Sri Lanka

UNOPS in Sri Lanka is based in Colombo and is responsible for helping the Government of Sri Lanka and partner organizations deliver social and economic rehabilitation in areas affected by the 2004 tsunami and decades of armed conflict. UNOPS in Sri Lanka helps partners achieve their project goals in sectors including physical infrastructure, the environment and poverty mitigation.

UNOPS has supported Sri Lanka’s development since 1998, expanding operations in 2005 to support the post-tsunami response and reconstruction process. Within the organization’s mandate in project management, infrastructure, and procurement, UNOPS Sri Lanka implements customized socio-economic development projects that benefit vulnerable people and develop national capacities. Achievements in Sri Lanka include the development of sustainable and climate-resilient infrastructure, procurement services & capacity building, and project management in education, fisheries, roads, health, water supply systems; flood control and sanitation, and integrated solid waste management sectors. UNOPS works closely with Government counterparts and communities to ensure increased ownership, sustainability, and accountability of Projects.

UNOPS Sri Lanka facilitated over $22 million worth of procurement of COVID-19 protection equipment and services in partnership with the World Bank, the Government of Japan, and the United Nations Multi-Partner Trust Fund. Currently, UNOPS is conducting about $5 million pharmaceutical procurement to strengthen the Sri Lanka health system and support the people in need.

UNOPS has signed an MOU with an intergovernmental organization called SACEP (South Asia Cooperative Environment Program). SACEP is implementing the World Bank (WB)-funded Plastic Free Rivers & Seas for South Asia (PLEASE) Project in South Asia. In accordance with the Agreement, UNOPS should provide implementation support and advice to SACEP in implementing the (PLEASE). In particular, UNOPS is expected to assist the Project Implementation Unit (PIU) in implementing a Regional Competitive Block Grant (RBG) under Component 1 of PLEASE. under Component 3, UNOPS was entrusted with the construction of the SACEP headquarters building in Colombo.

The Health, Safety, Social, and Environmental Analyst, operating within the implementation team, holds a direct reporting line to the Project Manager and collaborates extensively with the Project Engineer and other team members. This role is primarily dedicated to upholding the Goal Zero approach, focusing efforts on elevating health and safety standards at construction sites in strict compliance with prevailing regulations. The Senior Associate champions a comprehensive approach to health, safety, social, and environmental considerations within the project’s operational landscape.

Functional Responsibilities

1. Technical tasks

• Conduct comprehensive risk assessments and implement preventive measures, collaborating closely with project managers/engineers, specifically considering social and environmental impacts.

• Assist in the development, modification, and the continuous updating of project safety management plans to encompass social and environmental considerations, aligning them with project needs.

• Review, refine, and tailor existing safety, social, and environmental guidelines to effectively integrate them into project frameworks.

• Collaborate with project engineers to ensure that work permits comply not only with safety standards but also consider social and environmental factors (e.g., working at heights, scaffolding, excavation).
• Initiate, organize, and oversee Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) training for UNOPS project teams, focusing on social and environmental responsibility, while ensuring compliance with safety standards. Regularly inspect premises to identify and rectify non-conformities, including inadequate use of protective equipment.
• Contribute in the development of project-specific social and environmental monitoring plans derived from established guidelines and monitor contractors’ adherence to HSSE standards, providing guidance and reporting any variations to the project engineer. Emphasize social and environmental impact assessments during this process.
• Supervise installations, maintenance, and proper disposal of substances, ensuring compliance with safety protocols while mitigating social and environmental impacts.
• Proactively identify and halt unsafe practices or processes, ensuring a safe and healthy work environment for all personnel involved, considering social and environmental implications.

2. Administrative tasks

• Support the Project Manager in ensuring a safe workplace environment, adherence to Health and safety policies, and regulatory compliance through regular reviews, updates, and communication of procedures, incorporating social and environmental considerations.

• Aid in the development of health & safety policies, establish structured inspection programs, and maintain accurate training records, incorporating elements addressing social and environmental responsibilities.

• Liaise with external health & safety entities for necessary training, support the Project Manager in organizing Health & Safety Committee meetings, and ensure social and environmental factors are considered in minutes distribution.

3. Monitoring and Project Controls

• Stay updated with relevant health, safety, and welfare legislation, communicating changes and their implications, specifically emphasizing social and environmental aspects, of the business.

• Provide regular, detailed reports on health and safety activities, particularly focusing on social and environmental impacts, to the Project Manager and participate in monthly project team meetings when necessary.

• Ensure proper installation of precautionary signs in designated areas and maintain the Site Safety inspection register, integrating social and environmental considerations.

• Maintain and update online reporting platforms in UNOPS for H&S under the oversight of the project manager, ensuring that social and environmental metrics are captured appropriately.

• Ensure a consistently safe workplace environment for all, including workers, UNOPS staff, and stakeholders in compliance with relevant Health and safety policies, rules, and regulations, considering social and environmental impacts.

• Coordinate the development, implementation, and monitoring of HSSE policies, systems, procedures, and guidelines, emphasizing the integration of social and environmental responsibilities.

a. Education

• A Bachelor’s Degree from a recognized institution, preferably in Safety Management, Environmental Studies, Engineering, or a relevant field, is required.
• A Diploma in the aforementioned fields, accompanied by an additional two years of experience, is acceptable.
• A certificate in occupational health and safety is desired.

b. Work Experience

• A minimum of two years of demonstrable experience in managing health and safety on construction sites is essential.
• A proven track record in managing health and safety within building construction is an asset.
• Familiarity with the design or implementation of environmental safeguarding tools is desirable.

• Contract type: ICA
• Contract level: LICA 8, Local ICA Specialist
• Contract duration: Ongoing ICA – ‘Open-ended, subject to organizational requirements, availability of funds and satisfactory performance.’

For more details about the ICA contractual modality, please follow this link:
https://www.unops.org/english/Opportunities/job-opportunities/what-we-offer/Pages/Individual-Contractor-Agreements.aspx

• This position is open to Sri Lankan Nationals ONLY.
• 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.

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. 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.