Health, Safety and Security (HSS) Assistant (INT11814)

Number of vacancies: 2

Health, Safety and Security (HSS) Assistant

OBJECTIVE

The Health, Safety and Security (HSS) Assistant supports Oxfam in maintaining safe, healthy and secure working and operational environments for staff, volunteers, IBVs, refugees, visitors, contractors and other stakeholders.

The Assistant provides day-to-day coordination and translating Oxfam HSS policies, standards and risk-management requirements into practical field-level actions.

Key responsibilities include support in risk assessments, inspections, incident coordination, emergency preparedness, fire safety, security, health and safety training, compliance, corrective-action follow-up and HSS reporting.

The Assistant support in operational oversight and escalates significant risks to the Security, Health & Safety officer.

The role works closely with HR, Fleet, Logistics, programme and operational teams, contractors, authorities and other relevant stakeholders.

Reporting Line and Authority

The Assistant operates within Oxfam policies, approved HSS plans and delegated authority.

The Assistant is authorized to:

• Follow up on the allocated daily work.
• Follow up on HSS assessments, inspections and monitoring.
• Provide technical HSS advice to staff and managers.
• Assign and monitor corrective actions within delegated authority.
• Support the HSS officer / Manager in taken proportionate immediate protective action where there is an imminent risk, including restricting access or stopping/isolating an unsafe activity where necessary.
• Escalate significant risks, incidents, non-compliance and overdue actions according to OXFAM policies and procedures.
• Coordinate and provide monthly or when it required HSS reports to the HSS officer.

ROLES & RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE HSS Assistant

HSS Coordination

• Support implementation of approved HSS policies, standards, procedures, risk controls, and action plans.
• Translate HSS requirements into practical, risk-based actions suited to operational, programme, and field contexts.
• Prioritize HSS activities based on risk, operational needs, location, workload, and available resources, in coordination with the HSS Officer/Manager.
• Support HSS workplans, monitoring schedules, inspections, and action plans.
• Provide appropriate HSS guidance, coaching, feedback, and technical support within delegated authority.
• Monitor and follow up on assessments, inspections, recommendations, and corrective/preventive actions.
• Identify HSS capacity, competency, equipment, and resource gaps and recommend appropriate actions.
• Promote HSS awareness, accountability, inclusion, learning, and continuous improvement.
• Coordinate with relevant departments, managers, supervisors, and focal points to integrate HSS into operational planning.
• Escalate significant or unresolved issues requiring management decisions, specialist advice, or additional resources.

Risk Assessment, Inspection and Compliance

• Support and follow up on HSS risk assessments covering workplaces, facilities, programme activities, fleet, accommodation, warehouses, workshops, sorting/recycling centres, equipment, and other operations.
• Identify hazards, threats, vulnerabilities, unsafe conditions, unsafe practices, and potential non-compliance.
• Recommend proportionate risk controls within delegated competence and refer specialist matters to the appropriate function.
• Conduct or support regular HSS inspections, observations, and monitoring at field and operational locations.
• Maintain and follow up risk registers, inspection records, action plans, and corrective-action trackers.
• Monitor implementation and closure of corrective and preventive actions.
• Support monitoring of HSS compliance by contractors, suppliers, service providers, partners, and other external parties, where applicable.
• Keep informed of relevant legislative, regulatory, Oxfam, and good-practice requirements and highlight significant changes.
• Escalate unresolved, recurring, or material HSS risks and compliance concerns.

Incident and Accident Management

• Promote prompt reporting of accidents, injuries, near misses, security incidents, and other significant HSS events through established procedures.
• Support initial information gathering, documentation, incident reviews, investigations, and lessons-learned processes, as authorized.
• Assist in identifying immediate, underlying, and contributing causes, where appropriate.
• Support development, implementation, and closure of corrective and preventive actions.
• Maintain accurate and confidential incidents, investigation, action, and lessons-learned records.
• Support analysis of incident and near-miss trends and recommend preventive measures.
• Coordinate operational follow-up within delegated authority.
• Immediately escalate serious, significant, recurring, or potentially life-threatening incidents to the HSS Officer/Manager and relevant management.
• Support reporting and follow-up incidents with relevant authorities, including SRAD in refugee camps and Police outside camps, in coordination with management.
• Support authorized follow-up of cases referring to legal or court processes.
• Protect sensitive personal, safeguarding, security, and operational information on a strict need-to-know basis.

Emergency Preparedness and Fire Safety

• Support implementation and periodic review of emergencies, contingency, evacuation, and fire-safety arrangements.
• Coordinate and support emergencies, evacuation, fire, and other relevant drills and exercises.
• Conduct or support emergency and fire-safety inspections at assigned locations.
• Monitor the availability, accessibility, and apparent serviceability of essential life-safety equipment, including fire alarms, extinguishers, emergency lighting, exits, evacuation routes, first-aid equipment, signage, and assembly-point information.
• Ensure relevant inspection, testing, servicing, and corrective-action records are maintained.
• Promote awareness of emergency procedures and individual responsibilities.
• Document and follow up lessons learned from drills, exercises, and emergency events.
• Immediately escalate deficiencies that may materially affect life safety, evacuation, firefighting capability, or emergency response.

