Occupational Health & Safety Officer

Position overview

This role sits within UNDP’s common services arrangement in Uganda and is designed to strengthen occupational health, emergency medical support, and duty-of-care arrangements for UN personnel and, where relevant, recognized dependents. The officer will help implement the health risk management measures recommended by the UN Medical Directors and will coordinate medical response, referrals, evacuations, prevention activities, and health support planning across duty stations.

The position carries three reporting lines: to the Resident Coordinator through the OMT co-chairs, to the UNDP Resident Representative, and technically to the Chief of Medical Service on behalf of the UN Medical Directors. Work must be aligned with UN Medical Directors’ policies, guidance, and recommendations. The role is also intended to address the gap identified through the 2025 assessment of mandatory health support elements.

UN personnel in Uganda may face health, psychosocial, and security-related risks that can lead to illness, trauma, or life-threatening situations. This post supports the prevention, mitigation, and response framework needed to reduce harm and improve access to evidence-based care.

UNDP expects personnel to work across units, functions, teams, and projects as needed, using a portfolio approach and contributing to multidisciplinary collaboration.

Tiered application process

• Tier 0: UNDP/UNCDF/UNV international personnel with permanent or fixed-term appointments whose posts will end, be abolished, or not be renewed during 2026.
• Tier 1: Other UNDP/UNCDF/UNV staff with permanent or fixed-term appointments.
• Tier 2: UNDP/UNCDF/UNV staff on temporary appointments, regular PSA contracts, and Expert or Specialist UN Volunteers.
• Tier 3 or no tier shown: All other UNDP/UNCDF/UNV contract types, other agencies, and all external applicants.

Applicants should check the tier mentioned in the vacancy title, if any, and confirm that they meet the eligibility rules before applying.

Medical case coordination and oversight

• Serve as the in-country contact point for all medical emergency and medical evacuation matters.
• Provide continuous operational, logistical, and administrative backing for medevac activity from field locations to higher-level care centers.
• Coordinate the medical evacuation process for UN agencies, liaise with national medical professionals and institutions, and submit the necessary records to the relevant UN regional medical focal points.
• Remain reachable around the clock to connect requesters, local authorities, agency medical services, staff counsellors, security teams where relevant, and external stakeholders.
• Support in-country referrals and the coordination of urgent, specialized, or life-saving medical care for personnel and eligible dependents.
• Work closely with senior or regional medical officers and medical advisers on case management, medevac decisions, and follow-up care.
• Coordinate with local providers and specialists to support clinical management and workplace exposure contact tracing in line with agreed UN medical protocols.
• Track usage of recommended occupational health services such as entry examinations, periodic exams, travel-related procedures, and immunizations.
• Plan and deliver health education and health promotion activities aligned with UN Medical Directors’ priorities.
• Take part in addressing workplace health and occupational safety concerns.

Health support for UN operations

• Carry out duty station health risk assessments and mandatory health support element assessments for new locations.
• Review the quality of health facilities and monitor risk levels at existing duty stations.
• Document assessment results and share reports with UN Medical Directors and country stakeholders.
• Coordinate, support, and monitor implementation of health support plans based on health risk assessments and mandatory support requirements.
• Keep the status of mandatory health support and the duty station health support plan updated for Uganda.
• Assess local clinics, health services, and ambulance providers, then establish or revise medical referral routes for duty stations.
• Develop and refresh standard operating procedures and guidance for medical evacuation planning.
• Work with UNDSS and security counterparts on drills, reviews, and context-specific referral pathways for CASEVAC, MEDEVAC, and mass casualty planning.
• Support emergency medical response planning, including mass casualty incidents, and contribute to the medical component of duty-station-specific plans.
• Assist administration teams in drafting and implementing business continuity and crisis preparedness measures.
• Maintain referral pathways through periodic review of available facilities and identification of secondary or tertiary trauma and specialty care centers.
• Help develop and roll out training materials required under the Security Risk Management Plan.
• Support implementation of road safety health measures in coordination with relevant UN functions.
• Advise the OMT, UN Country Team, and UN Resident Coordinator on medical coordination issues.
• Prepare situation updates and monthly reports for the OMT, UN Medical Directors, and other relevant stakeholders.
• Work with procurement and supply teams on terms of reference, technical evaluations, and timeline monitoring for health-related contracts and equipment.
• Coordinate with administration, human resources, and supply/logistics teams on contracts, MOUs, or agreements with healthcare providers required for mandatory health support.
• Monitor vendor compliance with patient safety and quality standards for goods and services.
• Where appropriate and aligned with UN Medical Directors’ priorities, coordinate health promotion initiatives, including vaccination campaigns.
• Attend medical service, DHMOSH, UN Medical Directors, and other relevant briefings and meetings.
• Participate in health sector coordination forums.
• Provide guidance on health and medical service developments in Uganda and neighboring areas to beneficiaries and partner organizations.
• Support the implementation of a context-specific mental health plan in collaboration with staff counsellors.

Information management and reporting

• Protect medical confidentiality and ensure disclosure of medical information follows UN Medical Directors’ workplace confidentiality guidance and related UN rules.
• Maintain records in EarthMEd and keep the medical case database up to date.
• Plan activities and budgets with technical and administrative supervisors and report on budget execution and results.
• Develop and report key performance indicators for health support activities and respond to audit requests on health performance.

Advisory and liaison

• Maintain regular coordination with the UN Medical Directors through Medical Service.
• Oversee workplace health communication materials and outreach with external counterparts.
• Brief and advise UN senior management on workplace healthcare issues, health policy, business continuity, enterprise risk, and crisis response participation.
• Ensure effective representation on the local Occupational Health and Safety Committee.
• Organize health education and health promotion initiatives for UN personnel.

Leadership and management

• Supervise and manage the Occupational Health & Safety Associate.
• Perform other responsibilities within the functional profile as needed for effective office and organizational functioning.

Competencies

• Results orientation with the ability to set ambitious goals and deliver across multiple workstreams.
• Creative problem-solving and proactive risk reduction.
• Continuous learning and willingness to broaden experience.
• Flexibility and the ability to handle competing priorities and change.
• Persistence and determination to achieve meaningful outcomes.
• Strong partnership skills and ability to navigate inter-agency environments.
• Commitment to diversity, inclusion, and collaboration.
• Systems thinking and strategic planning capability.

Workplace expectations

This position requires active coordination with medical services, security counterparts, administrative teams, and external providers. It also involves frequent reporting, case coordination, readiness for emergencies, and support to health promotion and prevention activities across duty stations in Uganda.

Additional information

The role is based in Kampala, Central Region, Uganda and is a full-time onsite position. No salary or stipend amount, application deadline, duration, or start date was provided in the source information. No number of vacancies was specified.