Protection Program Manager

POSITION TITLE : Protection Program Manager/Senior Manager, SHOTORKO project

LOCATION : Dhaka, Bangladesh

DEPARTMENT : Human Rights and Empowerment

STATUS : Full-time, contingent upon continuation of donor funding

REPORTS TO : SHOTORKO Project Director

GENERAL:

Winrock International is a nonprofit organization that works with people in the United States and around the world to empower the disadvantaged, increase economic opportunity, and sustain natural resources. Since the 1980s, Winrock has been working, in partnership with the government of Bangladesh, to strengthen agriculture, aquaculture, trade, safe migration, and natural resource management sectors. Its work also protects human rights and expands inclusive access to economic opportunities.

The U.S. Department of State-funded Strengthening Anti-Human Trafficking Responses for Online Recruitment into Criminal Operations (SHOTORKO) will address trafficking in persons for forced criminality in Bangladesh by strengthening capacities to investigate and prosecute online scamming crimes; improving survivor protection; increasing victim identification and support services to prevent re-victimization; combatting fraudulent recruitment raising awareness and improving online safeguards; and facilitating private-sector partnerships.

Winrock International is recruiting a Protection Program (Senior) Manager for the SHOTORKO project. The Protection Program (Senior) Manager will support the project’s overall objective to combat trafficking of Bangladeshis for forced criminality (FC) in online scam operations (OSOs). The project will do so by:

1. Strengthening Bangladeshi stakeholder capacities and institutions to investigate and prosecute trafficking in persons (TIP) for FC in OSOs;

2. Improving the identification, support, and referrals of TIP for FC in OSOs survivors to tailored protection care reinforcing repatriation, reintegration, and avoiding revictimization;

3. Combatting and preventing fraudulent, deceptive employment recruitment for OSOs, increasing awareness of TIP OSO, improving online safeguards; and

4. Building effective, durable partnerships that disrupt TIP and reduce OSO expansion.

This is a local/national position and is not eligible for international allowances or relocation allowances.

POSITION SUMMARY:

The Protection Program Manager (or Senior Manager) (PM/SPM) works closely with the Project Director (PD), to achieve the project’s goals and objectives to combat trafficking of Bangladeshis for FC in OSOs. The PM/SPM, in coordination with the PD, leads SHOTORKO’s Objective 2

(Protection). The PM/SPM works with the Ministry of Home Affairs (MoHA), Ministry of Social Welfare (MoSW) and its Department of Social Services, Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA), and Ministry of Expatriates’ Welfare and Oversees Employment (MoEWOE), and SHOTORKO’s key partner under Objective 2 to support the adaptation of national victim identification and referral systems to address TIP for FC; train frontline stakeholders to identify and refer survivors; and connect survivors to repatriation, protection, and reintegration services to reduce risks of re-trafficking.

ESSENTIAL RESPONSIBILITIES:

· Leads adaptation of national TIP protection strategies to include TIP for FC in OSOs criteria, in collaboration with MoHA and MoSW. These strategies include: Victim Identification Guidelines, Comprehensive Survivor Services Guidelines (CSSGs), and National Referral Mechanism (NRM).

· Provides technical oversight of the Objective 2 partner and service providers on survivor-centered, trauma-informed care, operationalize ethical-inclusive case management, specialized psychosocial support, comprehensive legal aid, essential shelter services, dignified reintegration, training, and other support to avoid revictimization.

· Supports and strengthens project prosecution implementing partners’ victim and witness advocacy services supporting TIP for FC in OSOs survivors’ participation in trials and access to justice ensuring protection and logistical support.

· Oversees the adaptation and roll-out of TIP standard operating procedures, protection policies, tools, and training modules for frontline TIP professionals and ensures their effective implementation through regular follow-up.

· Trains criminal justice stakeholders and others on the CSSGs, survivor centered best practices, Do no harm principles, and policies to avoid revictimization supporting TIP for FC in OSOs non-punishment principles and survivor friendly court processes.

· Participates in TIP for FC in OSOs working group meetings integrating TIP for FC in OSOs survivor protection best practices.

· Promotes advocacy with government protection service providers, particularly with the Department of Social Services, to ensure implementation of the CSSGs for TIP for FC in OSOs survivors.

· Supports the establishment or strengthening of referral networks through operationalizing district referral directories for TIP for FC in OSOs survivors, including access to government and non-government services.

· Monitors TIP for FC in OSOs survivor quality of care, gather survivors’ feedback, and ensure that survivor protection activities are inclusive and survivor centered.

· Partners with ANIRBAN Survivors Voice Foundation to provide peer-to-peer support and mentorship for survivors.

· Engages persons with lived experience (PWLE) in designing, implementing, and monitoring protection activities.

· Collaborates with the project team to draft the project baseline assessment and project implementing partners protection activities.

· Promotes ethical employment recruitment, supply chain transparency, and worker protection practices through collaboration with employers, technology, and industry groups.

· Manages the project’s survivor assistance funds for repatriation and immediate protection needs (transport, documentation, visa-related costs, and emergency assistance), including eligibility criteria, approvals, and documentation in line with donor requirements.

· Contributes to project work planning, budgeting, monitoring, and reporting, in coordination with the PD.

· Prepares technical reports, lessons learned, success stories, case studies, and knowledge products on protection activities and achievements.

· Coordinates with the monitoring and evaluation team to collect and analyze routine data, and propose recommendations if adjustments are required.

· Other duties assigned by the PD.

QUALIFICATIONS:

Education:

· Master’s level degree required in social science (Economics, Sociology, Anthropology,

Development Studies) from a reputable university.

Work Experience:

· Minimum of seven years’ experience implementing complex protection activities within a counter TIP program for international development, preferably with the U.S. Department of State.

· Demonstrated knowledge of human trafficking, survivor centered and trauma-informed approaches, Do No Harm Principles, and national and international best practices engaging with TIP survivors.

· Expertise in inclusive, ethical case management for comprehensive and sustainable protection

· and reintegration services.

· Familiarity with trafficking for forced criminality, the non-punishment principle, repatriation processes, and services for adult male survivors strongly preferred.

· Experience developing program communications and reports on protection successes and lessons learned.

· Experience designing and conducting training activities for government officials, social workers, and civil society organizations.

· Strong interpersonal skills, diplomacy-tact in sensitive situations, and ability to work in teams and in multi-cultural environments.

· Experience developing and managing subgrants.

Skills/Knowledge:

· Fluent Bangla and English.

· Microsoft Office Skills.

· Strong oral and written communication skills.

· Willingness to travel regularly within Bangladesh.

· Interest in and enthusiasm for the mission of the SHOTORKO project.

· Ability to work independently with minimal oversight and manage multiple competing priorities and activities.

Applicants are encouraged to apply as soon as possible but no later than 01 November 2026. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis.

Winrock is an equal opportunity employer committed to providing equal treatment for all people. All qualified applicants receive consideration for employment regardless of race, color, religion, sex, gender, national origin, age, disability or any other basis protected by law. 

At Winrock we have a clear mission: Empower the disadvantaged, increase economic opportunity and sustain natural resources through unwavering dedication to accountability, equity, innovation, integrity and transformation.