Victim Advocate

Summary

This is a Direct Hire Authority (DHA) solicitation utilizing the DHA for Positions Designated as DoD Sexual Assault Program Workforce Positions to recruit and appoint qualified candidates to positions in the competitive service. About the Position: This vacancy will be used for SHARP recruitment for MDC-E located in Wiesbaden, Germany.

Duties

• Conduct advocacy support, safety assessment and planning, and needs assessment for adult victims of sexual assault - providing a non-clinical response that is trauma-informed and recovery-oriented.
• Guide victims on reporting options (Restricted and Unrestricted), including their exceptions, limitations, and eligibility for Special Victims’ Counsel/Victims’ Legal Counsel, maintaining victim confidentiality and rights throughout the process.
• Conduct in-depth analysis of sexual assault and sexual harassment report data, including trends in reporting, demographics, case outcomes, and other relevant metrics.
• Assist in evaluating installation-level prevention and response strategies to identify program strengths and weaknesses to improve victim support, program effectiveness, and compliance with agency policies.
• Serve as a Victim Advocate in the Sexual Harassment/Assault Response and Prevention (SHARP) program, providing care and supportive services to victims of sexual harassment and sexual assault.
• Maintain connections with internal/external stakeholders, law enforcement, legal professionals, healthcare and behavioral health providers, and community organizations to facilitate a cohesive approach in sexual harassment and sexual assault cases.
• Provide training and outreach sessions for diverse stakeholders and local populations, providing information about SHARP policies, procedures, reporting options, and other pertinent topics delegated by the SARC or Lead SARC.

Qualifications

Who May Apply: US Citizens In order to qualify, you must meet the qualification requirements described below. Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religious; spiritual; community; student; social). You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience. Your resume must clearly describe your relevant experience; if qualifying based on education, your transcripts will be required as part of your application. Additional information about transcripts is in this document. Basic Requirement for Victim Advocate: A. Degree: Bachelor's degree (or higher degree) in behavioral or social science, or related disciplines appropriate to the position, such as Social Work, Sociology, Psychology, etc. OR B. Combination of Education and Experience: A 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 C. Experience: 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. In addition to meeting the basic requirement above, to qualify for this position you must also meet the qualification requirements listed below: Specialized Experience: One year of specialized experience which includes providing professional advocacy services to victims or survivors of sexual assault/sexual harassment; conducting assessments to evaluate victim or survivor's needs and risks; assisting in the assessment of program performance through analysis of sexual assault and sexual harassment report data; and conducting training on sexual assault/sexual harassment. This definition of specialized experience is typical of work performed at the second lower grade/level position in the federal service (GS-09). OR Education: Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree or 3 full years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to such a degree in a field which demonstrates the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work of the position, such as: Social Work, Sociology, Psychology, etc. OR Combination of Education and Experience: A combination of education and experience may be used to qualify for this position as long as the computed percentage of the requirements is at least 100%. To compute the percentage of the requirements, divide your total months of experience by 12. Then divide the total number of completed graduate semester hours (or equivalent) beyond the second year (total graduate semester hours minus 36) by 18. Add the two percentages.

Education

FOREIGN EDUCATION: If you are using education completed in foreign colleges or universities to meet the qualification requirements, you must show the education credentials have been evaluated by a private organization that specializes in interpretation of foreign education programs and such education has been deemed equivalent to that gained in an accredited U.S. education program; or full credit has been given for the courses at a U.S. accredited college or university. For further information, visit: https://sites.ed.gov/international/recognition-of-foreign-qualifications/