About Us

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.

General Information

• Contract Type
  Fixed-term Professional
• Grade
  P4
• Total Estimated monthly remuneration depending on post adjustment and family status: USD
  9,788
• Closing Date
  18/11/2023

Responsibilities

Job Summary

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.

Main Responsibilities

Under the supervision of Head of Health and Safety Branch, the main responsibilities of the Senior Safety Officer (P-4) are:

• Provide consultation and advice for staff regarding health and safety issues related to their work;
• Provide advice and support to staff from other functional units who deal with administration of health and safety.
• Maintain a programme of inspections of OPCW working premises, health and safety equipment and procedures. Results to be reported Management through the Health and Safety Committee, and to recommend mitigation to risks identified;
• In cooperation with the Inspectorate Medical staff, implement a risk assessment and management program for OPCW inspections, incorporating pre-deployment written health and safety planning and briefings/debriefings, availability for consultation during inspections, and post-inspection debriefings;
• In cooperation with the Inspectorate, support the ICA Division regarding health and safety aspects of requests for assistance by Member States, and delivery thereof.

To view the complete job outline, please click here.

Qualifications and Experience

Education

Essential:

• A University level degree or equivalent in a relevant scientific discipline (e.g. chemistry, occupational hygiene, health and safety, NBC Defence, etc).

Desirable:

• Extensive technical background in chemical weapons / industrial safety

Knowledge and Experience

Essential:

• A minimum of 7 years of recent practical experience as a safety officer, including practical experience of health and safety considerations in chemical weapons (CW) environments and industrial chemical environments (detection, protection, decontamination);
• Experience in applying the methodology of risk assessment and risk management.

Desirable:

• Previous experience within an international organisation would be an asset;
• Experience with CW toxicology would be an advantage.
• Experience with radiation control would be an advantage.

Skills and Competencies

• Familiarity with regulations, guidelines, standards, and norms concerning occupational health and safety.
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills;
• Ability to plan and organise; problem solving skills;
• Personal qualities should include tact, discretion, accuracy and the ability to work harmoniously in a multi-cultural environment;
• Computer literacy.

Languages

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.

Additional Information

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.

Fixed-term staff members participate in the OPCW provident fund. A monthly staff contribution is met with a doubled amount by the OPCW to ensure separating staff have the capital necessary to move on to new challenges.

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.

Applications from qualified female candidates are strongly encouraged.

OPCW General Terms and Conditions

Important notice for applicants who are currently insured under the Dutch Social Security system

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’.