Safeguards, Risk, and Inclusion Specialist
Organizational Context
UNOPS operates across 23 countries in Latin America and the Caribbean, focusing on sustainable development through resilient infrastructure, public health support, and institutional capacity building. The Barbados Country Office serves as a hub for 17 Caribbean Small Island Developing States (SIDS), aligning with regional priorities like climate justice and financing. The Caribbean Resilient Infrastructure Implementation and Skills Exchange (RIISE) Facility, a five-year initiative, aims to support governments in implementing climate-resilient infrastructure.
Job Purpose
This role serves as a Safeguards, Risk, and Inclusion Specialist within the RIISE Facility, providing demand-driven technical assistance to governments in the Eastern Caribbean for climate-resilient infrastructure projects. The Specialist will ensure that environmental and social safeguards, risk management, and Gender-Based Analysis Plus/Gender Equality and Social Inclusion (GBA+/GESI) requirements are integrated into all RIISE requests and assignments. The role involves both remote advisory support and on-site deployments, requiring a proactive approach to identify and mitigate risks, strengthen institutional capacities, and promote equitable access to project benefits. The Specialist's contribution is crucial for the effective and sustainable delivery of technical assistance, aligning with RIISE policies and contributing to the overall goals of the facility and UNOPS.
Responsibilities
The Safeguards, Risk, and Inclusion Specialist is responsible for screening RIISE requests and assignments for environmental and social safeguards, risk, GBA+/GESI, stakeholder engagement, grievance, and OHS requirements. This includes reviewing documentation, identifying gaps, and recommending proportionate risk screening, due diligence, mitigation, monitoring, and reporting measures. The Specialist will strengthen the integration of these elements throughout the RIISE programme and assignment management cycle, advising on risk screening, mitigation, GBA+/GESI analysis, and stakeholder engagement. They will also support RIISE-level grievance procedures and assess project-level grievance mechanisms for accessibility and effectiveness. Furthermore, the role involves providing technical support, quality assurance, and capacity building to RIISE Secretariat staff, government entities, and assignment stakeholders, including preparing advisory notes, tools, and delivering training sessions. Key deliverables include assignment reports, knowledge transfer summaries, and GBA+/GESI integration outcomes.
Work Experience
Required experience includes applying environmental and social safeguards, risk management, GBA+/GESI, grievance mechanisms, stakeholder engagement, and OHS in infrastructure or development programs, particularly those supported by international organizations. Demonstrated ability to translate requirements into practical measures for screening, mitigation, monitoring, and capacity building is essential. Experience in multicultural environments or UN organizations is desired, as is prior experience in Caribbean countries and with climate-resilient infrastructure.
Skills
Compliance Management, Diversity & Inclusion, Environmental Compliance, Governance, Risk and Compliance, Quality Assurance, Risk Management, Stakeholder Engagement