About IRAP

The International Refugee Assistance Project (“IRAP”) is a dynamic and growing legal and policy advocacy organization that works to develop and enforce a system of legal and human rights for refugees and displaced people around the world. We are the leading organization providing free and comprehensive legal services to people in need of a safe place to live and a safe way to get there.

IRAP operates offices in the US (New York City), Jordan (Amman), Lebanon (Beirut), and Germany (Berlin).

IRAP Jordan

IRAP Jordan, a team of eight operational and program staff, provides legal aid to displaced people in Jordan. The team provides legal assistance to individuals navigating refugee resettlement, humanitarian protection pathways, and family reunification processes through in-house representation, legal information, and the mentorship of pro bono attorneys, students, and interns.

Opportunity

IRAP Jordan is seeking the consultancy services of a Safety and Security expert to conduct an independent, comprehensive evaluation of the physical security arrangements, operational procedures, and facility-related risks affecting IRAP Jordan Country Office. The assessment will identify vulnerabilities that could impact the safety of staff, interns, clients, visitors, assets, and confidential information, and will provide practical, risk-based recommendations to strengthen organizational resilience while maintaining a safe, accessible, and client-centered environment.

Context and Objective

• Proximity to conflict-affected populations (Syrian, Iraqi, Yemeni, Sudanese caseloads)

• Potential for client psychological distress, coercion, or external third-party pressure

• Intern and junior staff exposure to high-stress client interactions

• Regulatory oversight of NGOs under Jordan's Law on Societies (No. 51/2008, amended 2009), including the Ministry of Social Development's supervisory authority over registration, foreign funding approval, and organizational dissolution

The objective of this assessment is to develop appropriate measures in place pertaining to:

• Physical security of the building envelope and entry systems

• Interview room safety for staff, interns, and clients

• Incident response and evacuation procedures

• Information security related to physical access

• Staff and intern security awareness and preparedness 

Scope of Work:

• In Scope

• Out of Scope

  • IT/cybersecurity (unless directly linked to physical access)

  • Field operations outside the office

  • Personnel vetting/HR background checks 

Risk Framework

• Risk Rating Scale

• Game Theory Application

• Actor mapping — who are the plausible adversarial actors (disgruntled clients, third-party coercers, criminal opportunists, state actors, insider threats)?

• Dominant strategies — what is the most rational course of action for each actor given the current security posture?

• Payoff asymmetry — where does current security create insufficient cost/friction to deter action?

• Counter-strategy — what organizational responses alter the adversary's rational calculus?

Key Deliverables

1. Executive Summary (3–5 pages)

   1. Overall risk rating for the facility

   2. Top 5 prioritized findings

      1. Immediate actions required before the next operational day (if any)

2. Full Security Assessment Report

   1. Current state description (observation-based)

   2. Gap identification

   3. Risk rating (probability + impact)

   4. The threat actor most likely to exploit the gap

   5. Recommended mitigation measure(s)

   6. Cost estimate category (low/medium/high)

      1. Responsible party for implementation

3. Interview Room Security Protocol (standalone document)

   1. Room configuration standards — furniture placement, door opening direction, staff positioning relative to exit

   2. Pre-interview checklist — room clearance, panic device test, colleague notification

   3. Duress signal system — verbal and non-verbal protocols, staff response procedure

   4. Escalation ladder — from client agitation through staff concern to active incident

   5. Intern-specific protocols — buddy system required

   6. Post-incident procedure — reporting, staff support, room lockdown sequence

   7. Client dignity safeguards — balancing security measures against client experience

4. Prioritized Risk Register

5. Security Management Plan (SMP) Draft

   1. Daily opening/closing procedures

   2. Visitor and client management flow

   3. Key holder policy

   4. After-hours incident contacts

   5. Emergency communication tree

      1. Quarterly review schedule

6. Training Needs Assessment

Methodology

Specific Focus Area — Interview Rooms

• Physical Layout

  • Can staff exit the room without passing the client if needed?

  • Is there a secondary communication point (phone/alarm) visible to staff but not obstructive to the client?

  • Are there objects in the room that could be used as weapons of opportunity?

  • Is acoustic privacy sufficient to prevent corridor eavesdropping (client confidentiality risk as well as security risk)?

• Staffing Configuration

  • Is there a clear policy prohibiting solo interviews by interns?

  • Is there a colleague designated as a monitor during all interview sessions?

  • What is the response time from alert to the physical presence of a second staff member?

• Duress Systems

  • Is there a functioning duress alarm or panic button? If yes — tested when? Linked to what response?

  • Is there an agreed verbal duress code known to all staff AND interns?

  • Is the code refreshed regularly enough to prevent client community familiarity?

• Client Risk Profiling

  • Is there a pre-interview risk-flagging system for clients with a history of incidents?

  • Who has access to flag data, and when does it appear in the client journey?

  • Does the intake process screen for indicators of third-party coercion or external surveillance of the client?

Qualifications

• Minimum 7 years of security management experience, with at least 3 years in Southwest Asia (Middle East) contexts

• Direct experience assessing NGO or humanitarian operations in urban environments

• Familiarity with Jordan's legal and regulatory framework for civil society organizations, including current Ministry of Social Development registration and foreign funding approval requirements

• Working knowledge of UNHCR, ICRC, GISF, or equivalent facility security standards

• Demonstrated competency in threat and risk assessment methodology (HEAT-equivalent or higher)

• No conflict of interest with the organization or its donor base

• Clearance/reference check completed prior to engagement

Conduct & Confidentiality

• The assessor shall sign a confidentiality agreement before accessing any facility, staff, or documentary information

• All findings are for internal use only unless explicitly authorized for external sharing

• Staff interviews shall be conducted on a no-attribution basis

• The final report shall be stored in accordance with the organization's data protection policy

• The assessor shall disclose any findings of immediate danger to the Operations Manager within 24 hours of identification, regardless of the overall reporting timeline

Timeline

Reporting Line & Authorization

Compensation

The total compensation for this consultancy is USD 2,500, payable upon successful completion of the assignment and upon the organization's submission and acceptance of all agreed deliverables.

Application

Applications should include:

• A brief cover letter and understanding of the assignment. addressing the purpose, objectives, scope, criteria, and deliverables of the project. 

• Updated profile/ CV listing similar experiences/assignments 

• Experience / Survey / Study – similar work with References / Recommendation letters

• Three references from a previous employer. 

Review of applications will begin immediately and continue on a rolling basis. 

Please apply through our website.

IRAP is committed to the full inclusion of all qualified individuals. As part of this commitment, IRAP will ensure that persons with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodations. If reasonable accommodation is needed to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and/or to receive other benefits and privileges of employment, please refer to your request in the cover letter.

IRAP is an equal-opportunity employer; people of color and individuals from diverse backgrounds are encouraged to apply. IRAP does not discriminate based on race, color, national origin, citizenship status, ethnic background, religion, political orientation, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, disability, or any other protected class. We consider all qualified applicants with criminal histories in a manner consistent with the requirements of all local, state, and federal laws related to the Fair Chance Act.