Sexual Assault Prevention and Response (SAPR) Victim Advocate

This position is that of Sexual Assault Prevention and Response (SAPR) Victim Advocate at Commander, Fleet Activities Sasebo, Japan. The purpose of this position is to serve as the primary initial point of contact for victims of sexual assault.

***ACCESS TO MEDICAL AND DENTAL CARE IN JAPAN IS EXTREMELY LIMITED. Please see Additional Information section below.***

Applicants must meet the following positive education qualifications requirements of the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) Qualifications Standards Manual or required experience. Applicants must possess:

Degree: behavioral or social science; or related disciplines appropriate to the position.

or

Combination of education and experience that provided the applicant with knowledge of one or more of the behavioral or social sciences equivalent to a major in the field.

or

Four years of appropriate experience that demonstrated that the applicant has acquired knowledge of one or more of the behavioral or social sciences equivalent to a major in the field.

SUBSTITUTION OF EDUCATION FOR EXPERIENCE: Applicants may substitute the following education for the required experience, provided it demonstrates the knowledge, skills and abilities necessary to do the work of the position: Successful completion of a Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree in a related discipline appropriate to the position or Successful completion of 3 years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to a Ph.D. degree COMBINATION OF EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE: Equivalent combinations of education and experience may be combined to meet the total qualification requirements. NOTE: You MUST submit a copy of your transcripts. Failure to do so will result in an ineligible rating. Are you using your education to qualify? For positions requiring positive education requirements, or if you are using education to meet all or part of the qualification requirements, you must submit a copy of your transcripts or an itemized list of college courses which includes equivalent information from the transcript (course title, semester/quarter hours, and grade/degree earned).Education completed in foreign colleges or universities may be used to meet the qualification requirements if the applicant can provide documentation indicating that the foreign education is comparable to that received in an accredited educational institution in the United States. It is the responsibility of the applicant to provide such evidence when applying for further information, visit: https://www2.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ous/international/usnei/us/edlite-visitus-forrecog.html

• Serves as a Sexual Assault Prevention and Response (SAPR) Victim Advocate (VA), facilitating care and providing non-clinical support to adult victims of sexual assault and sexual harassment.
• Assesses safety concerns, inform victims of available reporting options and resources, encourage self advocacy, establish short and long-term goals for sexual assault recovery, and facilitate referrals.
• Serves as an advocate for the expressed interests of victims with all intervening agencies to include law enforcement, medical, and legal.
• Explains the restricted and unrestricted reporting options available to a victim, including the exceptions and/or limitations for victims’ privileges under Military Rules of Evidence 514, and their rights and responsibilities as a victim.
• Conducts risk assessments of victims to determine their immediate needs, and evaluate safety concerns and levels of risk.
• Accompanies victims to appointments, investigator interviews, and civilian and military court proceedings, as appropriate and when requested by the victim.
• Assists the installation Sexual Assault Response Coordinator (SARC) in the development and delivery of comprehensive sexual harassment training.
• Captures service delivery outputs in the Fleet and Family Services Management Information System (FFSMIS).
• Provides 24/7 support by serving on the SAPR watch bill.
• Assists the SARC in coordinating the services that victims receive from various agencies including medical, legal, mental health, and investigative services.
• Facilitates care to include crisis intervention, when necessary and provide referrals and non-clinical support to the adult victims of sexual assault.
• Thoroughly explains to the victim each of the reporting options available to him or her, including the exceptions or limitations on use applicable to each, while ensuring victims are informed of their rights.
• Maintains appropriate follow-up contact and assist the victim with prioritizing actions and establishing short- and long-term goals related to recovery from sexual assault.
• Consults regularly with the SARC and is directly accountable to the SARC for all SAPR cases.
• Attends the monthly Sexual Assault Case Management Group (SACMG) meetings in order to advocate on behalf of the victim and to ensure the victim’s needs are met.
• Assists the SARC with the development and coordination of installation SAPR prevention and public awareness campaigns and local events.
• Conducts training on sexual assault prevention and response, as required.
• Assists the SARC in incident data collection and reporting requirements.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

In addition to the Basic Requirements for this position, your resume must also demonstrate at least one year of specialized experience at or equivalent to the GS-09 or NF-04 grade level or pay band in the Federal service or equivalent experience in the private or public sector. Specialized experience must demonstrate the following:

• Experience providing non-clinical support to adult victims of sexual assault and sexual harassment;
• Experience applying primary prevention principles, sexual assault dynamics, and local social services delivery systems, concepts, principles and theories and community resources for sexual assault, victim advocacy, and the prevention and response to provide one-one-one victim advocacy assistance and information to sexual assault victims;
• Experience working with military and civilian medical, social service, law enforcement and legal personnel on behalf of sexual assault victims;
• Experience using software applications, such as Microsoft Office suite to enter, collect and organize data, prepare reports, compose written reports and develop information;
• Experience employing interpersonal skills and professional, verbal, and written communication methods and techniques to build trust and develop supportive relationships with military personnel and families of diverse backgrounds (racial, ethnic, religious, socioeconomic), sexual orientation, and gender identities;
• Experience employing various methods and techniques typical of a sexual harassment victim advocate program, including crisis intervention, situational assessment, and analyzing the needs of the victim to provide support and/or assistance to them in the resolution of complex problems; AND
• Experience using virtual video conferencing and training platforms, and various training methods and techniques to develop and deliver presentations and training.

Additional qualification information can be found from the following Office of Personnel Management website: https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-standards/#url=GS-PROFhttps://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-standards/0100/social-science-series-0101. Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., professional, philanthropic, religious, spiritual, community, student, social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment.