Health, Safety, Social and Environmental (HSSE) Officer

Background Information - South Sudan

The United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS) is an operational arm of the United Nations, supporting the successful implementation of its partners' peacebuilding, humanitarian, and development projects around the world.  Mandated as a central resource of the United Nations, UNOPS provides sustainable project management, procurement, and infrastructure services to a wide range of governments, donors, and United Nations organizations.  With over 7,000 personnel spread across 80 countries, UNOPS offers its partners the logistical, technical, and management knowledge they need, where they need it.  By implementing around 1,000 projects for our partners at any given time, UNOPS makes significant contributions to results on the ground, often in the most challenging environments.

Established in 2009, UNOPS Ethiopia Office has been providing services to various partners, including the Government of Ethiopia, UN agencies such as WHO, UNHCR and WFP, and other international organizations. Since 2014, the UNOPS Ethiopia Multi-Country office (known recently as the Horn of Africa Multi-Country Office - HAMCO) manages and coordinates the UNOPS activities in Ethiopia, as well as Sudan, South Sudan and Djibouti. The UNOPS Horn of Africa multi-country office team is composed of approximately 100 national and international women and men and offers a broad range of services such as infrastructure, procurement, project management, and financial and human resources management. 

Position Background

The HSSE Officer will provide technical expertise and support in the implementation of Health, Safety, Social and Environmental (HSSE) measures to South Sudan and its related projects. 

The HSSE Officer will be responsible for coordinating HSSE practices on construction sites, facilitating compliance with relevant HSSE standards, guidelines, and regulations, and promoting a culture of safety and environmental sustainability for projects in South Sudan. 

The scope of the assignment includes providing HSSE technical support to projects, through practical training and capacity building of UNOPS and Contractor personnel, coordination, knowledge management, innovation, and personnel management. 

The duties of the HSSE Officer will include extensive travel to project sites as necessary to oversee, implement, review and promote best HSSE practices. The HSSE Officer will work under the direct supervision of the Project Manager, with a secondary reporting line to the MCO HSSE Coordinator. 

The successful candidate will provide HSSE Support and will contribute, mainly to Infrastructure Project Managers and their teams in the implementation of organizational standards and best practices in HSSE planning, reporting, support and delivery.  In parallel, the incumbent will be assigned to undertake construction management responsibilities on selected sites.  In doing so, S/he will be in a position to provide demonstration of good practices in HSSE on active sites.

• Implement, and monitor HSSE plans, civil engineering construction plans, and procedures aligned with UNOPS and donor requirements;

• Supervise construction activities and system plans, ensuring HSSE and quality compliance;

• Conduct regular construction site inspections focused on both civil engineering standards and HSS;

• Provide technical assistance on HSSE, construction methodologies, structural integrity, materials quality, and environmental protection to project teams and contractors;

• Implement risk management strategies addressing occupational hazards, environmental impacts, and civil engineering technical risks.

• Support project design, procurement, and construction through technical assistance on HSSE and civil engineering disciplines;

• Oversee the integration of Environmental and Social Management Plans into site activities;

• Evaluate construction site practices, structural works, and risk assessments ensuring adherence to UNOPS HSSE policies and civil engineering best practices;

• Review design documents, Bills of Quantities (BoQ), and technical specifications to ensure HSSE and engineering standards are met;

• Provide support in the selection and use of appropriate construction materials, safety equipment, and engineering controls;

• Assist contractors in planning and coordinating construction activities, ensuring quality control and HSSE compliance;

• Support incident investigations from both safety and engineering perspectives.

• Monitor and report on HSSE performance, construction quality, schedule adherence, and civil engineering deliverables;

• Analyze performance data and site conditions to identify risks, quality issues, or delays, proposing corrective actions;

• Prepare detailed progress reports including technical recommendations, quality control findings, and HSSE compliance status;

• Contribute to monthly and quarterly project progress and assurance reports.

• Collaborate with government agencies, contractors, consultants, and communities to ensure compliance with HSSE regulations and civil engineering standards;

• Facilitate communication between contractors and project management teams for resolving technical, safety, and environmental issues;

• Participate in workshops and training to disseminate HSSE and civil engineering best practices;

• .Support corporate HSSE initiatives and liaise with HAMCO HSSE and engineering specialists.

• Promote a culture of safety, quality, and sustainability across all civil infrastructure activities;

• Maintain high standards of documentation, archiving all HSSE and civil engineering project deliverables;

• Contribute to lessons learned, best practices, and innovations in HSSE and civil engineering;

• Facilitate training programs on HSSE, construction techniques, and quality management; 

• Contribute to capacity-building and training initiatives related to HSSE and civil engineering for project staff.

Final Product:

• Improved HSSE performance in civil and structural works;

• High-quality HSSE reporting;

• Enhanced staff capacity in HSSE practices;

• Timely delivery of construction sites (when assigned)

• Zero Fatal Incidents on UNOPS Construction sites in South Sudan

• A Bachelor’s degree in Occupational Health and Safety, Environmental Science, Engineering, Civil Engineering or Construction Management, Natural Science,  or a related field is required.

• Diploma Certificate  in Health and Safety Management, Environmental Management, Civil Engineering, Natural Sciences or other relevant discipline with a combination of an additional four (4) years of relevant work experience to the above duties and responsibilities may be accepted in lieu of the Bachelors degree.

• An advanced university degree (Master’s Degree or equivalent) with relevant discipline is an added advantage.

• Additional certifications or specialized training in HSSE management, risk assessment, incident investigation, construction management or related areas are desirable.

A minimum of two (2) years experience in Health Safety Social and/or Environmental management, planning, supervising, and managing construction activities and system plans, ensuring compliance with civil engineering and HSSE standards is required Previous experience conducting risk assessments and developing comprehensive HSSE procedures alongside civil engineering plans to mitigate safety, environmental, and social, and quality risks. Past experience implementing Environmental and Social Management Plans (ESMP) and other social/environmental assessments related to infrastructure projects is highly desirable Past experience providing technical support on HSSE and civil engineering topics to project teams, contractors, and stakeholders is a distinct advantage Monitor and report on HSSE performance indicators (leading and lagging) and civil project progress Utilize project management, design, and civil engineering software tools including MS Project, Google Suite, AutoCAD, spreadsheets, and scheduling tools to plan, track, and document project progress. Work effectively in challenging and fragile environments, such as post-conflict areas, applying both civil engineering and HSSE expertise. Apply knowledge of international HSSE standards, civil engineering principles, sustainable practices, and environmental management systems. Communicate effectively with multidisciplinary teams to promote a culture of safety, environmental responsibility, and quality in civil infrastructure projects. Demonstrate strong problem-solving skills across HSSE and civil engineering challenges. Possess familiarity or experience working within UN system organizations or developing country contexts, adding value to project implementation.

• Fluency in spoken, written and reading  English is required
• Basics in spoken, written and reading local language (Juba Arabic) is an added advantage.
• Knowledge of other UN languages will be considered an asset.

• 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).