Fire Safety Consultant

WFP seeks candidates of the highest integrity and professionalism who share our humanitarian principles

Selection of staff is made on a competitive basis, and we are committed to promoting diversity and gender balance

Job Title: Fire Safety Consultant

Type of Contract: When-actually employed (WAE)

Division: Security Division

Duty Station (City, Country): Administrative duty station: Rome, Italy

Duration: 6 months

Application Deadline: 

BACKGROUNG AND PURPOSE OF THE ASSIGNEMENT:

Under the overall policy guidance of and in coordination and cooperation with the United Nations Department of Safety and Security (UNDSS) the safety goal for WFP is to enable WFP to conduct its activities and to implement its strategic objectives while ensuring the safety of its personnel, and its operations, premises and assets. In doing so WFP will continue as a front-line agency adopting, as far as is practicable, a ‘how to stay’ safety culture to tackle the critical hunger needs of affected populations anywhere in the world.

ACCOUNTABILITIES/RESPONSIBILITIES:

1. The aim of the Fire Safety Support mission is to review in-country existing WFP Fire Safety measures and propose workable solutions to any vulnerabilities identified, including the provision of financial assistance and capacity building activities if appropriate and required.

2. The Fire Safety Consultant will verify that existing safety measures are effective, and compliant with the country UNSMS recommended measures (SRM), further;

a. identify areas of vulnerability which may have developed since the conduct of any previous fire safety inspections or a change in the occupancy of the structures.

b. assist and advise staff and managers in the field on compliance with and adherence to UN/WFP Fire Safety Guidelines and Policy practices and procedures as well as local fire codes.

c. identify areas of concern in UN/WFP Safety Management practices within the risk management framework and recommend relevant remedial action.

d. identify and promote good fire safety policies and practices.

e. As identified by the RSO, the Fire Safety consultant may, on a case-by-case basis and in consultation with the SEC Chief of Operations, extend the length of the mission to begin the implementation of some of the recommendations or run technical fire investigations.

3. Conduct a fire prevention inspection of the WFP premises pre-selected by the WFP CO FSO/SFP, including the Country Office, Sub-Offices, Field and Area Offices, guest houses and any residential occupancy where WFP Staff are accommodated and WFP-managed Warehouses. The purpose of these inspections is to focus on, or highlight outstanding SRMM compliance/non-compliance issues, and areas of major fire safety concerns, compliance/non-compliance with local fire codes and the UN Fire Safety Guidelines and Policy.

4. Upon the advice of the RSO, the Fire Safety consultant will delivery capacity building activities as following: i) a basic fire safety awareness training for WFP personnel, ii) mentoring session to the Fire Safety Focal Point at location, and iii) Fire Evacuation exercise) in accordance with the UN Fire Safety Guidelines and Policy and local fire codes. To maximize the results of the support mission on a sustainable basis, the Fire Safety consultant will provide a mentoring session to the Fire Safety Focal Point aiming at reviewing and updating of the Fire Safety Inspection, the Fire Safety Risk assessment and the Fire Safety Plan (including the Emergency Evacuation Plan) for a facility pre-selected by the FSO and RSO. Liaison and coordination with the local Fire Service and UNDSS are necessary over the planning and roll-out of the fire evacuation drill for pre-selected facilities.  

5. Record the main threats, hazards and risks likely to exacerbate WFP’s fire safety vulnerabilities if they differ from the existing SRM and provide recommendations for additional risk prevention and mitigation strategies and measures as applicable, to the FSO/RSO and WFP Country Director (CD) when the risk is assessed as to be immediately addressed by WFP, or to the country UN security cell or through the Chief of Operations if it requires the intervention from UNDSS.

6. The Fire Safety support mission must focus on areas which are directly related to and will not deviate from the officially endorsed country specific fire codes, fire and life safety risk assessments, SRMM and RSM.

7. All Fire Safety Support Missions will be planned and organized by SEC Operations and conducted in coordination with the WFP Country Security Officer (if any) and relevant Regional Security Officer (RSO). Prior to deployment the Fire Safety consultant must receive a briefing and engage with the RSO. Based on the mission report, the Fire Safety consultant must debrief the WFP CO Security Officer (if any) and the RSO at the end of the mission.

