Victim Advocate (SAPR)

Serve as a Sexual Assault Prevention and Response (SAPR) Victim Advocate (VA) within Commander, Navy Installations Command (CNIC), Family Readiness Division (N91), for Joint Base San Antonio, TX. The primary purpose of the position is to serve as the primary initial point of contact for victims of sexual assault and sexual harassment and work closely with the Sexual Assault Response Coordinator (SARC) to ensure comprehensive care for victims throughout the reporting process.

OPM Social Science Series 0101 Basic Requirements: Transcripts must be included if claiming education as qualifying factor:

Bachelor’s degree in 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. (Transcripts must be included to show progression towards degree)

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.
Victim Advocacy/Support duties comprise 75% of incumbent’s time and include but are not limited to:

• Provides 24/7 support for victims’ immediate needs: assesses safety concerns, provides reporting options, provides information on available resources, and facilitates referrals.
• Serves as an advocate for the expressed interests of victims with all intervening agencies to include law enforcement, medical, and legal.
• Maintains follow-up contact with the victim as requested by the victim and accompanies the victim to appointments and civilian and military court proceedings, as appropriate and when requested by the victim.
• Supports victims in advocating on his/her behalf and provides assistance with prioritizing actions and establishing short- and long-term goals related to recovery from sexual assault.
• Assists victims with contacting appropriate military and civilian legal offices for personal legal advice and assistance specific to the victim’s circumstances or case, including the filing for civilian or military protective orders.
• Serves on the SAPR watch bill.
• Ensures timely notification of the SARC and provides the necessary demographic and/or incident detail to allow for comprehensive documentation in the Defense Sexual Assault Incident Database (DSAID).
• Ensures the victim understands that speaking with the SAPR VA is voluntary.
• Attends sexual assault Case Management Group (CMG) meetings when a case is presented involving a victim with whom the SAPR VA is assigned in order to advocate on behalf of the victim and to ensure the victim’s needs are met.
• Reports victim’s support services and response information to the SARC and consults with the SARC on an ongoing basis to ensure comprehensive care for victims throughout the care process.
• Travels to different locations for training and to coordinate tasks/actions with clients, command, military and civilian agencies within the local area of the installation.

Program Support/Training duties comprise 25% of incumbent’s time and include but are not limited to:

• Assists the installation SARC with interfacing with military and civilian agencies to identify relevant resources and means of accessing appropriate services to promote availability of victim advocacy services and support systems.
• Assists the SARC with the development and coordination of installation SAPR prevention and public awareness campaigns and local events.
• Ensures marketing materials and 24/7 contact information is prominently displayed across the installation.
• Assists the SARC with maintaining a cadre of trained, certified unit SAPR VAs.
• Assists the SARC with incident data collection and reporting requirements.
• Captures service delivery outputs in the Fleet and Family Services Management Information System (FFSMIS).
• Trains commands, SAPR VAs, Unit Victim Advocates (UVA), and others as requested utilizing standardized curriculum provided by CNIC Headquarters (HQ) SAPR.
• Ensures command SAPR personnel are properly trained to provide briefings to commands that include proper reporting procedures, maintaining victim confidentiality, and available victim support services.

In order to qualify for this position, your resume must provide sufficient experience and/or education, knowledge, skills, and abilities, to perform the duties of the specific position for which you are being considered. Your resume is the key means we have for evaluating your skills, knowledge, and abilities, as they relate to this position. Therefore, we encourage you to be clear and specific when describing your experience. All non-government positions identified on your resume must include complete address and to and from dates. Government positions must include pay plan, series, grade, to and from dates and address of the agency/organization.

At least one-year specialized experience directly related to the duties described above. Qualifying experience must have been equivalent to the next lower level in the normal line of progression.

