Justice System Program Manager

Overview

Justice System Program Manager Jobs in Bangladesh at International Justice Mission

Title: Justice System Program Manager

Company: International Justice Mission

Location: Bangladesh

Who We Are

International Justice Mission (IJM) is a global leader in protecting vulnerable people from violence around the world. Our team of over 1,200 professionals are at work worldwide in over 30 offices. Together we are on a mission to rescue millions, protect half a billion, and make justice unstoppable.

We are a global community that cares for one another. We believe that the way we work is as important as the results we achieve. We provide professional excellence with joy and celebration to all those we serve.

The Need

For over 25 years, IJM has pioneered the work to protect vulnerable people from violence. 9 out of 9 times in the last decade, IJM’s Justice System Strengthening Projects have reduced slavery and violence between 50 and 85% for very large populations of people in poverty. As we grow to expand our impact to protect 500 million people from violence, we are seeking a Justice System Program Manager, who will provide guidance to all the casework team from Bangladesh (Dhaka, Khulna, Mymensingh and Barishal division) and develop strategies to ensure effective and timely prosecution of IJMs cases, strengthen partnerships with the key legal stakeholders to bring the cases through to conviction. The position will report to the Director, Justice System Program.

This position is responsible for developing strategic interventions to ensure that the first responders act and do what is needed for the citizens’ protection and benefit towards IJM’s 2030 goals. The successful candidate will play an integral role in training, advising on effective strategies and best practices for combating internal Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Children in Bangladesh and improving the Justice system’s response to these crimes. This position will work closely with the Regional Justice Solutions team South Asia, the Divisional Directors of Bangladesh and casework implementation teams to ensure the implementation of legal strategies. The role will also be working with partner organisations, supporting them in developing strategies, best practice models and building capacity based on the requirements. The role will also involve field and court visits and field activities at District and Divisional levels with extensive travel.

The role is based in Dhaka, but will provide support nationally, including travelling to each of IJM’s future program locations (Khulna, Barisal and Mymensingh).

Responsibilities

Strategy, Knowledge Development, & Implementation:

• Collaborate with the national and divisional program teams in the design and implementation of legal components of the justice system transformation projects.
• Represent the legal vertical on team meetings and in project design efforts.
• Develop and implement tools, techniques, and strategies and best practices models of Legal that will result in rescuing and protection numbers.
• Mentor the advocates as required to ensure they are legally compliant and advise the internal teams on legal procedures.
• Assist teams in applying innovative methodologies to push legal cases through pipelines till conviction of the perpetrators.
• Ensure the development of the capacity of the criminal justice system to handle cases of commercial sexual exploitation of children by working with the various functions as needed.
• Ensure the IJM Global legal standards are contextualized in line with Bangladesh legal standards. To effectively Liaise with legal professionals from Regional, country offices and locally.
• Support the implementation of IJM’s Protection Model (CSEC) and ensure the same is observed and implemented effectively on ground.
• Identify the best and successful models of legal in handling cases of commercial sexual exploitation of children and Human trafficking crimes and scale the model for National use to achieve the protections numbers.
• Provide technical support to internal legal programs as well as Partners and mentors and advice on a day-to-day basis.
• Strategize, execute, and support the legal team members from Casework.
• Support the successful roll-out of Global and Regional legal tools and standards and others in the future.

Networking & Partnership

• Develop working relationship with National and Divisional key legal/judicial departments and other related bodies which works to combat human trafficking and internal Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Children cases in Bangladesh.
• Assist in the creation of specific national “products” (i.e. tools, resources and training) for use internally and with external stakeholders.
• Represent IJM at national legal conferences and events to engage in networking with strategic stakeholders, as needed.
• Prioritize legal best practices models implementation with partners.
• Identify, analyze, and interpret existing IJM data on rescue, rehabilitation, capacity building, perpetrator accountability and release a smart report in collaboration with national, divisional and district level judicial bodies or relevant stakeholders.
• Develop and sign MoU with law schools, judicial departments, national capacity building institutions, strategic organization, and other technical organization to ensure the implementation of human trafficking/commercial sexual exploitation of children laws.

Communication

• Development of briefs, papers, fact sheets, and other communication resources as necessary; that articulates IJM’s approach and strategy for Legal casework.
• Consistently communicate with IJM legal teams and field leaders about the trends and changes on the legal aspects of human trafficking and protection model across the regions.
• Conduct periodical meetings with the National and Divisional legal team to identify the needs, provide feedback on case development, legal strategies, team management, and policy compliances.
• Conduct regular meetings with national and specialists to identify the requirements to enhance the capacity of the legal team to achieve IJM’s 2030 vision.
• Connect with the National and Divisional Program Directors to give and receive feedback on legal team performance.
• Communicate legal Field priorities to the Director, Justice System Program and work towards the alignment on IJM’s 2030 vision strategy.

Policies & Procedures

• Collaborate with the National, South Asia Leadership team and the Divisional Legal team to facilitate the development of comprehensive Legal policies, procedures and best practices.
• Provide legal expertise and strategic inputs into various aspects, such as procedures, research, curriculum, contracts, or MOUs, resulting in rigorous and legally sound research, drafting, and decision making.
• Collect regional best practices/learnings for Legal casework and support.

