Chief Technical Specialist – Baghdad

About the role

The United Nations Development Programme seeks a Chief Technical Specialist to lead environmental and social safeguards compliance and technical quality assurance for the Integrated POPs and Chemical Hotspots Management Project in Iraq.

Key responsibilities

• Lead implementation of the World Bank Environmental and Social Framework (ESF), the project Environmental and Social Commitment Plan (ESCP), and UNDP safeguards.
• Establish and maintain a project‑level safeguards compliance and assurance system covering studies, field work, sampling, laboratory activities, procurement, transport, storage, treatment, disposal and contractor operations.
• Review project activities and procurement packages for environmental and social risks, advising on mitigation measures, monitoring requirements and contractual provisions.
• Provide technical clearance on Environmental and Social Management Plans, occupational health and safety plans, waste‑management plans and emergency response arrangements.
• Monitor compliance of consultants, contractors and hazardous‑waste operators, identify non‑compliance and recommend corrective actions.
• Oversee handling, packaging, storage, transport, treatment and disposal of obsolete pesticides, PCB‑contaminated equipment and other hazardous wastes.
• Establish a systematic, risk‑based technical quality assurance framework with defined review gates and acceptance criteria.