Specialized experience must demonstrate the following:

• One year experience providing victim advocacy services to adult victims of sexual assault.
• Knowledge of 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.
• Knowledge of a wide range of social science and social work principles, concepts, and practices relating to victim advocacy and prevention of and response to sexual harassment.
• Knowledge of social service delivery systems, methods, and theories relating to victim advocacy and sexual harassment.
• Knowledge of the primary prevention principles, sexual harassment dynamics, concepts, principles and theories, and resources for sexual harassment, victim advocacy, and the prevention and response to provide one-on-one victim advocacy assistance and information to sexual harassment victims. Knowledge of and skill in utilizing trauma informed care approaches to work with sexual assault victims in crisis situations.
• Knowledge of a wide range of essential support, advocacy services, liaison services, community resources and care for victims of sexual harassment in accordance with generally accepted procedures and techniques.
• Practical knowledge of the military, Department of Defense (DoD), Department of Navy (DON), the Sexual Assault Prevention and Response (SAPR) Program; local, state, and federal laws; and military regulations pertaining to victims of sexual assault to effectively coordinate victim services (e.g. medical, legal, mental health, and investigative) with various agencies.
• Knowledge of laws, regulations, executive orders, issues, etc. to include the Department of Navy organizational structure, management policies, methods, and practices relating to sexual harassment victim advocacy.
• Knowledge of and skill in using Microsoft Office Suite, and FFSMIS to effectively enter, maintain, collect and organize data, prepare reports, compose written reports and develop information.
• Knowledge of and skill in using virtual video conferencing and training platforms, and various training methods and techniques to develop and effectively deliver presentations and training.
• Practical knowledge of various instruction techniques and evaluation method design, and skill in using evaluation methods to evaluate and measure the effectiveness of training courses.
• Skill in 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.
• Skill in employing professional, verbal, and written communication methods and techniques to effectively communicate with all levels of management, staff, and intervening agencies and present training.
• Knowledge of training and education techniques to implement and deliver sexual harassment training.
• Skill in 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.
• Knowledge of and skill in using various office filing systems and methods to maintain an accurate system for SAPR program data collection and reports.

You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer and part time experience. You must clearly identify the duties and responsibilities in each position held and the total number of hours per week.

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.

As part of the application process, you must complete and submit an occupational questionnaire and your RESUME MUST SUPPORT AND VALIDATE YOUR ANSWERS or you may be removed from consideration.

ONLY THE MOST HIGHLY QUALIFIED CANDIDATES WILL BE REFERRED. IF MANAGEMENT DOES NOT WISH TO SELECT A HIGHLY QUALIFIED CANDIDATE, THEY MAY REQUEST A REFERRAL LIST INCLUDING WELL OR QUALIFIED APPLICANTS.

Please follow all instructions carefully. Errors or omissions may affect your rating and/or appointment eligibility.

PLEASE READ THIS VACANCY ANNOUNCEMENT IN ITS ENTIRETY TO ENSURE ALL REQUIREMENTS ARE ADDRESSED IN YOUR APPLICATION PACKAGE.

RELOCATION AUTHORIZED

• NO Payment of Permanent Change of Station (PCS) is authorized, based on a determination that a PCS move is not in the Government interest

KEY REQUIREMENTS/CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT

• You must be a US Citizen.
• Males must be registered or exempt from Selective Service. https://www.sss.gov/register/
• Selectee must be determined suitable for federal employment.
• Selectee may be required to successfully complete a probationary period.
• Selectee is required to participate in the direct deposit pay program.
• Social Security Card is required.
• Satisfactorily complete an employment verification (E-VERIFY) check.
• A favorable background is a requirement of this position. Failure to obtain and maintain a favorable background may result in the withdrawal of the position offer or removal.

NOTE: Applicants have the ability to perform an E-Verify Self Check to confirm employment eligibility at http://www.uscis.gov/mye-verify/self-check. Although a Self-Check is not mandatory, it can be a useful tool for applicants to find out if there is a problem with their employment eligibility records and resolve any issues before taking a job.