The Health and Safety Branch ensures that health and safety standards relating to the activities of the OPCW are set and met.
The Branch provides emergency medical, occupational health, mental health and safety services to all OPCW personnel. It is involved in all contingency operations where OPCW personnel are involved.
The Branch also provides health and safety-related training courses and exercises to Branches and Divisions, conducts workspace assessments and surveys and addresses workplace mental health-related issues.
In order to provide a comprehensive occupational health and safety service to the Technical Secretariat, and a defined health, safety and medical component in the OPCW’s response capability for assistance and protection, the Health and Safety Branch has established the following objectives:
Healthy staff, physically and mentally capable of performing their duties.
Staff who have the knowledge, skills, and equipment needed to work with minimised risk to themselves or their colleagues.
A working environment in which risks are actively managed, and in which there is prompt and effective response to incidents, accidents, or illness.
Inspection activities accomplished with minimal risk, in accordance with the OPCW’s health, safety and medical requirements.
Availability of a defined health, safety, and medical component in the OPCW’s International Co-operation and Assistance and other outreach programs; and
Efficient and effective operation of the health and safety branch.
Note: Responsibilities and activities are listed under the Branch objective which they support
Healthy staff, physically and mentally capable of performing their duties.
A working environment in which risks are actively managed, and in which there is prompt and effective response to incidents, accidents, or illness.
Staff who have the knowledge, skills, and equipment needed to effectively mitigate risks to themselves and their colleagues.
Efficient and effective operation of the health and safety branch.
Availability of a defined health, safety, and medical component in the OPCW’s International Co-operation and Assistance and other outreach programs.
Inspection activities accomplished with minimal risk, in accordance with the OPCW’s health, safety and medical requirements.
Essential:
An advanced level University degree or equivalent in a relevant scientific discipline (e.g., occupational health and safety, occupational hygiene). A first level university degree in combination with relevant qualifying experience (minimum 7 years) may be accepted in lieu of an advanced university or certified relevant training together with extensive relevant technical background and a minimum of 11 years’ experience may also be considered.
Desirable:
· Extensive technical background in Occupational Health and Safety and Industrial Safety or NBC Defence.
· Professional qualification in Health and Safety is an advantage.
Essential:
A minimum of 5 years of recent practical experience as an occupational health and safety officer, or 7 years with a first level degree or 11 years with certified relevant training.
· Experience in developing and conducting occupational health and safety training.
· Experience in applying the methodology of risk assessment and risk management in occupational health and safety.
Desirable:
· Strong knowledge of Occupational Health and Safety regulations and guidelines would be highly desirable.
· Previous experience within an international organisation would be an asset.
· Experience with CW verification regimes and inspection regimes would be an advantage.
Familiarity with the practical implementation of regulations, guidelines, standards, and norms concerning occupational health and safety.
· Excellent interpersonal and communication skills – the ability the be factual and concise in the communication.
· High standards of quality and accuracy.
· Ability to plan and organise, and a strong focus to deliver results on time.
· Problem solving skills.
· Personal qualities should include tact, discretion, accuracy and the ability to work harmoniously in a multi-cultural environment.
· Computer literacy.
Fluency in English is essential and a good working knowledge of one of the other official languages (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian, and Spanish) is desirable.
This fixed-term appointment is for the duration of two years with a six-month probationary period, and is subject to the OPCW Staff Regulations and Interim Staff Rules.
The OPCW is a non-career organisation with limited staff tenure. The total length of service for Professional staff shall not exceed 7 years.
The mandatory age of separation at the OPCW is 65 years.
The Director-General retains the discretion to not make any appointment to this vacancy, to make an appointment at a lower grade, or to make an appointment with a modified job description. Several vacancies may be filled.
Only fully completed applications submitted before the closing date and through OPCW CandidateSpace will be considered. Only applicants under serious consideration for a post will be contacted.
Fixed-term staff members participate in the OPCW Provident Fund. A monthly staff contribution is met with a doubled amount by the OPCW under the provisions for social security. As the OPCW is exploring membership of the United Nations Joint Staff Pension Fund (UNJSPF), staff participation in the Provident Fund may be replaced by participation in the UNJSPF effective 1 January 2025.
Applications from qualified female candidates are strongly encouraged.
OPCW General Terms and Conditions
Although headquartered in the Netherlands, the OPCW is not a regular Dutch employer but a public international organisation with its own special status. Please be advised that if you are currently insured under the Dutch Social Security system, you will be excluded from this system as a staff member of the OPCW. You will consequently be insured under the organisation’s system. The above also applies to your dependents unless they are employed by a regular Dutch employer, they are self-employed in the Netherlands, or are receiving Dutch social security payments.
Please refer to the website of the Ministry of Social Affairs and Employment for more information about the possible consequences for you and your dependents, such as exclusion from ‘AWBZ’ and ‘Zorgverzekeringswet’ coverage: ‘Werken bij een internationale organisatie’.