Programme Manager, Play to Learn

BRAC is an international development organisation founded in Bangladesh that partners with over 100 million people living with inequality and poverty globally to create sustainable opportunities to realise potential. Working at BRAC is not like any other job. It is a platform where you can bring about real change for people who need it the most. We are not just dreaming of a better world; we are building it. Join us to find the way.

Purpose:

This position is responsible for leading operational management and technical oversights to guarantee programme effectiveness, donor compliance, and government compliance such as NGOAB and coordination with other stakeholders. This role aims to lead the implementation of the Play to Learn programme in Cox's Bazar to ensure the high-quality delivery of Humanitarian Play Labs, Caregiver Engagement, and advocacy efforts for Rohingya and host community children. Furthermore, this position is responsible for driving evidence generation, building partnerships, and scaling sustainable, play-based solutions to improve the wellbeing and development outcomes of children on the move.

Job Description/Responsibilities:

Implementation and Management:

• Lead and drive the operational leadership for BRAC's Play to Learn programme in HCMP, ensuring alignment with project objectives.
• Oversee the design and implementation of Humanitarian Play Labs and Caregiver Engagement models, ensuring quality, inclusivity, and contextual relevance.
• Manage comprehensive programme operations, including detailed work planning, monitoring, budgeting, procurement, and donor reporting.
• Guide project staff for the effective implementation of all project activities and facilitate coordination between host community and camp-based interventions.

Compliance, Quality & Accountability:

• Supervise and mentor team leads by providing operational and technical guidance, ensuring activity quality through the maintenance of protocols and internal controls.
• Ensure compliance with all donor requirements, organisational policies, and safeguarding standards across the programme.
• Monitor expenditure and ensure the efficient, effective, and accountable use of resources.

Stakeholders Coordination and Networking:

• Build and maintain effective partnerships with local organisations, government agencies, UN bodies, and the Bangladesh ECD Network to support sustainability and systems integration.
• Represent BRAC at the Play to Learn forum in Cox's Bazar coordination mechanisms, working groups, and external platforms.
• Lead advocacy efforts through workshops, evidence dissemination, and stakeholder engagement to promote the adoption of play-based ECD and MHPSS approaches.
• Work closely with the M&E/MIS, Grants, PDDR, Budget & Finance, and Procurement teams to monitor outputs, outcomes, and overall programme impact.

Communication and Learning:

• Strengthen evidence generation, monitoring, and process documentation to refine models and inform scaling pathways.
• Oversee knowledge management and the dissemination of evidence, lessons learned, and best practices to internal and external audiences.
• Facilitate capacity building for team members and teachers to ensure high-quality programme delivery.
• Foster a collaborative team culture that values accountability, innovation, and continuous learning.
• Conduct regular team meetings and mentorship sessions to promote professional development and adaptive management.

Safety and Safeguarding:

• Ensure the safety of Programme Participants, people who come into contact with the organisation, and team members from harm, abuse, neglect, harassment, and exploitation, including sexual exploitation and abuse (SEA), to achieve the programme's goals of safeguarding implementation. Act as a critical source of support, guidance, and expertise on safeguarding to establish a safe working environment.
• Practice, promote and endorse the issues of safeguarding policy among team members and ensure the implementation of safeguarding standards in every course of action.
• Follow the safeguarding reporting procedure in case any reportable incident occurs and encourage others to do so.

Educational Requirements:

• Master's degree in ECD/ Education/ Development Studies/ Social Science or any other relevant subject from any reputed university.

Experience Requirement:

• Minimum 7 years' experience in relevant field. Experience in the Child Protection sector would be added value.

Additional Requirements:

• Strong understanding of Early Childhood Development (ECD), play-based learning, and child protection in humanitarian and development contexts.
• In-depth knowledge of humanitarian programming in refugee/displacement settings, especially Rohingya response and host community dynamics.
• Familiarity with global and national ECD and Education policies, frameworks, and sector coordination mechanisms.
• Excellent programme and project management skills, including work planning, budget management, risk mitigation, and adaptive management.
• Effective communication, facilitation, and negotiation skills for engaging with government, donors, UN agencies including advocacy skills.
• Problem-solving, and decision-making in complex and evolving humanitarian contexts.
• Excellent proficiency in English (spoken and written); working knowledge of Bangla and/or Rohingya dialects is an asset.
• Proficiency in MS Office, project management tools, and digital collaboration platforms.
• Ability to translate evidence into advocacy and influence policy and practice at national and humanitarian coordination levels.
• Proven cultural sensitivity and adaptability, with commitment to localisation and community-driven approaches.
• Ability to operate in a complex organization, across functions and work on own initiative and collaboratively as part of diverse teams.
• Commitment to BRAC's values, safeguarding, accountability, and gender-transformative programming.

Salary:
Negotiable.

Other Benefits:
Festival Allowance, Health & Life Insurance, Paternity/ Maternity leave and others as per organisation policy.

Job Location:
Cox's Bazar

Last Apply Date:
27 September 2025

Other Way to Apply:
You may apply through
ReliefWeb,

or send your updated CV to

mentioning the name of the position
"Programme Manager, Play to Learn, Child Protection, HCMP
" in the subject line.

BRAC believes that everyone we work with including our staff, programme participants, partners, and the communities have the right to be protected from all forms of harm, abuse, neglect, harassment, and exploitation including sexual exploitation and abuse (SEA). We uphold human dignity and inclusion for all, regardless of race, religion, gender, disability, ethnic origin, or socio-economic condition. As an equal-opportunity employer, we actively encourage applications from gender-diverse individuals and people with disabilities.

Selected candidates will have to go through a rigorous reference and background checking process which may include police verification.