Org. Setting and Reporting

The temporary position is located within the United Nations Support Office in Haiti (UNSOH). Pursuant to Security Council resolution 2793 (2025), UNSOH has been mandated to provide support; primarily to the Gang Suppression Force (GSF), the United Nations Integrated Office in Haiti (BINUH), the Haitian National Police (HNP), and the Haitian Armed Forces in the context of any joint operations with the GSF. Additionally, UNSOH is tasked with delivering technical assistance to the Organization of American States (OAS). The incumbent assists in the establishment and planning process of a structural fire service for the mission; commands fire units and manages them in all aspects; prepares/creates training material, lessons and conducts specialized trainings for firefighter recruits and for security staff , including trainings on fire engines, technical rescue, firefighting techniques, tactics etc.; prepares building site plans, building evacuation plans and conduct evacuation drills; conducts regular fire and safety inspections in the mission facilities, to report all shortcomings and make recommendations to bring the facilities to international fire and safety standards; conducts fire prevention seminars for UN staff; and performs all types of duties related to the fire service as required. This temporary position is based in Port-au-Prince and is located in the Fire Safety Unit of the Safety and Security Section. The incumbent reports to the CSA/Chief/Deputy Security Officer or to a Senior Security Officer.

Responsibilities

Within limits of delegated authority, the Fire Safety Officer, FS6 will be responsible for the following duties: • Assists the CSA / CSO in the establishment and planning process of and for a structural fire service including mobile elements as required for the field mission; • Assists the Officer in Charge of the Fire Service in the management of all aspects or supervises a Fire Unit and/or performs Officer in Charge functions for a medium scale fire service; • Establishes and maintains productive liaison with authorities of host government fire, disaster relief and emergency services; • Ensures the establishment and effective management of a 24/7 Fire Service capable of controlling fire incidents, HAZMAT spills, car accidents and other emergency situations; • Drafts the Fire Safety Plan and Emergency Evacuation Plan; coordinates and supervises drills and training sessions; • Provides supervision, monitoring and coordination in accordance with the Fire Safety Plan and Emergency Evacuation Plan; • Ensures the coordination of fire safety issues with facilities mission's personnel, host country authorities and organization management; • Conducts and/or coordinates professional fire safety risk assessments and fire safety inspections; reports all shortcomings and supervises the timely rectification of such; • Conducts technical assessments/evaluations of Fire Detection and Alarm Systems (FDAS); • Drafts specifications for all equipment and devices, including FDAS and Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) such as: protective clothing, self-contained breathing apparatuses(SCBA incl. filling compressors and testing devices), fire extinguishers, hoses and nozzles, portable, immobile and fixed pumps, rescue equipment, etc., as well as fire service vehicles and provides for the maintenance of their continuous full state of readiness; • Plans static installations and systems such as: FDAS standpipes, water supply, hydrant systems, extinguishing systems, spill basins, construction components (for fire partition), lightning protection, explosion proof installations, smoke extraction systems, public address systems, etc. and drafts technical specifications thereof. • Establishes, maintains and supervises a functional Fire Warden System; • Conducts fire safety awareness briefings and training for mission staff and other UN personnel; • Conducts fire prevention, suppression and rescue training for unit personnel as part of the Fire Safety Plan; • Plans and supervises facility evacuation fire drill rehearsals at least twice a year; • Actively leads fire/emergency / intervention activities; • Coordinates and conducts specialized (advanced) trainings on fire safety; • Supervises inspection and maintenance of all systems, installations and devices within the area of responsibility; • Performs other fire safety and/or emergency response related duties as directed;

Competencies

Professionalism: Excellent knowledge in the field of fire & rescue, fire and rescue command, fire safety enforcement combined with a solid background in either a Municipal Fire Brigade or Fire Safety Planning/Enforcement or directly related field; well-developed ability to identify fire safety hazards, evaluate the risks and subsequently determine effective and reasonable risk management measures; capability to develop, implement, manage and coordinate fire safety risk management programmes, concepts, systems and efforts; shows pride in his/ her 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; remains calm in stressful situations. Takes responsibility for incorporating gender perspectives and ensuring the equal participation of women and men in all areas of work. Strong 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; Builds consensus for task purpose and direction with team members; Supports and acts in accordance with final group decisions, even when such decisions ay not entirely reflect own position; Shares credit for team accomplishments and accepts joint responsibility for team shortcomings. Technological Awareness: Keeps abreast of available technology; understands applicability and limitation of technology to the work of the office; actively seeks to apply technology to appropriate tasks; shows willingness to learn new technology.

Education

High school diploma or equivalent technical or vocational certificate.

Job - Specific Qualification

Certification in (or equivalent to) fire prevention/mitigation, fire suppression, fire protection, fire service leadership, fire safety inspection/assessment, rescue operations, hazardous materials (advanced) and use and maintenance of breathing apparatus are required. Certificate for training skills in fire safety including self-contained breathing apparatuses is required.

Work Experience

A minimum of ten years of experience with high school diploma or equivalent technical or vocational certificate (five years with a first-level university degree) of progressively responsible experience in a public fire service/brigade is required. A minimum of five years of progressively responsible experience in a fire safety management position, such as/or equivalent to fire safety inspector, fire chief or fire incident commander is required. At least five years’ of experience and exposure at the international level in a supervisory fire safety position is required. At least three years of experience in a conflict or a post conflict environment is required. Experience in training Fire Officers, in fire prevention, and the operation of fire vehicles is required.

Languages

Assessment

Evaluation of qualified candidates may include an assessment exercise which may be followed by competency-based interview.

Special Notice

This temporary job opening is being advertised for advance planning purposes pending formal approval of the relevant funding and staffing structures. An appointment may be terminated, or post level adjusted in accordance with the Staff Rules for such reasons as abolition of post or reduction of staff or committee funding approvals, for example in the event that the funding for the post is not approved or the mandate of the mission is not extended. The selected candidate will be expected to temporarily deploy until 30 June 2026. If the selected candidate is a staff member from the United Nations Secretariat, the selection will be administered as a temporary assignment. While this temporary assignment may provide the successful applicant with an opportunity to gain new work experience, the selection for this position is for a limited period and has no bearing on the future incumbency of the post. The United Nations Secretariat is committed to achieving 50/50 gender balance in its staff. Female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply for this position.

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. All external candidates recruited in accordance with section ‎2.2 (a) of ST/AI/2025/3 for a fixed term appointment without limitation and all external candidates recruited in accordance with section 2.2. (c) of ST/AI/2025/3 for a fixed term appointment limited to the entity are subject to an initial probationary period of one year under a fixed-term appointment. 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.