2026-564 - Head, Health and Safety (P-5)

Category : Health and Safety Branch - (0202)/Head, Health and Safety - (F0016)

Contract Type : Fixed-term Professional

Job Details :

The Health and Safety Branch (HSB) ensures that health and safety standards relating to the activities of the OPCW and its personnel are set and met. The Branch provides occupational health and safety services, including medical clearances and training for missions, certified sick leave approval and monitoring, duty travel and recruitment; approval of health and safety plans for all missions; limited primary health care; wellbeing promotion and prevention advice; workplace ergonomic assessments; and emergency medical services to all OPCW personnel. The HSB supports mental health programmes run by the Staff Relations and Welfare Officer and makes referrals to external medical and mental health professionals and has the responsibility to liaise with these providers when it comes to the active monitoring of the health status of our staff and providing a holistic approach to duty of care. The Branch also provides advice to management on health and safety risks associated with OPCW activities, and providing regular reports on health and wellbeing matters that affect OPCW personnel. The Head, Health and Safety Branch leads and oversees the OPCW’s occupational health and safety function. Overall, the position is responsible for the effective identification, prevention and mitigation of health and safety risks and implementation of safeguards for OPCW personnel, certifying fitness to work and ensuring adequate support and training for missions. Furthermore, Head, Health and Safety Branch holds responsibility for duty of care to the staff member while also giving due consideration to protect the interests of the Organisation. Responsibilities: Management of a comprehensive Health and Safety (HS) Programme Lead the development of Occupation Health, Safety and Wellbeing Strategy aligned with OPCW’s mandate, operational risks and duty-of-care obligations Develop and implement medical, occupational HS, mental health and psychosocial risk management policies and standards for staff, including while deployed Establish, in collaboration with the Staff Relations and Welfare Officer, organisational psychosocial risk framework, including stress risk assessments and post-mission psychological support mechanisms Manage pre-employment, routine, and exit medical and psychological screenings for high-risk or high stress roles and determine the need for psychological screening in line with psychosocial risk management standards. Lead and implement medical programmes for staff exposed to hazardous environments or chemical risks Analyse HS data to identify priority areas and provide strategic advice to senior management for the HS programme. Offer guidance on emerging occupational health and safety risks, organisational liability, prevention and mitigation measures, and trends affecting fitness for work Lead HS preventive health programmes. Lead and review the occupational HS risk assessment framework, ensuring duty-of-care obligations across OPCW

Strengthen the availability of HS information and expertise for contributions to the OPCW programmes, targeted at nurturing Member State abilities to respond to the threat or use of chemical weapons Management of the HSB Provide strategic leadership and supervisory oversight of HSB, ensuring effective workforce planning, performance management and staff development Advise on occupational health cases, such as long-term sick leave, complex medical or psychosocial cases, workplace accommodation, and return-to-work plans in consultation with all stakeholders, ensuring timely communication and appropriate line manager involvement Design reports and regularly present findings and observations to senior management with recommendations for risk mitigation. Draft memorandums on sensitive staff cases, providing medical expertise and justified recommendations for their consideration Identify policy and procedural gaps and lead the development of guidance documentation and revisions Develop the OPCW’s HS budget and monitor its effective implementation HS Measures of the OPCW Inspections Provide HS guidance to deployed staff with ongoing follow‑up and support during and after deployment Set HS standards for inspections and ensure inspection teams manage risks to health and safety as far as reasonably practicable Conduct mission-specific medical and psychological risk assessments prior to deployment, including fitness-for-mission evaluations Develop critical incident management protocol including immediate response procedure, psychological assessment, post-incident follow-up and reintegration support Liaise closely with the relevant Divisions to ensure that HSB activities are in line with inspection requirements Advise the Inspectorate Division and ensure that teams are adequately supported by qualified specialists Quality Assurance and Governance of OPCW’s HS Programme Implement a quality assurance programme covering all aspects of the HS system and including regular HS inspections of workplaces Ensure safety data is systematically collected and analysed to develop key performance indicators, enhance training and procedures, and promptly escalate any significant concerns to the DDG Establish and maintain contact with the UN agencies, international organisations. Keep abreast of developments in the field Clinical Activities Supplement the clinical services of the medical section during periods of staff absence, or times of high operational requirements Provide medical consultation and confidential counselling to staff; offer professional consultation to inspectorate and/or medical staff, as required Lead the systematic tracking, analysis, and documentation of HSB clinical activities, including occupational health cases, medical clearances, and workplace health interventions