Org. Setting and Reporting

This Position is located within the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) with duty station in Kabul. The Fire Safety Assistant at the GL-4 level will report to the Fire Safety Officer on all issues related to fire safety services and operations within the UNAMA compound in Kabul.

Responsibilities

Within delegated authority, the Fire Safety Assistant, at the GL-4 will carry out the following duties:

• Installation, inspection, and maintenance of UNAMA fire-fighting equipment and materials as well as ensuring operability of all fire directional, detection and suppression at all the UNAMA compound in Kabul.
• Extinguish and suppress all fires that may break out at or in the vicinity of UNOCA or other UN compound by using UNAMA firefighting equipment.
• Assist in conduction of the fire investigation to establish causes of fire and make appropriate preventive recommendations for future use.
• Carry out surveys at airfields/helipads as per recommendation of UNAMA Fire Safety Officer.
• Keep records of all fire-fighting equipment and materials at UNOCA compound and advise UNAMA Fire Safety Officer on improvement, replenishment and replacement of fire-fighting equipment, materials and chemicals whenever required.
• In consultation with the Fire Safety Officer the incumbent will assist to assign air operation tasks to the appropriate aircraft and crews in such a manner as to insure safe, efficient, reliable, flexible, and cost-effective air support for UNAMA.
• Assist in establishing, maintaining, and updating of Fire Operations Planning.
• Assist in ensuring a timely flow of all information related to air mission requests from all regions within Afghanistan.
• Assists in drafting specifications for all specialized firefighting equipment and devices, including FDAS and Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) such as: protective clothing, self-contained breathing apparatuses (SCBA, incl. filling compressors), fire extinguishers, hoses and nozzles, portable pumps, rescue equipment, etc., and maintains full state of readiness for all equipment and installations available.
• Assists in planning static installations and systems such as: FDAS, standpipes, water supply, extinguishing systems, spill basins, construction components (fire partition), lightning protection, explosion proof installations, smoke extraction systems, public address systems, etc.
• Carry out any other fire-safety related functions as may be directed by UNAMA Fire Safety Officer.

Competencies

Professionalism: Shows pride in work and in achievements. Demonstrates professional competence and mastery of subject matter. Is conscientious and efficient in meeting commitments, observing deadlines and achieving results. Is motivated by professional rather than personal concerns. Shows persistence when faced with difficult problems or challenges. Commitment to implementing the goal of gender equality by ensuring the equal participation and full involvement of women and men in all aspects of work.

Communication Skills: Speaks and writes clearly and effectively. Listens to others, correctly interprets messages from others and responds appropriately. Asks questions to clarify and exhibits interest in having two-way communication. Demonstrates openness in sharing information and keeping people informed.

Teamwork: Works collaboratively with colleagues to achieve organizational goals. Solicits input by genuinely valuing others’ ideas and expertise; is willing to learn from others. Places team agenda before personal agenda. Supports and acts in accordance with final group decision, even when such decisions may not entirely reflect own position. Shares credit for team accomplishments and accepts joint responsibility for team shortcomings.

Education

High school diploma or equivalent is required.
In accordance with the special measure, a minimum of two (2) years of progressively responsible experience in fire safety functions is required. The minimum year of experience is reduced to one (1) year for candidates with a relevant first-level university degree or equivalent in military, police and fire services.

Work Experience

A valid driving license for cars, heavy duty truck with safe driving records is required.

A minimum experience of two years in firefighting/fire prevention within a national firefighting department of international organization is required.

Basic technical/vocational training and certificate/Diploma in the field of firefighting from a recognized institution is desirable.

Knowledge of security rules, regulations, and procedures of UN including fire safety and first aid procedures, as well as standard security and safety procedures is desirable.

Languages

English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For the position advertised, fluency in oral and written English is required. Fluency in oral and written Pashto or Dari languages is desirable.

Assessment

Evaluation of qualified candidates may include Competency Based Interview and other assessment methods.

