UNOPS

In Latin America and the Caribbean, UNOPS operates across 23 countries, delivering high-impact solutions that drive sustainable development. UNOPS focuses on building and improving resilient infrastructure—including roads, bridges, public facilities, sanitation systems, and housing—to enhance quality of life and foster inclusive growth. UNOPS also supports public health by procuring essential medicines and medical equipment, ensuring broader access to healthcare services. By strengthening institutional capacities, UNOPS promotes transparent, efficient, and equitable public management. As a trusted partner to governments and development stakeholders, UNOPS aligns its interventions with national priorities, helping countries advance the Sustainable Development Goals through practical, results-driven support.

Since 2004, UNOPS has partnered with the Government of Haiti, UN agencies, and international organizations to deliver high-quality project management, procurement, logistics, and technical services. With a strong focus on infrastructure and service delivery, UNOPS provides engineering expertise and governance support to implement projects that improve the lives of Haitians. The Haiti Country Office has played a key role in advancing critical infrastructure, including hospitals, roads, renewable energy systems, and housing. It has also supported the health sector by procuring essential medical equipment, ambulances, and other supplies. In recent years, UNOPS has delivered large volumes of IT equipment, vehicles, and goods to support institutional capacity. These efforts are aimed at strengthening public services and contributing to Haiti’s sustainable development.

Under the direct supervision of the Head of Infrastructure (PMO), the HSSE Lead is responsible for the governance, strategic direction and technical leadership of the HSSE function across the infrastructure portfolio. 

Under the supervision of the Head of PMO Infrastructure, the HSSE Lead is responsible for the governance of the HSSE function across the infrastructure portfolio. He/She provides technical leadership, quality assurance and strategic guidance for all HSSE-related activities and ensures compliance with UNOPS policies, procedures and standards, national legislation and the safeguard requirements of development partners, including the World Bank and the Inter-American Development Bank. 

The HSSE Lead directly supervises and provides technical guidance to HSSE Specialists and HSSE Associates and other HSSE retainer and staff deployed across projects. The  HSSE Lead coordinates their activities, monitors performance, supports professional development and ensures consistency in the implementation of HSSE requirements throughout the portfolio.

The position serves as the principal focal point for environmental and social safeguards, contractor compliance, incident management, emergency preparedness and liaison with international financing institutions such as the World Bank and the Inter-American Development Bank, European Union…

The HSSE Lead also contributes to the PMO assurance architecture by supporting contractor registration and performance evaluation systems, strengthening contractor capacity development initiatives and maintaining appropriate segregation between implementation and assurance functions. 

Required:

Advanced University Degree (Master's Degree) in Occupational Health and Safety, Environmental Engineering, Environmental Sciences,  or another relevant discipline.

A Bachelor's Degree combined with two additional years of relevant experience may be accepted in lieu of an advanced degree.

Required:

• Minimum five (5) years of progressively responsible experience in HSSE management.

• Experience in infrastructure construction projects.

• Experience in risk assessment, contractor management and compliance monitoring.

• Experience supervising multidisciplinary teams.

Desired:

• Experience working with International Financial Institutions (World Bank, IDB or similar).

• Experience in fragile, post-conflict or complex operational environments.

• Experience with UN organizations or international development agencies.

• UNOPS does not accept unsolicited resumes. 
• UNOPS will at no stage of the recruitment process request candidates to make payments of any kind.
• Applications to vacancies must be received before midnight Copenhagen time (CET) on the closing date of the announcement. Applications received after the closing date will not be considered. 
• Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and invited to proceed to the next stage of the selection process, which may include various assessments. 
• UNOPS embraces diversity and is committed to equal employment opportunity. Our workforce consists of a wide range of nationalities, cultures, languages, races, gender identities, sexual orientations, and abilities. We strive to sustain and strengthen this diversity, fostering an inclusive working environment where all personnel are treated with respect and have equal access to opportunities.
• UNOPS evaluates all applications based on the skills, qualifications and experience outlined in the vacancy announcement. We are committed to a fair and transparent selection process and welcome diverse perspectives, including those of women, indigenous and racialized communities, individuals of diverse gender identities and sexual orientations, and persons with disabilities.
• We are committed to enabling all candidates to perform at their best during the assessment process. If you are shortlisted and require support or reasonable accommodation to complete any assessment, please inform our human resources team upon receiving your invitation.
• UNOPS has zero tolerance for sexual exploitation and abuse (SEA), sexual harassment, and other forms of abusive conduct, including discrimination, abuse of authority, and harassment. To uphold these standards, background checks are conducted for all final candidates to help ensure that individuals with a history of such conduct are not hired. By applying for a position with UNOPS, candidates acknowledge and consent to these verification processes.
  

• 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. Refreshers or new mandatory courses may be required during your contract. Please note that you will not receive any compensation for taking courses and refreshers. For more information on a retainer contract here. 
• For more details about the contract types, please click 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.