Health, Safety, Social and Environmental (HSSE) Senior Assistant - Retainer, Multiple positions

Background Information - South Sudan

The UNOPS South Sudan Office helps a wide range of local and international partners improve the lives of the South Sudanese people by implementing infrastructure and procurement projects. All UNOPS operations have an increasing emphasis on developing national capacities and considering gender, environmental and community concerns. UNOPS is working in a range of sectors in South Sudan including transport, education, health, post-conflict stabilization and emergency response.

Background Information - Project

UNOPS Horn of Africa (HAMCO) - South Sudan Country Office will be implementing the Productive Safety Net for Socio-economic Opportunities Project (SNSOP) which is funded by the World Bank (WB) to address existing challenges of soaring levels of poverty, vulnerability, unemployment and idleness, particularly amongst youth. The development objectives of the project are to provide cash transfers and access to income generating opportunities and strengthen the National Safety Net Delivery System. SNSOP has three main four components to be namely: 

• Cash Transfers;
• Provision of Economic Opportunities;
• Strengthened Institutional Capacity & Social Protection System and;
• Project Management, Monitoring & Evaluation (M&E) and Knowledge Generation.

The project will be targeting the most vulnerable segments of the South Sudanese population aiming to benefit in excess of Ninety Six thousand (96,000) beneficiary Households (HH) in 15 vulnerable locations across the country.

Under the overall supervision of the Project Management Support Officer – Team Leader, the incumbent is required to perform the following duties and responsibilities:

• Provide support to the Health, Safety, Social and Environmental (HSSE) Specialist based in Juba in developing HSSE guidelines for the Project.

• Ensure that appropriate Health, Safety, Social and Environmental mitigation measures are implemented based on county context.

• Carrying out environmental and social screening process of site specific activities that will be conducted by communities.

• Provide follow up monitoring to ensure that proposed mitigation measures are implemented.

• Provide inputs regarding the Health, Safety, Social and Environmental action plans.

• Under the guidance of the Health, Safety, Social and Environmental Specialist conduct a series of spot checks to ensure that Environment and Social safeguarding policies are properly implemented at each sub project site.

• Provide training and awareness to communities on relevant environment and social standards as may be required by the World Bank.

• Carry out site inspections on all active sub-projects.

• Under the guidance of the Health, Safety, Social and Environmental Specialist, assist in the quarterly monitoring of sub-project activities against the UNOPS and World Bank standards.

• Provide sound contributions to the Health, Safety, Social and Environmental Specialist in order to train other field staff on HSSE awareness and mitigation measures.

• Assist in the capturing and management of grievances in the MIS (Management Information System).

• Document and report Health, Safety, Social and Environmental incidents in a timely manner and escalate any issues that needed to be addressed, and also follow up actions defined.

• Handle additional assignments as directed by the Field Team Leader in  the implementation of Environment and Social Safeguards instruments.

Final Product:

Effective and successful achievement of results by the Health, Safety, Social and Environmental Senior Assistant directly impacts the successful delivery of the project on time, budget and above all, expectations of stakeholders. This subsequently reinforces the visibility and image of UNOPS as an effective service provider in project services management and strengthens its competitive position as a partner of choice in sustainable development and project services.

• Secondary School Certificate is required. 

• Technical/Professional Diploma in Environmental Studies, Social Science, Natural Resources Management, Environmental Health, Environmental Economics or other related field with 3 years experience is an added advantage and may substitute some of the required years of experience.

• Bachelor’s Degree/Undergraduate degree in Environmental Studies, Social Science, Natural Resources Management, Environmental Health, Environmental Economics or other relevant discipline with 1 year experience is an added advantage and may substitute some of the required years of experience. 

• Minimum of five (5) years of relevant progressive experience in Health, Safety, Social and Environmental issues with Secondary School is required OR; 
• Minimum of three (3) years professional experience in Health, Safety, Social and Environmental issues with a Technical/Professional Diploma OR;
• Minimum of one (1) year professional experience in Health, Safety, Social and Environmental issues with Bachelor's Degree.
• Experience in development work in remote areas is highly desired.
• Experience in World Bank public works, social protection projects and food security projects is desired.
• Experience in environmental science, monitoring and evaluation (environment) is desired.
• Experience in coordinating with different stakeholders, especially with local communities, and dealing with large crowds is highly desired.

• Fluency in written and oral English is required.
• Knowledge of local Arabic and or local languages of the duty station is desired.

• Please note that UNOPS does not accept unsolicited resumes.

• Applications received after the closing date will not be considered.

• Please note that only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process, which involves various assessments.

• UNOPS embraces diversity and is committed to equal employment opportunity. Our workforce consists of many diverse nationalities, cultures,  languages, races, gender identities, sexual orientations, and abilities. UNOPS seeks to sustain and strengthen this diversity to ensure equal opportunities as well as an inclusive working environment for its entire workforce. 

• Qualified women and candidates from groups which are underrepresented in the UNOPS workforce are encouraged to apply. These include in particular candidates from racialized and/or indigenous groups, members of minority gender identities and sexual orientations, and people with disabilities.

• We would like to ensure all candidates perform at their best during the assessment process.  If you are shortlisted and require additional assistance to complete any assessment, including reasonable accommodation, please inform our human resources team when you receive an invitation.

• These are local positions, open to South Sudanese nationals in 7 duty stations including: Yambio, Maban, Malakal, Leer, Rumbek Center, Juba and Pariang.

Terms and Conditions 

• For staff positions only, UNOPS reserves the right to appoint a candidate at a lower level than the advertised level of the post. 

• For retainer contracts, you must complete a few mandatory courses ( they take around 4 hours to complete)  in your own time, before providing services to UNOPS. Refreshers or new mandatory courses may be required during your contract. Please note that you will not receive any compensation for taking courses and refreshers. For more information on a retainer contract here.

• All UNOPS personnel are responsible for performing their duties in accordance with the UN Charter and UNOPS Policies and Instructions, as well as other relevant accountability frameworks. In addition, all personnel must demonstrate an understanding of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in a manner consistent with UN core values and the UN Common Agenda.

• It is the policy of UNOPS to conduct background checks on all potential personnel. Recruitment in UNOPS is contingent on the results of such checks.

• It may be the responsibility of the selected candidate to make arrangements, to a standard deemed acceptable by UNOPS, for a secure internet connection, laptop and or equipment necessary for work(as defined by UNOPS).