Sorting and Recycling Centre Fire Safety ensures regular documented inspections address, as applicable:

• Fire load, combustible-material accumulation, and timely waste removal.
• Separation of combustible materials from ignition, heat, and electrical sources.
• Safe storage, segregation, stacking, spacing, and housekeeping.
• Clear aisles, emergency exits, access and evacuation routes.
• Electrical installations, chargers, machinery, and temporary electrical systems.
• Control of smoking, open flames, hot work, and other ignition sources.
• Availability and apparent serviceability of fire detection and firefighting equipment.
• Evacuation arrangements, assembly points, signage, and staff awareness.
• Emergency service access.
• Safe storage and management of batteries, chemicals, aerosols, oils, flammable substances, and other hazardous materials.
• Contractor activities that may introduce significant safety risks.
• Corrective actions arising from inspections, drills, incidents, near misses, and identified deficiencies.

Security Management

• Monitor the local security environment and report emerging risks affecting personnel, assets, programmes, or operations.
• Support security monitoring and reporting by HSS Assistants and designated security focal points.
• Support security assessments of offices, warehouses, programme sites, accommodation, field activities, and other relevant locations.
• Provide practical security advice within delegated competence.
• Support security briefings covering local risks, movement, personal security, communications, emergency procedures, and contingency measures.
• Monitor implementation of approved security procedures, controls, and contingency arrangements.
• Liaise with relevant authorities, communities, partners, and security providers in coordination with the HSS Officer/Manager and management.
• Support security incident reporting, follow-up, and lessons learned.
• Promote security awareness, individual responsibility, and timely risk reporting.
• Immediately escalate significant or potentially life-threatening security concerns.

Fleet and Travel Safety

• Support compliance with approved fleet, journey-management, and travel-safety requirements.
• Conduct or coordinate vehicle, driver, journey, and movement-safety checks and observations.
• Identify and report road, vehicle, driver, journey, and movement-related risks.
• Work with Fleet, Logistics, Programme, and other relevant teams to strengthen travel safety.
• Promote road safety, defensive driving, seat-belt use, journey planning, and safe-travel practices.
• Follow up on identified fleet and travel-safety corrective actions.
• Escalate serious, recurring, or unresolved travel-safety concerns.

Training and Awareness

Coordinate and support HSS induction, training and awareness activities, including:

• Workplace health and safety.
• Security awareness.
• Emergency preparedness and fire safety.
• Incident, accident, and near-miss reporting.
• PPE and safe working practices.
• Manual handling and ergonomic safety.
• Road and travel safely.
• Hazard identification and reporting.
• Emergency procedures and evacuation.
• Workplace and environmental hazards.
• Other priorities are identified through risk assessments, incidents, inspections, or operational requirements.

• Maintain appropriate induction, training, toolbox-talk, and competency records in coordination with HR and relevant departments.
• Identify HSS training and competency gaps and recommend appropriate development activities.
• Promote practical, inclusive, accessible, and context-specific HSS awareness among staff, IBVs, volunteers, contractors, visitors, and other relevant personnel.
• Support supervisors and focal points in reinforcing safe and secure working practices.

HSS Equipment, PPE and Suppliers

• Identify HSS equipment and PPE requirements based on risk assessments and operational needs.
• Monitor availability, suitability, accessibility, and apparent condition of essential HSS equipment and PPE.
• Support routine inspections and follow-up of deficiencies.
• Provide recommendations on maintenance, replacement, and procurement within delegated competence.
• Coordinate with Programme, Logistics, Procurement, Facilities, Fleet, Administration, and other relevant teams.
• Support monitoring of contractor and supplier compliance with agreed HSS requirements.
• Report damaged, defective, missing, expired, or unsuitable safety equipment for appropriate assessment and action.
• Escalate material equipment, PPE, maintenance, or resource gaps that may affect HSS or emergency response.

Planning, Monitoring and Reporting

• Support implementation and monitoring of approved HSS workplans and priorities.
• Prioritize activities according to operational risk and available resources.
• Consolidate relevant HSS information and reports from field locations and designated focal points.
• Provide timely and accurate updates to the HSS Officer/Manager on key risks, incidents, inspections, compliance, corrective actions, training, drills, and outstanding resource or capacity needs.
• Maintain accurate, complete, and accessible HSS records and documentation.
• Participate in relevant operational coordination and management meetings.
• Provide evidence-based observations, recommendations, and practical solutions.
• Escalate matters requiring management decisions, specialist intervention, or additional resources.

