This is an excellent opportunity to contribute to the Occupational Health, Safety and Social well-being of communities as well as the Environment in Sudan while advancing your career in a prestigious UN organization. The position offers exposure to diverse projects, cross-cultural collaboration, and professional development opportunities in health, safety, social, and environmental management within the UN system.
This position operates within a complex humanitarian and development environment in Sudan, supporting critical health, water, and resilience infrastructure projects across multiple states. The role is essential for ensuring compliance with local and UNOPS HSSE standards, promoting a safe workplace, and minimizing environmental impacts in project implementation amidst ongoing conflict and displacement challenges.
Health, Safety, Social and Environmental Associate takes responsibility for supporting a complete, specialized administrative process related to occupational health and safety from start to finish, ensuring its integrity and compliance with UNOPS and local regulations.
Project HSSE Management and Implementation:
Under the supervision of the Project Manager, support field-level teams on HSSE compliance in all project locations, ensuring adherence to UNOPS and local regulations.
Assist in field-level review of health, safety, social, and environmental management plans on a regular basis and ensure these are up to date at all times.
Assist and support project staff and contractors on various safety, health, social, and environmental-related matters related to project implementation.
Assist the Project Manager in raising awareness on health and safety issues among project staff, contractors, and other stakeholders.
Support risk assessments and oversee the enforcement of preventative measures on HSSE for all project activities.
Assist and/or co-facilitate HSSE training for UNOPS field project teams, contractors, and other stakeholders on selected topics.
Assist installations, maintenance, and disposal of substances, plant, and equipment, etc., to ensure they are done in conformity with applicable laws and industry best practice.
Assist in HSSE reporting and investigations, follow up with project teams to prepare reports on incidents (including near misses), and provide information for monthly HSSE reporting.
Assist the programme of documented HSSE inspections, audits, and checks and follow-ups.
Participate in regular site meetings to report on relevant HSSE matters and to provide necessary advice.
Actively assist the project in meeting UNOPS HSE standards and to prepare for and meet the requirements of external audits for ISO 14001 and OHSAS 18001.
Perform frequent field visits to verify that contractors are implementing HSSE plans as required as UNOPS policies.
Documentation and System Management:
Maintain and regularly update the project’s HSSE risk registry, tracking mitigation measures and their effectiveness.
Manage the filing and archiving of all HSSE-related documentation, including permits, licenses, inspection reports, and training records.
Ensure that all HSSE related documentation is communicated to relevant personnel in a timely and accessible manner.
Support the project team in preparing for internal and external audits by maintaining “audit-ready” documentation at all times.
Stakeholder Engagement and Coordination:
Assist in the development and operation of a project-level Grievance Redress Mechanism (GRM) to address community and worker concerns related to HSSE and social impacts.
Support the Project Manager in liaising with relevant local government authorities, regulatory bodies, and other UN agencies on HSSE matters, as required.
Emergency Preparedness and Response:
Assist in the preparation and updating of project-specific Emergency Response Plans (ERP).
Coordinate and document emergency response drills and exercises, including fire safety, first aid, and evacuation procedures, to ensure staff readiness.
Environmental Stewardship:
Monitor the implementation of site-specific environmental procedures, including waste management (segregation, storage, disposal), water use, and pollution control.
Assist in documenting and tracking key environmental performance indicators for monthly and quarterly reports.
Worker Welfare and Social Aspects:
Support the monitoring of working conditions, ensuring compliance with labor standards and UNOPS’ policies on worker accommodation and welfare facilities.
Contribute to the identification of potential social risks related to project activities, such as land access or involuntary resettlement, and support their management under the guidance of the Project Manager.
United Nations Office for Project Services
