Protection Coordinator | Danish Refugee Council

The Danish Refugee Council (DRC), one of the world's leading NGOs focused on responding to displacement, has been registered in Bangladesh since 2013. In response to the Rohingya influx in 2017, DRC has been implementing an integrated programme encompassing Economic Recovery, Site Management Support, Protection (including Child Protection and GBV), Shelter/NFIs and Site Development, Disaster Preparedness and Response, and Climate and Environment in Rohingya camps, host communities, and impacted areas.

Position Profile
DRC is seeking a highly qualified Protection Coordinator to lead and coordinate its overall protection activities in Bangladesh. DRC currently provides protection services for refugees and host communities in eight locations in Cox's Bazar. Reporting to the Head of Programme (HoP) for Bangladesh and Myanmar, the Protection Coordinator will lead country-level protection analysis, strategy development, and implementation. The role holds overall technical responsibility for the Bangladesh Protection Programme to ensure quality programming and delivery. The Coordinator will work closely with the protection team and other coordinators and managers to provide evidence- and results-based integrated programming support.

Key Duties & Responsibilities

Programme Strategy and Development

• Lead the contextual revision and rollout of the Bangladesh protection strategy in consultation with the HoP and team members.
• Design and review protection-related concept notes, logical frameworks, budgets, and proposals.
• Map donor priorities, identify gaps, and explore opportunities for protection programming.
• Develop and strengthen methods and tools for protection analysis to inform evidence-based programme design and implementation.
• Ensure integration of protection activities with other DRC sectors, particularly Economic Recovery.
• Maintain updated knowledge of evolving contexts and coordinate with DRC regional and HQ counterparts.

Programme Quality

• Ensure relevance of protection programmes in line with global standards and DRC guidance.
• Provide technical guidance/support to protection teams, ensuring timely deliverables including monitoring, donor reporting, advocacy, and policy notes.
• Oversee technical aspects of staff work and conduct field visits for quality assurance.
• Strengthen protection data collection and management systems, ensuring monitoring, evaluation, and lessons learned.
• Act as DRC Bangladesh focal point for PSEA and provide training and awareness raising.

Representation and Advocacy

• Represent DRC in coordination forums and provide technical input to maintain DRC's reputation.
• Attend donor meetings as requested and guide advocacy messaging on protection issues.
• Support advocacy priorities, produce analytical reports, and develop partnerships with local and national civil society actors.

Training and Capacity Building

• Oversee job description harmonisation and support recruitment of technical protection staff.
• Identify technical gaps and provide capacity building for protection teams and partners.
• Organise training sessions on protection mainstreaming and PSEA.

Accountability

• Ensure programmes meet minimum standards, including accountability to affected populations.
• Ensure compliance with DRC Age, Gender, and Diversity (AGD) policy, zero-tolerance Sexual Exploitation and Abuse policy, and operational guidelines.
• Document and consolidate success stories for internal and external dissemination.

Safety

• Comply with all safety rules, policies, and procedures, reporting incidents or near-misses as required.

Skills and Experience

• Minimum 5 years of relevant experience delivering protection services in refugee contexts.
• Strong knowledge of global protection sector standards, including protection monitoring, GBV prevention/response, child protection, case management, and legal aid.
• Experience with Protection Information Management Systems and data analysis.
• Proven capacity-building and staff mentoring skills, with cultural sensitivity.
• Experience in project cycle management, proposal writing, budget management, and donor reporting.
• Excellent English writing and verbal communication skills; knowledge of Rohingya response in Bangladesh is desirable.
• Experience with ECHO, Danida, GAC, FCDO fund management is an asset.

Educational Qualifications

• University or graduate degree in Social Sciences, Development Studies, International Relations, Psychology, Social Work, or other relevant fields.

Languages

• Full professional proficiency in English.

Contract Details

• Type of contract: Expatriate or National
• Employment Band: G1 (non-management)
• Duty station: Cox's Bazar
• Start date: As soon as possible
• Closing date for applications: 30 August 2025

Application Process
Applications must be submitted through the link provided here by clicking the Apply button. Applicants must submit a cover letter and CV (maximum four pages) in English. Include three referees' details (present supervisor, HR, and past employment supervisor). Email applications will not be considered.

Gender Equality and Equal Opportunity
DRC encourages female candidates to apply to achieve gender parity. DRC is an equal-opportunity employer committed to an inclusive environment regardless of age, sex, disability, religion, ethnicity, colour, race, marital status, or other protected characteristics.

Fraud Alert
DRC never charges fees during recruitment. Beware of fraudulent job offers asking for money.