General Responsibilities

• Comply with Oxfam policies, procedures, Code of Conduct, HSS requirements, and delegated authorities.
• Take reasonable care of personal and others’ health, safety, and security.
• Follow approved safe working practices and use required PPE and safety equipment.
• Promptly report hazards, incidents, injuries, near misses, unsafe conditions, and security concerns through established channels.
• Participate in relevant HSS training, briefings, drills, and emergency exercises.
• Maintain confidentiality and protect sensitive HSS, security, safeguarding, personal, and operational information on a need-to-know basis.
• Promote a safe, secure, inclusive, respectful, and accountable working environment.
• Promote a positive HSS culture based on consultation, learning, accountability, and continuous improvement.
• Raise concerns through appropriate reporting and escalation mechanisms without fear of retaliation.
• Maintain professional relationships with colleagues, partners, authorities, contractors, suppliers, and other stakeholders.
• Work within the limits of competence and delegated authority and seek appropriate specialist or management support when required.
• Undertake other reasonable duties consistent with the scope and level of the role, as assigned by the line manager.

STAKEHOLDERS

Key stakeholders affected by the implementation have been identified, including internal and external stakeholders. Internal stakeholders include HR, line manager, programme and operational teams, Fleet, Logistics, Procurement, HSS Assistants, staff, volunteers, IBVs and relevant staff associations. External stakeholders include refugees, host communities, contractors, suppliers, security providers, relevant authorities, emergency services and operational partners.

Stakeholder engagement will be proportionate to risk and impact, with relevant stakeholders consulted during risk assessments, inspections, incident reviews, training, emergency preparedness and corrective actions. Feedback will be used to strengthen accountability, inclusion, shared responsibility and continuous improvement.

TIMELINES & MILESTONES

A clear and realistic implementation timetable will be established and reviewed regularly. Meeting frequency and milestones will be adapted based on operational priorities, risk levels and emerging needs. Regular coordination will take place between the HSS Officer, HSS Assistants, Security Health & Safety Manager and relevant teams, with additional meetings following significant incidents or emerging risks.

Key milestones will include baseline HSS risk assessments, risk registers, inspection schedules, corrective-action tracking, emergency and fire-safety preparedness, staff induction and training, incident reporting and review, and periodic monitoring and reporting.

Contingency measures will be applied where delays or unforeseen issues arise, including reprioritisation, escalation of critical risks, schedule adjustments, additional technical support and temporary protective measures. Significant unresolved risks or delays affecting life safety, security or compliance will be escalated to relevant management.

VALUES, FEMINIST PRINCIPLES & DECOLONIZATION APPROACHES

Implementation will be guided by Oxfam’s values of equality, inclusion, accountability, safeguarding and respect for humanitarian principles. HSS measures will recognise that risks can affect people differently based on gender, disability, age, role, status, location and other contextual factors.

A feminist approach will promote participation, dignity, equality and inclusive decision-making, ensuring that less powerful or marginalised groups can raise concerns safely and without fear of retaliation.

A decolonial approach will value local knowledge, experience and perspectives, particularly those of local staff, refugees, communities and national stakeholders. The function will promote local ownership and capacity strengthening through coaching, collaboration and shared learning rather than relying solely on top-down compliance.

HSS processes will be accessible, respectful, non-discriminatory and context-specific, while maintaining Oxfam’s minimum standards and duty of care. Lessons from incidents, inspections and exercises will inform continuous improvement and strengthen HSS as a shared responsibility.

Qualifications

Essential Qualifications & Experience:

• Relevant degree/professional qualification or equivalent experience and training in HSS, health & safety, security, risk management, emergency management, engineering, or a related field.
• Minimum 2-3 years of relevant experience in HSS, occupational health & safety, security, or risk management.
• Proven experience in risk assessments, workplace inspections, compliance monitoring, and risk registers.
• Practical experience in emergency preparedness, evacuation, and fire safety.
• Experience delivering HSS inductions, safety briefings, and awareness training.
• Strong, communication, analytical, problem-solving, and decision-making skills.
• Ability to assess and prioritize risks, take appropriate action, and escalate significant risks.
• Previous humanitarian/INGO experience, particularly in complex or high-risk environments.
• Good computer literacy and reporting/documentation skills.
• Spoken Arabic required; English where required for the role.
• Ability to work under pressure, manage competing priorities, and operate across field and operational locations.
• Commitment to humanitarian principles, safeguarding, equality, diversity, inclusion, and professional integrity.

Non-Essential

• Experience working in refugee camps or with vulnerable communities.
• Experience supporting HSS activities across multiple offices or operational sites.
• Knowledge of Jordanian H&S, fire-safety, labour, and workplace regulations.
• Experience monitoring fire, evacuation, emergency, or tabletop drills.
• Experience working with international, multicultural, and cross-functional teams.

