Occupational Health and Safety Officer (Only for Ukrainian Nationals)

The Occupational Health and Safety Officer ensures a safe, healthy, and compliant working environment across all Save the Children locations in Ukraine. The role involves implementing safety systems, conducting risk assessments, coordinating trainings, and supporting incident prevention and response to maintain operational continuity and safeguard staff wellbeing.

Responsibilities

• Oversee the establishment and maintenance of safe and healthy working conditions across all SCI locations in accordance with applicable legislation, SCI policies, and occupational health and safety (OHS) standards.
• Ensure organisational compliance with national laws, regulations, and internal procedures related to OHS, industrial sanitation, workplace safety, and employee welfare.
• Lead the implementation of OHS risk mitigation measures and support the development of action plans to improve workplace safety and reduce incidents.
• Support coordination of investigations into workplace accidents, incidents, and occupational diseases, ensuring proper documentation, root-cause analysis, and follow-up actions.
• Participate in decisions regarding compensation for employees affected by workplace injuries, occupational diseases, or other work-related health impacts.
• Conduct OHS induction briefings for newly hired staff, contractors, visitors, and any individuals performing work on SCI premises.
• Maintain accurate and updated OHS training and briefing logs for all staff and worksites.
• Coordinate and deliver OHS training sessions, including first aid, emergency response, safe work practices, and accident prevention.
• Promote staff participation in identifying safety risks and submitting suggestions to improve workplace conditions, wellbeing, and work-rest regimes.
• Implement awareness-raising activities such as seminars, discussions, posters, memos, and other educational materials related to occupational safety and health.
• Provide guidance and mandatory instructions to heads of departments and area offices to address safety gaps and ensure compliance with OHS standards.
• Ensure staff performing high-risk tasks meet all requirements (medical examinations, training, certification, authorization) before commencing work.
• Recommend disciplinary action to the Country Director for violations of OHS requirements where appropriate.
• Conduct regular inspections of offices, guesthouses, and other SCI facilities to identify hazards, ensure preventive controls, and verify compliance.
• Support the preparation of OHS budgets, cost estimates, and procurement planning related to health and safety measures and equipment.
• Develop, update, and review OHS policies, procedures, safe-work instructions, and training programmes in coordination with relevant departments.
• Prepare OHS documentation, reports, registers, and statistics in line with SCI and regulatory requirements.
• Provide consultations and clarifications to staff and managers on workplace safety obligations and best practices.
• Liaise with external medical institutions, research bodies, consultants, and regulatory agencies on OHS matters, and support the implementation of their recommendations.

Requirements

• Master’s degree in relevant field.
• Strong knowledge of the Law of Ukraine “On Occupational Safety” and related national legislation, regulations, and standards.
• Understanding of occupational safety systems, risk assessment methodologies, and workplace safety controls.
• Knowledge of labour legislation, standards of safe equipment operation, and requirements related to working conditions, including restrictions for women, adolescents, and workers transferred to lighter duties.
• Familiarity with best practices in occupational health and safety in Ukraine and internationally.
• Confident user of modern information technologies, online tools, and digital reporting systems.
• Ability to analyse and summarise professional information from various sources.
• Fluency in English and Ukrainian required.
• 5 years of experience (including internship or volunteer experience) in occupational health and safety, workplace safety audits, risk assessments, or related fields.
• Experience delivering safety briefings, trainings, or awareness sessions.
• Experience in developing or updating OHS procedures, instructions, or training materials.
• Experience maintaining documentation, logs, or reports related to safety compliance.
• Practical understanding of safe equipment use, control measures, and accident/incident prevention.
• Previous experience in INGOs, international organisations, or humanitarian settings (desirable).
• Experience coordinating with external institutions (medical facilities, inspection bodies) (desirable).
• Experience supporting emergency preparedness, first aid training, or crisis/incident response (desirable).

Skills

• Occupational Safety Law Ukraine
• Risk Assessment Methodologies
• Workplace Safety Controls
• Labor Legislation
• Safe Equipment Operation
• Occupational Health and Safety Best Practices
• Digital Reporting Systems Transformation
• Safety Audits
• Safety Training
• OHS Procedures Development
• Safety Documentation
• Accident Prevention
• Incident Prevention
• Emergency Preparedness
• First Aid Training
• Crisis Response
• Safety Compliance Reporting
• Information Analysis
• Online Tools

Languages

English, Ukrainian