VAC-15187 HSSE Officer

Organizational context:

• Our client is an operational arm of the United Nations (UN), supporting the successful implementation of their partners’ peacebuilding, humanitarian & development projects around the world. Mandated as a central resource of the UN, they provide sustainable project management, procurement & infrastructure services to a wide range of governments, donors & UN organizations. With over 7,000 personnel spread across 80 countries, they offer their partners the logistical, technical & management knowledge they need, where they need it. By implementing around 1,000 projects for their partners at any given time, our client makes significant contributions to results on the ground, often in the most challenging environments.

Somalia country office:

• Our clients Somalia office is located in Mogadishu & oversees the organization’s operations in Somalia, they in Somalia implement a large portfolio of projects in partnership with other UN agencies & various donors on the ground, ranging from physical infrastructure to transactional projects. The HSSE Officer provides technical assistance & expertise with reference to the health & safety of construction works as well as field coordination, ensuring high quality & consistency of safe working environment is established for construction works. The HSSE Officer promotes a collaborative, client focused, quality & results oriented approach in the project team.

Job Specific- Technical Assistance to Somalia Crisis Recovery Project (TA-SCRP)

Our client will implement sub-component 3.1 Building Emergency Response Capacity at Hospitals of the Additional Financing for the Somalia COVID-19 Emergency Vaccination Project funded by the World Bank. Our client will rehabilitate six regional hospitals, one in each Federal Member State of Somalia as well as in Banadir. The effort will include developing capacity for blood transfusions, respiratory therapy, triage response, solar powered oxygen, and isolation centers’. Further, it will help upgrade the infrastructure and develop the capacity to manage climate emergencies, including preparedness and response plans, creating a climate emergency hospital response team and upgrading medical capacity to handle the impacts of climate shocks (such as malnutrition, injuries, drowning, and climate-sensitive diseases). 

Summary of functions:

• Planning, coordination & implementation.

• Monitoring & reporting.

• Knowledge management.

Planning, coordination & implementation:

• Working with the environmental & social safeguard team members, prepare / review the contract specific safeguard instruments such as environment & social management plan, stakeholder engagement plan, security management plan etc.

• Coordinate the overall implementation of our clients Health, Safety; Social & Environmental (HSSE) systems, policy, procedures in the country office & projects.

• Ensure compliance to all HSSE policies, procedures, rules & requirements in all projects & communicated.

• Develop & / or advise on risk mitigation actions required for all HSSE potential & actual risk & recommend mitigation strategies during project implementation, taking into consideration relevant & existing assessments.

• Support all project teams in the development of health & safety plan & Environmental Safeguards Management Plan (ESMP) for all projects & its implementation in compliance with our clients HSSE policies, procedures & guidelines.

• Provide technical advice to project developers & teams to ensure HSSE is embedded in project proposals.

• Liaise & regularly coordinate with the project teams to ensure their respective contractors comply with our clients HSSE requirements including training & reporting.

• Support all HSSE related matters during all phases of the project.

Monitoring & reporting:

• Assist in the monitoring of the project activities implementation to ensure compliance to the World Bank’s (WB’s) environmental & social standards & the approved contract specific environmental & social safeguard framework & plans including work site health & safety concerns.

• Engage in community consultation on social safeguard related matters, social & environmental related data collection, monitoring & reporting activities.

• Investigate & report on environmental & social safeguard non compliances including health & safety & improving opportunities.

• Coordinates the monitoring & reporting of HSSE performance indicators such as inspections, incident management & training.

• Support the recording & investigate of all HSSE incidents (including near misses) to determine the cause & to propose areas of improvement.

• Prepare reports on incidents (including near misses) & compile statistical information to present to management on HSSE matters.

• Conducts regular field inspection & monitoring visits to the project sites to ensure compliance to the HSSE requirements.

• Perform HSSE projects’ risk assessments as required, to ensure effective HSSE standards are in place as per our clients HSSE requirements.

• Provide support to periodic project on site HSSE inspections & ensure closure of action items, in close coordination with the project team.

• Supports in the development, implementation & follow up of corrective & preventive measures including lesson learnt from risk assessment, inspections & incident reviews.

• Ensure a safe workplace environment is maintained at all times without risk to the health & safety of everyone including workers, our clients staff, other stakeholders & the general public.

• Participate in regular country office & project meetings to report on relevant HSSE matters & to provide the necessary technical support.