HOW WE INCORPORATE OUR VALUES, FEMINIST PRINCIPLES AND DECOLONIZATION

For all our Transforming Business Support Human Resources Working Groups and Core Group.

While this is our current stance, we are committed to continuous learning and improvement. We are dedicated to enhancing our understanding of integrating feminist principles and decolonization into our daily work. As we actively learn, we will update sections in this document to reflect our progress.

All Oxfam Values, Equality, Solidarity, Courage, Inclusiveness, Empowerment, and Accountability are not just words but the very fabric of how we work. People & HR TBS are key in reflecting changes required in the harmonized procedures. All TBS HR WGs will verify that any update is consistent with our values, feminist principles, and the Oxfam Code of Conduct. When considering decolonial feminist principles in practice, Gender Justice Feminist Futures Strategy might also inspire us in this exercise.

Equality: “We believe everyone has the right to be treated fairly and to have the same rights and

We believe in treating everyone fairly with equal rights and opportunities. Equity goes further by recognizing diverse circumstances and providing tailored resources to achieve equal outcomes. The principle of equity helps us achieve equality.

Decolonial Feminist Leadership:

We aim to practice leadership that is aware of power dynamics and strives for collective decision-making. This approach empowers others by sharing power and enabling individuals to make decisions.

Accountability: The working groups will enable transparency by clearly documenting all processes, including Terms of Reference (ToRs), work plans, stakeholder feedback, approval processes, and final implementation plans. This ensures that all documentation is accessible to all involved.

Inclusivity: We commit to the principle of "Nothing about Us without Us," ensuring active participation from CCRs and historically marginalized groups. While improving policies, we will balance inclusivity with efficiency to avoid overburdening CCRs. This includes ensuring diverse representation within working groups (e.g., gender, geography, ethnicity) and allowing time for translation and asynchronous participation when needed. All final outputs (e.g., policies, guides) will be made available in the four official languages, with relevant webinars conducted in those languages.

We offer:

We offer a competitive salary and a range of additional benefits to staff including flexible working options, generous pension scheme, annual leave, additional leave allowances, company sick pay, life assurance and a range of other benefits.

From the day you join Oxfam we invite you to stretch and learn in your role. Our wide range of Learning & Development opportunities includes in-house courses, e-learning modules, on-the job learning opportunities, coaching and mentoring, and much more.

You can read more about all Oxfam has to offer here.

Flexfam:

We believe flexible working is key to building the Oxfam of the future, so we’re open to talking through the type of flexible arrangements which might work for you.

How to apply:

As part of your online application, please upload your up to date CV and Cover Letter explaining your suitability against the essential criteria in the job profile.

Our values and commitment to safeguarding

Oxfam is committed to preventing any type of unwanted behaviour at work including sexual harassment, exploitation and abuse, lack of integrity and financial misconduct; and committed to promoting the welfare of children, young people, adults and beneficiaries with whom Oxfam GB engages. Oxfam expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment through our code of conduct. We place a high priority on ensuring that only those who share and demonstrate our values are recruited to work for us.

The post holder will undertake the appropriate level of training and is responsible for ensuring that they understand and work within the safeguarding policies of the organisation.

All offers of employment will be subject to satisfactory references and appropriate screening checks, which can include criminal records and terrorism finance checks. Oxfam GB also participates in the Inter Agency Misconduct Disclosure Scheme. In line with this Scheme, we will request information from job applicants’ previous employers about any findings of sexual exploitation, sexual abuse and/or sexual harassment during employment, or incidents under investigation when the applicant left employment. By submitting an application, the job applicant confirms his/her understanding of these recruitment procedures.

We are committed to ensuring diversity and gender equality within our organisation and encourage applicants from diverse backgrounds to apply.

About us

Oxfam is a global community who believe poverty isn’t inevitable. It’s an injustice that can be overcome. We are shop volunteers, women’s right activists, marathon runners, aid workers, coffee farmers, street fundraisers, goat herders, policy experts, campaigners, water engineers and more. And we won’t stop until everyone can live life without poverty for good.

Oxfam GB is a member of international confederation of 21 organisations working together with partners and local communities in the areas of humanitarian, development and campaigning, in more than 90 countries.

A thriving diverse Oxfam:

It’s people power that brings about change. To play our part as a global organisation working to overcome poverty and inequality, we need equality, diversity and inclusion across our community of staff, partners and volunteers. Together, we’re committed to becoming a more diverse workforce, better able to tackle the global challenges that face our world today.

To do that:

• We need to dismantle the unequal power structures that exist everywhere, this including Oxfam and the wider development and charity sectors.
• We need an inclusive Oxfam where everyone can bring who they are to our work and feels celebrated for the differences they bring.
• We want and need everyone, and that means we need you.