The International Rescue Committee (IRC) responds to the world's worst humanitarian crises, helping to restore health, safety, education, economic wellbeing, and power to people devastated by conflict and disaster. Founded in 1933 at the call of Albert Einstein, the IRC is one of the world's largest international humanitarian non-governmental organizations (INGO), at work in more than 40 countries and 29 U.S. cities helping people to survive, reclaim control of their future and strengthen their communities. A force for humanity, IRC employees deliver lasting impact by restoring safety, dignity and hope to millions. If you're a solutions-driven, passionate change-maker, come join us in positively impacting the lives of millions of people world-wide for a better future.
Since 2017, IRC has supported Rohingya Refugees and Bangladeshi nationalities communities in Cox's Bazar, Khulna, Barisal, and Chittagong with integrated services. The organization also addresses climate change impacts by building resilience and promoting economic recovery, education, and protection.
Purpose of this role:
The Sr. Protection Coordinator will lead protection programming in Cox’s Bazar. This role will provide strategic and technical leadership, ensure timely implementation of project activities, represent IRC Bangladesh in the Protection Cluster and related forums, and support business development, donor engagement, and proposal development. The role will work closely with multi-functional teams including programme, advocacy, communication, MEAL, and operations to deliver high-quality protection outcomes. The Sr. Protection Coordinator will have overall responsibility to supervise and support the Protection program teams composed of Women Protection and Empowerment (WPE), Child Protection (CP) and Protection and Rule of Law (PRoL). S/he will ensure program results delivery, quality, and impact, sustainability.
Major Responsibilities:
A. Strategic Leadership and Program Management
- Provide strategic direction and technical oversight to the organization’s protection programming in Cox’s Bazar.
- Ensure effective planning, implementation, and monitoring of protection activities in line with project ToC, goal and objectives, quality standards, organizational policies, and donor requirements.
- Lead development and execution of work plans, spending plans, procurement plans, and activity tracking to ensure timely and quality project delivery.
- Support adaptive programming by identifying implementation challenges, risks, and opportunities and proposing practical solutions.
- Ensure mainstreaming of protection principles, accountability, safeguarding, gender, inclusion, and conflict sensitivity across program implementation.
- Strengthening program quality through regular field monitoring, technical support, and mentoring of team members.
B. Business Development and Resource Mobilization
- Identify strategic funding opportunities aligned with the organization’s protection priorities and field realities.
- In coordination with Sr. Grants and Partnership Coordinator, contribute to business development efforts including needs analysis, concept note development, proposal writing, budget input, and donor reporting.
- Support development of high-quality program documents, research, assessments, case studies, and evidence to strengthen fundraising efforts.
- Work with Partnerships and senior management to position the organization for future protection funding opportunities.
C. Coordination with Multi-Functional Teams
- Ensure regular collaboration and communication with other units and functions including Health, Education, Ecominc Recovery and Development and other programs to ensure integrated programming components are highly functional and grounded in best practice across both sectors. .
- Facilitate integrated planning and implementation across functions to maximize program impact and operational efficiency.
- Coordinate internal review meetings, progress tracking, and action follow-up with relevant teams.
- Collaborate with Advocacy and Communications teams to develop key messages, case studies, briefing notes, and visibility materials related to protection work.
- Ensure that program evidence and learning inform advocacy priorities and communication outputs.
- Support development of external products that highlight protection concerns, project achievements, lessons learned, and community voices in a safe and ethical manner.
D. Representation and External Engagement
- Represent the organization in the Protection Cluster, working groups, sub-sector meetings, inter-agency coordination platforms, and other relevant forums.
- Maintain strong professional relationships with government authorities, UN agencies, NGOs, donors, community leaders, and other stakeholders.
- Actively contributes to sector discussions, technical initiatives, and coordination efforts to influence protection priorities and response strategies.
- Ensure that the organization’s position, achievements, and concerns are effectively communicated in external forums.
- Ensure IRC’s active contribution in all coordination forums at local level (sub districts and camps)
E. Team Leadership and Capacity Building
- Provide day-to-day technical guidance and coordination support to protection team leader; WPE Coordinator, CP Coordinator and PROL Coordinator
- Coach, train, and mentor protection team members with the aim of strengthening their technical capacity, exchanging knowledge within the team and providing professional development guidance, and ensure that capacity development plans are in place for all protection teams.
- Foster a collaborative, accountable, and inclusive team environment.
- Support recruitment, performance management, coaching, and professional development of team members where applicable.
F. Others
- Promote and actively participate in initiatives and efforts to build team engagement, inclusion and cohesion in IRC Bangladesh.
- Foster ongoing learning, honest dialogue and reflection to strengthen safeguarding and to promote IRC values and adherence to IRC policies.
Major Challenges/Difficulties of this role:
- Building the capacity of a team from the bottom up.
- ensure coordination between the implementation and technical team
- ensure that the respective Technical Coordinators, Sector Specialists and Technical Managers are providing adequate quality and technical oversight to both IRC’s and partners program
- Demonstrating strong technical leadership in coordination forums and in partnerships where other agencies may need significant technical mentorship and support to meet standards.
Qualifications and Competences:
- Bachelor's degree in international development, law, human rights, or a related field; a Master's degree is preferred.
- Minimum of 10 years’ professional experience in managing protection programs on humanitarian response, with specific experience in protection programming in emergency or post conflict settings, with strict security rules.
- At least 3–5 years in a senior coordination, managerial, or technical leadership role.
- Demonstrated experience in Cox’s Bazar/Rohingya response or similar complex humanitarian settings is highly preferred.
- Proven experience in Protection Cluster representation, inter-agency coordination, and stakeholder engagement.
- Strong experience in business development, including proposal writing, donor engagement, and program design.
- Experience working with multi-functional teams including advocacy, communications, MEAL, and operations.
- Demonstrated track record in managing project implementation and ensuring timely delivery against targets.
Required Competencies and Skills
- Strong understanding of protection principles, humanitarian architecture, coordination mechanisms, and rights-based programming.
- Excellent program management, planning, analytical, and problem-solving skills.
- Strong interpersonal and representation skills with the ability to engage effectively with diverse stakeholders.
- Excellent writing and communication skills in English.
- Ability to manage multiple priorities under pressure and meet deadlines.
- Strong leadership and team coordination skills.
- Ability to work independently while maintaining close collaboration with cross-functional teams.
- High level of integrity, professionalism, and commitment to safeguarding and protection principles.
Duty Station and Travel: The position will be based in Cox’s Bazar, Bangladesh and may require regular travel to field locations within the district and other areas as required by program needs.
PROFESSIONAL STANDARDS
All International Rescue Committee workers must adhere to the core values and principles outlined in IRC Way - Standards for Professional Conduct. Our Standards are Integrity, Service, Equality and Accountability. In accordance with these values, the IRC operates and enforces policies on Safeguarding, Conflicts of Interest, Fiscal Integrity, and Reporting Wrongdoing and Protection from Retaliation. IRC is committed to take all necessary preventive measures and create an environment where people feel safe, and to take all necessary actions and corrective measures when harm occurs. IRC builds teams of professionals who promote critical reflection, power sharing, debate, and objectivity to deliver the best possible services to our clients.
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