Victim Advocate

Duties
• The Victim's Advocate (VA) provides professional and comprehensive advocacy services to individuals exhibiting a wide variety of issues related to being a complainant, victim or survivor of sexual harassment or sexual assault.
• Conducts assessments with clients to determine required needs and evaluates safety and levels of risk
Assesses the urgency of cases and develops a plan for assistance.
• Conducts professional level and administrative educational and interactive training workshops/seminars to victims of sexual harassment and sexual assault, community agencies, units and leaders, identifying victim services.
• Ensures victims of sexual assault receive all needed guidance and emotional support during administrative, medical, investigative, and legal procedures.
• Accompanies victims and provides support in securing medical treatment, safe shelter, protective orders, court hearings, educational, transportation, financial services, and follow-up assistance
Requirements Conditions of Employment
• Appointment may be subject to a suitability or fitness determination, as determined by a completed background investigation.
• May be required to carry cell phone and be on call 24 hours a day, seven days a week on a rotational basis, based on the needs of the organization.
• Required to self-report civilian arrests, the filing of criminal charges, and/or convictions of any criminal offense to their supervisors.
• Must complete all required SHARP courses, obtain D-SAACP certification, and be placed on appointment orders prior to having any victim contact or access to victim information.
• Within six months of employment must successfully complete required Sexual Harassment and Assault Response and Prevention (SHARP) training and obtain and maintain DoD Sexual Assault Advocate Certification Program (D-SAACP)certification.
• Must possess a valid driver's license and have the ability to operate a motor vehicle should the need arise to operate a government vehicle/motor pool vehicle
• State Criminal History Repository check is required for all states of residence in the past 5 years when the Tier 3 investigation has been completed and 10 years when submitting a new Tier 3investigation.
• Incumbent must obtain and maintain a Secret security clearance.
• Background checks against all records as required by law, OPM, DoD, and Army policy and regulation will be conducted, prior to entering on duty in the position and, IAW governing regulations, on a recurring basis while employed in the position.
• Must maintain an active D-SAACP certification and up-to-date commander appointment orders prior to having any victim contact or access to victim information.
• Five years or more providing SH/SA advocacy services in the military or private sector is preferred.
• This position has a Temporary Duty (TDY) or business travel requirement of 25% of the time.
• One-year probationary period may be required, unless previously completed.
• Position is Emergency Essential in support of mobilization and wartime mission.
• Incumbent must pass a medical examination and receive required immunizations for the overseas/deployment locations.
• While waiting for training or completion of certification, the employee may be reassigned or detailed to a position that meets the employees' qualifications and skills.
• The detail or reassignment will be without promotion or demotion and will be until the DoD Sexual Assault Advocate Certificate is provided
Qualifications Who May Apply: Only applicants who meet one of the employment authority categories below are eligible to apply for this job
You will be asked to identify which category or categories you meet, and to provide documents which prove you meet the category or categories you selected
See Proof of Eligibility for an extensive list of document requirements for all employment authorities.
• 30 Percent or More Disabled Veterans
* Current Department of Army Civilian Employees
* Current Department of Defense (DOD) Civilian Employee (non-Army)
* Defense Civilian Intelligence Personnel System (DCIPS) Interchange Agreement
* Domestic Defense Industrial Base/Major Range and Test Facilities Base Civilian Personnel Workforce
* Executive Order (E.O.) 12721
* Interagency Career Transition Assistance Plan
* Land Management Workforce Flexibility Act
* Military Spouses, under Executive Order (E.O.) 13473
* Modification of Term Appointments
* Non-Appropriated Fund Instrumentality (NAFI)
* Non-Department of Defense (DoD) Transfer
* Office of Personnel Management (OPM) Interchange Agreement Eligible
* People with Disabilities, Schedule A
* Priority Placement Program, DoD Military Reserve (MR) and National Guard (NG) Technician Eligible
* Priority Placement Program, DoD Military Spouse Preference (MSP) Eligible
* Priority Placement Program, DoD MR and NG Preference Eligible Tech Receiving Disability Retirement
* Priority Placement Program, DoD Retained Grade Preference Eligible
* Reinstatement
* Veterans Employment Opportunity Act (VEOA) of 1998In order to qualify, you must meet the education and/or experience 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 (SHARP) (SAR WF): A
Degree: Bachelor's degree (or higher degree) in behavioral or social science, or related disciplines appropriate to the position, such as Social Service, Counseling Service, or Psychosocial
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 and/or sexual harassment; conducting assessments with clients to evaluate needs and risks; and conducting training/seminars 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-07)
OR Education: Master's or equivalent graduate degree or 2 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 Service, Counseling Service, or Psychosocial
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 first-year total graduate semester hours minus 18) by 18
Add the two percentages
You will be evaluated on the basis of your level of competency in the following areas:
• Communications
* Incident Management
* Integrity/Honesty
* Interpersonal Skills Time in Grade Requirement: Applicants who have held a General Schedule (GS) position within the last 52 weeks must have 52 weeks of Federal service at the next lower grade or equivalent (GS-07)
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/
Additional information
• Male applicants born after December 31, 1959, must complete a Pre-Employment Certification Statement for Selective Service Registration.
• You will be required to provide proof of U.S
Citizenship.
• One year trial/probationary period may be required.
• Direct deposit of pay is required.
• Selection is subject to restrictions resulting from Department of Defense referral system for displaced employees.
• If you have retired from federal service and you are interested in employment as a reemployed annuitant, see the information in the Reemployed Annuitant information sheet.
• This is a Medical Career Field position.
• Multiple positions may be filled from this announcement.
• Salary includes applicable locality pay or Local Market Supplement.
• Payment of Permanent Change of Station (PCS) costs is not authorized, based on a determination that a PCS move is not in the Government interest.
• The following special programs/incentives MAY be offered if it is appropriate to the position being filled and in the best interest of the government: - Student Loan Repayment - Advanced In-hire (offered to new Federal employees only) - Advanced Leave Accrual (offered to new Federal employees only) - Relocation/Recruitment/Retention Incentives

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