Special Notice

This position is subject to local recruitment pursuant to staff rule 4.4 of the United Nations Staff Rules. Applicants for positions in the General Service and related categories must be authorized to work for the United Nations in the duty station where the position is located. Eligible applicants selected from outside the duty station are responsible for any expenses in connection with their relocation to the duty station. Staff members subject to local recruitment are not eligible for allowances or benefits exclusively applicable to international recruitment.

At the United Nations, the paramount consideration in the recruitment and employment of staff is the necessity of securing the highest standards of efficiency, competence and integrity, with due regard to geographic diversity. All employment decisions are made on the basis of qualifications and organizational needs. The United Nations is committed to creating a diverse and inclusive environment of mutual respect. The United Nations recruits and employs staff regardless of gender identity, sexual orientation, race, religious, cultural and ethnic backgrounds or disabilities.

United Nations Considerations

According to article 101, paragraph 3, of the Charter of the United Nations, the paramount consideration in the employment of the staff is the necessity of securing the highest standards of efficiency, competence, and integrity. Candidates will not be considered for employment with the United Nations if they have committed violations of international human rights law, violations of international humanitarian law, sexual exploitation, sexual abuse, or sexual harassment, or if there are reasonable grounds to believe that they have been involved in the commission of any of these acts. The term “sexual exploitation” means any actual or attempted abuse of a position of vulnerability, differential power, or trust, for sexual purposes, including, but not limited to, profiting monetarily, socially or politically from the sexual exploitation of another. The term “sexual abuse” means the actual or threatened physical intrusion of a sexual nature, whether by force or under unequal or coercive conditions. The term “sexual harassment” means any unwelcome conduct of a sexual nature that might reasonably be expected or be perceived to cause offence or humiliation, when such conduct interferes with work, is made a condition of employment or creates an intimidating, hostile or offensive work environment, and when the gravity of the conduct warrants the termination of the perpetrator’s working relationship. Candidates who have committed crimes other than minor traffic offences may not be considered for employment.

Due regard will be paid to the importance of recruiting the staff on as wide a geographical basis as possible. The United Nations places no restrictions on the eligibility of men and women to participate in any capacity and under conditions of equality in its principal and subsidiary organs. The United Nations Secretariat is a non-smoking environment.

Reasonable accommodation may be provided to applicants with disabilities upon request, to support their participation in the recruitment process.

By accepting a letter of appointment, staff members are subject to the authority of the Secretary-General, who may assign them to any of the activities or offices of the United Nations in accordance with staff regulation 1.2 (c). Further, staff members in the Professional and higher category up to and including the D-2 level and the Field Service category are normally required to move periodically to discharge functions in different duty stations under conditions established in ST/AI/2023/3 on Mobility, as may be amended or revised. This condition of service applies to all position specific job openings and does not apply to temporary positions.

Applicants are urged to carefully follow all instructions available in the online recruitment platform, inspira, and to refer to the Applicant Guide by clicking on “Manuals” in the “Help” tile of the inspira account-holder homepage.

The evaluation of applicants will be conducted on the basis of the information submitted in the application according to the evaluation criteria of the job opening and the applicable internal legislations of the United Nations including the Charter of the United Nations, resolutions of the General Assembly, the Staff Regulations and Rules, administrative issuances and guidelines. Applicants must provide complete and accurate information pertaining to their personal profile and qualifications according to the instructions provided in inspira to be considered for the current job opening. No amendment, addition, deletion, revision or modification shall be made to applications that have been submitted. Candidates under serious consideration for selection will be subject to reference checks to verify the information provided in the application.

Job openings advertised on the Careers Portal will be removed at 11:59 p.m. (New York time) on the deadline date.

No Fee

THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CHARGE A FEE AT ANY STAGE OF THE RECRUITMENT PROCESS (APPLICATION, INTERVIEW MEETING, PROCESSING, OR TRAINING). THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CONCERN ITSELF WITH INFORMATION ON APPLICANTS’ BANK ACCOUNTS.