8. Conduct a series of meetings with relevant staff, including but not limited to the WFP CD/DCD and head of supply chain (would like to emphasize the direct operational support there) and UNDSS.

9. Meet with local fire officials to understand the limits and capabilities of the local fire service in order to take into considerations any inadequacies encountered for the safety of WFP facilities and staff.

10. Summarize the main recommendations which should be implemented by giving priority to SRM and RSM issues, local fire codes and the UN Fire Safety Guidelines and Policy.

11. Ensure that a close-out meeting is conducted with the CD or DCD, to highlight key findings and recommendations.

12. Optional: Conduct technical fire investigation after a critical incident, upon the request of CO management.

13. With a view to build a sustainable operational continuity and diversify the fire safety support capacity availed by the Security Division, the Fire Safety consultant develops and delivers a development package aiming at inducing and train alternate WFP Fire Safety consultants or to prepare Stand-by partners’ staff prior to deployment. The development package covers the basic principles and procedures of the UNSMS Fire Safety Guidelines and Policy. It is availed onto the dedicated information management platform used by the WFP Security Division.

DELIVERABLES AT THE END OF THE CONTRACT:

• Over the course of support missions to Country Offices, complete Fire safety inspection reports for the WFP premises (WFP Offices, WFP-managed warehouses, WFP residential occupancy)) that have been pre-selected with the WFP FSO/SFP in country.

• Over the course of support missions to COs, perform the following capacity building activities at facilities pre-selected in collaboration with the WFP CO Fire Safety Focal Point and confirmed into the CO Mission Terms of References:
  1. Deliver Basic Fire Safety awareness training sessions to WFP personnel in country, on the basis of the UN Fire Safety Guidelines (SMOM) and Policy practices and procedures.
  2. Deliver a mentoring session with the Fire Safety Focal Point aiming to review and update of the Fire Safety Inspection, Risk assessment and Fire Safety Plan (including the Emergency Evacuation Plan) per pre-selected facility vis-à-vis the UN Fire Safety Guidelines and Policy practices and procedures as well as local fire codes.
  3.  Roll out a drill exercise for pre-selected facilities with the involvement of the Fire Safety Focal Point, the nominated WFP Fire Wardens, UNDSS and local fire department.

Complete a Mission report including a summary of i) CO level of compliance with existing local fire codes, existing SRMMs and UN Fire Safety guidelines and policy, including reference to the review of existing Fire Safety inspection and Fire safety risk assessments,  Fire safety plan, Emergency evacuation plan and drills); ii) the main recommendations to adjust or add any budget-minded prevention and mitigation strategies and measures; iii) the key achievements on capacity building activity (e.g. Fire Safety awareness to WFP personnel and mentoring to Fire SFP).. The mission report is to be circulated with the CO, RSO and the Security Chief of Operations.

QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE REQUIRED:

Education:

Standard advanced fire and rescue certificates from a fire service academy or equivalent.

Experience:

Minimum five-year experience in operational capacity related to fire safety as well as a minimum of two-year training instructor experience in fire safety service (both private or public sectors).

Knowledge and Skills:

Firefighting and rescue operations, fire prevention inspection and code enforcement, basic knowledge of fire suppression /detection systems and of fire evacuation planning, fire safety training/instruction methodology, use of all types fire extinguishing equipment, knowledge of PPE requirements for firefighting 

Language:

Fluency (level C) in English language and Intermediate knowledge (level B) in French language are essential. Knowledge of other UN language is desirable.

Qualified female applicants and qualified applicants from developing countries are especially encouraged to apply

WFP has zero tolerance for discrimination and does not discriminate on the basis of HIV/AIDS status

No appointment under any kind of contract will be offered to members of the UN Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions (ACABQ), International Civil Service Commission (ICSC), FAO Finance Committee, WFP External Auditor, WFP Audit Committee, Joint Inspection Unit (JIU) and other similar bodies within the United Nations system with oversight responsibilities over WFP, both during their service and within three years of ceasing that service.