings, and other interagency platforms.
- Provide construction safety support and oversight for renovation works in the New York DC1 Building.
- Advise the BMS/OGO DC1 Consolidation Project Team on OHS requirements, site risk assessments, and implementation of safe‑work procedures.
Act as the UNDIS Focal Point for OGO
- Act as the official UNDIS (United Nations Disability Inclusion Strategy) focal point for OGO.
- Lead monitoring and reporting on UNDP’s accessibility and disability‑inclusion obligations related to premises and facilities.
- Work with premises focal points to ensure UNDP spaces meet minimum accessibility standards.
- Coordinate accessibility assessments, update guidance on accessible premises, and track compliance across the premises portfolio.
Act as the Premises Accessibility Focal Point
- Provide expert guidance on accessibility features for new and existing UNDP premises.
- Review architectural drawings and renovation proposals for accessibility compliance (ramps, lifts, circulation paths, signage, emergency egress, etc.).
- Develop checklists, tools, and training materials on accessible premises design and reasonable accommodation in the physical workspace.
Support to OGO Global Premises Team (GPT)
- Review premises business cases (new premises, renewals, construction, common premises) to ensure compliance with space, safety, accessibility, risk, and operational standards.
- Serve as a technical reviewer on premises submissions before escalation to OLS, OFM, or Senior GPT staff.
- Support the enhancement of the UNDP Premises Database by contributing to the design, development, and definition of new accessibility data field(s); assist in ensuring that, once implemented, these fields are consistently populated and maintained across the global premises portfolio.
Facilitate Communications, Training & Knowledge Sharing
- Deliver OHS briefings to OHS focal points and stakeholders.
- Support organization of OHS and accessibility promotional events, campaigns, training programmes and webinars, including interagency initiatives.
- Contribute to training materials and knowledge products on OHS, premises safety, accessibility and duty-of-care.
- Liaise with UNDP Security Office for any overlapping OHS and premises-related matters.
- Liaise with UN DHMOSH regarding any Occupational Health related matters.
Perform other duties related to OHS, accessibility, premises review, duty-of-care, or operational support as required for the efficient functioning of OGO.
Institutional Arrangement
The incumbent will work under the day-to-day supervision of the Operations Analyst, with overall guidance from the Director a.i. of the OGO/BMS.
Competencies
- Core Competencies:
Achieve Results: LEVEL 3: Set and align challenging, achievable objectives for multiple projects, have lasting impact.
Think Innovatively: LEVEL 3: Proactively mitigate potential risks, develop new ideas to solve complex problems.
Learn Continuously: LEVEL 3: Create and act on opportunities to expand horizons, diversify experiences.
Adapt with Agility: LEVEL 3: Proactively initiate and champion change, manage multiple competing demands.
Act with Determination: LEVEL 3: Think beyond immediate task/barriers and take action to achieve greater results.
Engage and Partner: LEVEL 3: Political savvy, navigate complex landscape, champion inter-agency collaboration.
Enable Diversity and Inclusion: LEVEL 3: Appreciate benefits of diverse workforce and champion inclusivity.
- Cross Functional and Technical Competencies:
HR - Duty of Care - Occupational safety, health and wellbeing:
- Knowledge of OSHW concepts and methods and ability to apply them in the development of the OSHW strategies, policies, management systems and quality standards that are consistent with the business strategy.
- Ability to identity OSHW risks and to develop mitigation strategies and monitoring systems; to create OSHW incident reporting and response systems;
- understanding of the key workplace stressors and ability to design effective response measures
Business Direction & Strategy - Effective Decision Making: Take decisions in a timely and efficient manner in line with one's authority, area of expertise and resources and take into consideration potential wider implications.
Business Development - Human-centered Design:
- Ability to develop solutions to problems by involving the human perspective in all steps of the problem-solving process.
- Knowledge and understanding of human centered design principles and practices.
Business Management - Communication:
- Communicate in a clear, concise and unambiguous manner both through written and verbal communication; to tailor messages and choose communication methods depending on the audience.
- Ability to manage communications internally and externally, through media, social media and other appropriate channels.
Business Management - Risk Management: Identify and organize action around reducing, mitigating and proactively managing risks.
Legal - Managing Client Relations: Ability to interact with different levels of management and across different agencies and offices to obtain information, develop legal approaches and resolve issues, this skill includes liaison with counterparts and determining the best sequence in which to pursue an issue, were information, particularly for UNDP, may be across different independent UN agencies.
Business Direction and Strategy - System Thinking: Ability to use objective problem analysis and judgement to understand how interrelated elements coexist within an overall process or system, and to consider how altering one element can impact on other parts of the system.
Required Skills and Experience
Education:
- Advanced university degree (master’s degree or equivalent) in Occupational Safety and Health, Engineering, Safety Risk Management or related field is required. Or
- A first-level university degree (bachelor’s degree) in the areas stated above, in combination with an additional two years of qualifying experience will be given due consideration in lieu of the advanced university degree.
- Official certification or training in the specific field of Occupational Safety/Health or Safety Risk Management from an internationally recognized, training institute is required.
Experience:
- Minimum of five (5) years (with master’s degree) or 7 years (with bachelor’s degree) of experience in Occupational Health/Safety Operations in international organizations is required.
- Demonstrated experience in applying OSHW concepts and methods them in the development of the OSHW strategies, policies, management systems and quality standards is required.
- Experience in risk assessment, compliance audits, and emergency response planning is required.
- Previous experience in organizing and delivering OHS briefings or training is an asset.
- Previous experience in managing OHS Incident and hazard reporting system is an asset.
- Experience in development and delivery of learning capacity building and transfer of knowledge strategies, plans and training programmes related to occupational health/safety is an asset.
- Experience in facilitating trainings and workshops is an asset.
Language:
- Fluency in English is required.
- Working knowledge of another UN language is an asset.
Equal opportunity
As an equal opportunity employer, UNDP values diversity as an expression of the multiplicity of nations and cultures where we operate and, as such, we encourage qualified applicants from all backgrounds to apply for roles in the organization. Our employment decisions are based on merit and suitability for the role, without discrimination.
UNDP is also committed to creating an inclusive workplace where all personnel are empowered to contribute to our mission, are valued, can thrive, and benefit from career opportunities that are open to all.
Sexual harassment, exploitation, and abuse of authority
UNDP does not tolerate harassment, sexual harassment, exploitation, discrimination and abuse of authority. All selected candidates, therefore, undergo relevant checks and are expected to adhere to the respective standards and principles.
Right to select multiple candidates
UNDP reserves the right to select one or more candidates from this vacancy announcement. We may also retain applications and consider candidates applying to this post for other similar positions with UNDP at the same grade level and with similar job description, experience and educational requirements.
Use of AI by candidates
Applicants are invited to read UNDP’s guidance for candidates on using AI responsibly in UNDP recruitment and selection
Scam alert
UNDP does not charge a fee at any stage of its recruitment process. For further information, please see www.undp.org/scam-alert.