Head, Health and Safety (P-5)

The OPCW’s mission is to implement the provisions of the Chemical Weapons Convention to achieve our vision of a world free of chemical weapons in which chemistry is used for peace, progress, and prosperity, and to contribute to international security and stability, general and complete disarmament, and global economic development.

The OPCW was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2013 for its extensive efforts to eliminate chemical weapons.

General Information

• Contract Type
  Fixed-term Professional
• Grade
  P5
• Total Estimated monthly remuneration depending on post adjustment and family status: USD
  12,834
• Closing Date
  19/06/2026

Job Summary

The Health and Safety Branch (HSB) ensures that health and safety standards relating to the activities of the OPCW and its personnel are set and met. The Branch provides occupational health and safety services, including medical clearances and training for missions, certified sick leave approval and monitoring, duty travel and recruitment; approval of health and safety plans for all missions; limited primary health care; wellbeing promotion and prevention advice; workplace ergonomic assessments; and emergency medical services to all OPCW personnel.

The HSB supports mental health programmes run by the Staff Relations and Welfare Officer and makes referrals to external medical and mental health professionals and has the responsibility to liaise with these providers when it comes to the active monitoring of the health status of our staff and providing a holistic approach to duty of care.

The Branch also provides advice to management on health and safety risks associated with OPCW activities, and providing regular reports on health and wellbeing matters that affect OPCW personnel.

The Head, Health and Safety Branch leads and oversees the OPCW’s occupational health and safety function. Overall, the position is responsible for the effective identification, prevention and mitigation of health and safety risks and implementation of safeguards for OPCW personnel, certifying fitness to work and ensuring adequate support and training for missions. Furthermore, Head, Health and Safety Branch holds responsibility for duty of care to the staff member while also giving due consideration to protect the interests of the Organisation.

Responsibilities:

Management of a comprehensive Health and Safety (HS) Programme

Lead the development of Occupation Health, Safety and Wellbeing Strategy aligned with OPCW’s mandate, operational risks and duty‑of‑care obligations.

Develop and implement medical, occupational HS, mental health and psychosocial risk management policies and standards for staff, including while deployed.

Establish, in collaboration with the Staff Relations and Welfare Officer, organisational psychosocial risk framework, including stress risk assessments and post‑mission psychological support mechanisms.

Manage pre‑employment, routine, and exit medical and psychological screenings for high‑risk or high‑stress roles and determine the need for psychological screening in line with psychosocial risk management standards. Lead and implement medical programmes for staff exposed to hazardous environments or chemical risks.

Analyse HS data to identify priority areas and provide strategic advice to senior management for the HS programme. Offer guidance on emerging occupational health and safety risks, organisational liability, prevention and mitigation measures, and trends affecting fitness for work.

Lead HS preventive health programmes. Lead and review the occupational HS risk assessment framework, ensuring duty‑of‑care obligations across OPCW.

Main Responsibilities

Strengthen the availability of HS information and expertise for contributions to the OPCW programmes, targeted at nurturing Member State abilities to respond to the threat or use of chemical weapons.

Management of the HSB

Provide strategic leadership and supervisory oversight of HSB, ensuring effective workforce planning, performance management and staff development.

Advise on occupational health cases, such as long‑term sick leave, complex medical or psychosocial cases, workplace accommodation, and return‑to‑work plans in consultation with all stakeholders, ensuring timely communication and appropriate line manager involvement.

Design reports and regularly present findings and observations to senior management with recommendations for risk mitigation. Draft memorandums on sensitive staff cases, providing medical expertise and justified recommendations for their consideration.

Identify policy and procedural gaps and lead the development of guidance documentation and revisions.

Develop the OPCW’s HS budget and monitor its effective implementation.

HS Measures of the OPCW Inspections

Provide HS guidance to deployed staff with ongoing follow‑up and support during and after deployment.

Set HS standards for inspections and ensure inspection teams manage risks to health and safety as far as reasonably practicable.

Conduct mission‑specific medical and psychological risk assessments prior to deployment, including fitness‑for‑mission evaluations.

Develop critical incident management protocol including immediate response procedure, psychological assessment, post‑incident follow‑up and reintegration support.

Liaise closely with the relevant Divisions to ensure that HSB activities are in line with inspection requirements.

Advise the Inspectorate Division and ensure that teams are adequately supported by qualified specialists.

Quality Assurance and Governance of OPCW’s HS Programme

Implement a quality assurance programme covering all aspects of the HS system and including regular HS inspections of workplaces.

Ensure safety data is systematically collected and analysed to develop key performance indicators, enhance training and procedures, and promptly escalates any significant concerns to the DDG.

Establish and maintain contact with the UN agencies, international organisations. Keep abreast of developments in the field.

Clinical Activities

Supplement the clinical services of the medical section during periods of staff absence, or times of high operational requirements.

Provide medical consultation and confidential counselling to staff; offer professional consultation to inspectorate and/or medical staff, as required.

Lead the systematic tracking, analysis, and documentation of HSB clinical activities, including occupational health cases, medical clearances, and workplace health interventions.

Qualifications and Experience Education

• An advanced university level degree in medicine with current registration as a registered medical practitioner. Postgraduate qualification in occupational health. A first level university degree in combination with qualifying experience (Minimum 12 years) may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.
• Advanced training in Mass Casualty Management or in the field of chemical weapons.

Knowledge and Experience

• Minimum 10 years of progressive clinical experience, with background in family medicine and/or occupational health with advanced degree;
• Demonstrated management experience in leading and resolving complex occupational health and safety cases within a multi‑cultural organisation, including proactive liaison and coordination with internal stakeholders, such as Legal, Human Resources, line managers, and external partners, such as medical providers, regulatory authorities, insurance providers, to ensure compliant timely and risk‑informed resolution of sensitive and high‑impact cases;
• Proven experience in designing reports, identifying trends and presenting solutions to management.
• Experience in Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear (CBRN) medicine and/or occupational medicine in the chemical industry;
• Knowledge or experience with the Dutch healthcare system;
• International experience or experience within a military environment;
• International experience with UN or other INGOs;
• Field knowledge and previous deployment on highly sensitive or critical missions;
• Familiarity with medical software.

Skills and Competencies

• Demonstrated leadership and management skills, including ability to think strategically and achieve results;
• Excellent and proven planning, organisational, coordination, negotiation and problem‑solving skills;
• Strong analytical and conceptual skills in analysing and interpreting operational issues, formulating options, and proposing and implementing solutions;
• Proven record of building and managing teams and creating an enabling work environment, including ability to effectively supervise, mentor, train, develop and evaluate staff;
• Ability to ensure an effective work structure to maximise productivity and achieve section goals;
• Tact, discretion, and the ability to work harmoniously in a multi‑cultural environment and to work with confidential information;
• Strong analytical and conceptual skills;
• Excellent interpersonal, presentation and communication (verbal and written) skills;
• Ability and willingness to deploy at short notice on contingency operations, as travel might be required for missions and other work‑related issues.

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.

The Director‑General retains 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.

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, are self‑employed in the Netherlands, or are receiving Dutch social security payments.

OPCW is committed to maintaining a diverse and inclusive environment of mutual respect. OPCW recruits and employs staff regardless of disability status, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, language, race, marital status, religious, ethnic, cultural and socio‑economic backgrounds, or any other personal characteristics.

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