• Compiles & maintains system & project documentation such as procedures and reports as per our clients HSSE requirements.

• Ensure that appropriate environmental mitigation measures are proposed & met.

• Provide & assist in regular reports to the Head of Program on relevant HSSE activities.

• Support with all aspects of relevant health, safety & welfare at work legislation & communicate relevant changes to the stakeholders.

• Day to day administrative support provided to the project team.

• Advice governments on E&S safeguards.

Knowledge management:

• Support in the development & implementation of specific HSSE training & capacity building for the country office.

• Support, organize & conduct structured HSSE training for our clients project team, contractors, consultants, implementing partners & other stakeholders including induction..

Impact of results:

• The effective & successful achievement of results by the HSSE Officer directly impacts on achievement of the projects & consequently reinforces the visibility & image of our client as an effective service provider in project services, management & strengthens its competitive position as a partner of choice in sustainable development & project services.

The HSSE Officer will report will report to the Senior Project Manager.

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent in health & safety management, environmental management, civil engineering, natural sciences or other relevant discipline is required or a diploma certificate with 2 additional years of relevant work experience to the above duties & responsibilities may be accepted in lieu of the bachelors degree, an advanced university degree (master’s degree or equivalent) with relevant discipline is an asset.

• A progressively responsibleexperienceinHealth, Safety, Social &Environmental (HSSE) management is required, with at least 2 years in managing & implementing projects’ related HSSE matters is required.

• Experience in health & safety risk assessments, inspections, incidentinvestigation &training facilitation is an asset.

• At least 1 year of experience with the design or implementation of environmental safeguards tools is required.

• Experience working on infrastructure projects will be an asset.

• Experienceinhealth,safety&environment management is an asset

• Experience workinginaprojectoroperations management capacity in a UN organization orasimilarinternationalorganizationwouldbe considered a strong asset.

• Experienceliaising &workingwithgovernment officialstofacilitateplanning,implementation & monitoring&evaluationofprojectswouldbe considered a strong asset.

• Experience working in multicultural teams.

• Willingness to travel to project sites across the country.

• Experience / knowledge of web based applications & GoogleSuiteproducts,especiallyGoogleforms, sheets, docs & slides is an asset.

• Develops & implements sustainable business strategies, thinks long term & externally in order to positively shape the organization. Anticipates & perceives the impact & implications of future decisions & activities on other parts of the organization.

• Treats all individuals with respect, responds sensitively to differences & encourages others to do the same. Upholds organizational & ethical norms. Maintains high standards of trustworthiness. Role model for diversity & inclusion.

• Acts as a positive role model contributing to the team spirit. Collaborates & supports the development of others. Acts as positive leadership role model, motivates, directs & inspires others to succeed, utilizing appropriate leadership styles

• Demonstrates understanding of the impact of one’s own role on all partners & always puts the end beneficiary first. Builds & maintains strong external relationships & is a competent partner for others (if relevant to the role).

• Efficiently establishes an appropriate course of action for self & / or others to accomplish a goal. Actions lead to total task accomplishment through concern for quality in all areas. Sees opportunities & takes the initiative to act on them. Understands that responsible use of resources maximizes our clients impact on their beneficiaries.

• Open to change & flexible in a fast paced environment. Effectively adapts its own approach to suit changing circumstances or requirements. Reflects on experiences & modifies own behavior. Performance is consistent, even under pressure. Always pursues continuous improvements.

• Evaluates data & courses o€ action to reach logical, pragmatic decisions. Takes an unbiased, rational approach with calculated risks. Applies innovation & creativity to problem solving.

• Expresses ideas or facts in a clear, concise & open manner. Communication indicates a consideration for the feelings & needs of others. Actively listens & proactively shares knowledge. Handles conflict effectively, by overcoming differences of opinion & finding common ground.

• Demonstrates strong technical knowledge & commitment to continuous learning.

• Demonstrates results orientation & focus on solutions.

• Ability to develop & maintain effective work relationships with clients, donors & other stakeholders.

• Ability to plan work in a collaborative manner & to manage priorities.

• Works collaboratively with colleagues to achieve the goals of the project and in accordance with our clients shared goals.

• Consistently approaches work with energy & a positive, constructive attitude.

• Remains calm, in control & good humored even under pressure.

• The HSSE Officer is responsible for keeping abreast of new developments in HSSE areas in construction works.

This role has no team management responsibility.

Qualified female candidates are encouraged to apply for this role.