Training And Development

• Develop basic and advanced training modules to equip IJM’s country program and country Legal personnel with the skills and knowledge necessary to execute legal interventions in accordance with best practices.
• Train the Divisional Legal staff to ensure they have the skills and knowledge necessary to achieve IJM’s 2030 vision.
• Facilitate training, coaching and mentoring programs for legal team on legal processes for human trafficking/ commercial sexual exploitation of children investigations.
• Contextualize global tools & training as needed and oversee the translation process.
• Monitor the training curriculums of the government and the Criminal Justice System & support system capacity building and work on the inception of IJMs training modules on human trafficking and Commercial sexual Exploitation of Children.
• Assist in creation of specific national “products” (i.e. tools, resources and training modules) for use internally and with external stakeholders.
• Deliver in-person training as needed for internal and external stakeholders.

Research, Program Management, And M&E

• Engage in research projects as needed to provide legal expertise.
• Provide knowledge and advisory services on legal procedures to Partners and CSOs.
• Oversee the research on various legal matters as needed and provide recommendations to the policies, manuals, and procedures.
• Monitor that Legal activities (internal & with partners) are being implemented well.

Documentation, Reporting & Data Management

• Monitor Legal Data Collection and Analysis.
• Ensure that all copies of letters and documents submitted to the judiciary are stored in the data center on a regular basis.
• Bring relevant issues/needs to the attention of Director of Justice System Program.
• To be efficient and expert in handling JDS and other technical tools of IJM.
• Excellent in drafting letters and legal correspondence.
• Expert in matters pertaining to court and legal issues.

Casework

• Mentor and support to IJM lawyers (fulltime and contractual) and justice officials to build a watertight case to ensure the administration of justice to the survivors of trafficking.
• Provide court preparation and support to survivors of trafficking and ensure that legal process and proceedings are carried out in a trauma-informed sensitive manner.
• Ensure the implementation of IJM’s protection model in legal proceedings and process.
• Collaborate with police, social services department, shelter partners, other government bodies and team members to continually assess and implement legal safety and security plans for the benefit of the survivors of trafficking.
• Coordinate with IJM Investigators to investigate cases of commercial sexual exploitation of children within Bangladesh and ensure all evidence is collected in an admissible form.
• Cooperate with IJM Aftercare Specialists in identifying the psychosocial needs of victims.
• Assist in hosting guests, visitors, and volunteers.

Supervisory

This position has no direct reports but will play a mentor role to all the divisional legal team members, monitor their performance and will provide direct feedback for their growth. This role will also work closely with the Divisional Directors to monitor the performance of the legal team members in the divisions and provide their inputs to the performance evaluation of the legal staff members in all divisions.

Qualifications

Education & Experience:

• A bachelor’s degree in law is mandatory and hence eligible to apply for this position. Master’s degree in law (L.L.M.) will be given preference.
• Thorough knowledge of Criminal Procedure Code, Bangladesh Penal code, Children’s Act, Nari-O-Shishu laws, Prevention and Suppression of Human Trafficking Act (PSHTA) of 2012 & Rules 2017 and the latest Human Trafficking and Migrant Smuggling Prevention and Suppression Act, 2026 required and associated laws on Organized Crimes.
• More than seven years of legal experience as a criminal trial advocate, a lawyer in a corporate legal department or a litigator with a law firm with litigation experience is preferred.
• Minimum of 4 years of experience in leadership and team building experience (preferably managing advocates).
• Legal research and writing skills of a high order of articulation skills is a mandatory requirement.
• Experience with project design and implementation in the developing world context.
• Demonstrated interest in human rights and social justice.

Roles and Responsbilities

• Support IJM advocates (full-time and contractual) and assists public prosecutors in CSEC and Trafficking case hearings, including bail, pre-trial, trial, and appeal proceedings.
• Guide advocates in achieving deterrence through arrests, restraints, bail cancellations, and convictions.
• Demonstrate strong written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to simplify complex legal concepts.
• Conduct training and capacity-building initiatives.
• Manage budgets and resources effectively.
• Provide leadership, coaching, mentoring, and team development support.
• Apply international and cross-cultural legal experience in diverse environments.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office applications.
• Provide field-based support and capacity building to partners to strengthen State and District team effectiveness.

Critical Qualities

• Demonstrates strong multicultural awareness and cross-cultural competency.
• Passionately committed to IJM’s mission, values, professionalism, and bridge-building principles.
• Servant leader with humility and integrity.
• Courageous, innovative, and capable of creative problem-solving.
• Detail-oriented, highly organized, and disciplined in managing priorities.
• Maintains a professional demeanor with strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Perform effectively under pressure while maintaining a positive attitude.
• Upholds the highest standards of honesty, ethics, and integrity.
• Proactive, analytical, and solution-oriented in addressing challenges.
• Diplomatic, adaptable, and service-oriented in working with diverse stakeholders.
• Collaborative team player with a willingness to contribute beyond assigned responsibilities.

Other Duties

The candidate should be willing to travel across Bangladesh and internationally for official purposes when needed. This job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive list of activities, duties, or responsibilities for the position. Duties, responsibilities and activities may change at any time with or without notice. All positions are required to perform any additional tasks assigned by the supervisor.

Application Process

Upload Resume & Cover Letter in one PDF document and send the application to [email protected]

IJM holds strict safeguarding principles and a zero tolerance to violations of the Safeguarding

Policy, Protection against Sexual Exploitation, Abuse and Harassment Policy, and Code of Ethics. Candidate selection is based on technical competence, recruitment, selection and hiring criteria subject to assessing the candidate’s value congruence and thorough background, police clearance, and reference check processes.