Victim Advocate (SAPR)

Duties

MAJOR DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

I. Victim Advocacy/Support (75%)

• Serve as a SAPR VA, facilitating care and providing non-clinical support to adult victims of a sexual assault and sexual harassment. Serve on the 24/7 SAPR watch bill, providing 24/7 support for victims' immediate needs. Inform the victim that speaking with the SAPR VA is voluntary.
• Assess safety concerns, inform victims of available reporting options and resources, encourage self advocacy, assist with navigating the processes to obtain care and services needed, establish short and long-term goals for sexual assault recovery, and facilitate referrals.
• Assess the safety of sexual harassment complainants who wish to confer with a victim advocate.
• Assist victims reporting sexual harassment to address any immediate safety needs, understand their sexual assault reporting options (as applicable), and identify any behavioral health or other services that may be helpful.
• Assist victims of sexual harassment in their effort towards the process of recovery, through advocacy and resource information. Serve as an advocate for the expressed interests of victims with all intervening agencies to include law enforcement, medical, and legal.
• Explain 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.
• Explain all available SAPR services to the victim and conduct a warm hand-off to the equal opportunity office for official reporting of sexual harassment. Safeguard documents in their possession and all information pertaining to victims' sexual harassment, always mindful of the victims' right to confidentiality.
• Conduct risk assessments of victims to determine their immediate needs, and evaluate safety concerns and levels of risk.
• Provide crisis intervention in the aftermath of sexual assault and develop and implement an appropriate plan of action based on initial and ongoing risk assessments.
• Provide a wide range of essential support and advocacy services, liaison services, and care to victims of sexual harassment. Inform victims of available legal assistance/counsel and, if needed, provide a warm handoff to the appropriate military and civilian legal offices for personal legal advice and information specific to their circumstance or case, including filing civilian or military protective orders.
• Accompany victims to appointments, investigator interviews, and civilian and military court proceedings, as appropriate and when requested by the victim.
• Ensure victims of sexual harassment receive guidance and support during administrative, medical, investigative, and legal procedures and victims understand the processes involved.
• Assist victims in prioritizing actions and establishing short- and long-term goals related to the recovery from sexual harassment.
• Maintain support and follow-up contact with sexual harassment victims throughout the lifecycle of the case.

II. Program Support/Training (25%)

• Collaborate with the SARC on interfacing with military and civilian agencies to identify and promote relevant resources and appropriate support services.
• Establish liaisons with local victim support agencies in order to gain support and cooperation in achieving support for victims of sexual harassment and to promote the enhancement of sexual harassment services.
• Maintain a resource binder with current forms, information and referral resource lists.
• Collaborate with the SARC on developing and coordinating SAPR public awareness campaigns and local events, and on implementing primary prevention initiatives to aid in eliminating sexual assault incidents before they occur.
• Verify SAPR program marketing materials with 24/7 contact information is prominently displayed across the installation.
• Conduct SAPR training, at various locations using standardized curriculum provided by CNIC Headquarters (HQ), for healthcare professionals, chaplains, judge advocates, law enforcement and other stakeholders on SAPR reporting options, and policies and procedures that support sexual assault victims.
• Capture service delivery outputs in the Fleet and Family Services Management Information System (FFSMIS).
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Requirements

Conditions of employment

• Must meet Federal Employment suitability requirements and successful completion of background investigation. Background investigations are conducted using fingerprint identification and completion of background inquiry forms.
• Must successfully pass the E-verify employment verification check. Any discrepancies must be resolved as a condition of employment.
• You must go through a Personal Identity Verification (PIV) process that requires two forms of identification from the Form I-9.
• May be required to pass pre-employment examinations.
• A valid State driver's license is required to operate motor vehicles.
• Must have your salary sent to a financial institution of your choice by Direct Deposit/Electronic Funds Transfer.
• Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959.
• Incumbent may serve in an "on call" duty status outside of normal work hours that includes remaining ready to perform work, carrying a cellphone and remaining in a reasonable call back radius, staffing the 24/7 support duty line, as needed.
• May travel up to 25% of the time to complete work assignments, conduct or attend meetings, training events, site assist visits, or court hearings.
• This position requires routine on-site access to government facilities. The incumbent may perform the required tasks at an off-site location for situational telework only.
• Position requires employee to obtain/maintain eligibility for a Secret Security Clearance. An Access National Agency Check Investigation (ANACI) is required via the SF86 Security Form.

Qualifications

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.

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 specialized 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

• Males must be registered or exempt from Selective Service.
• 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. As of May 7, 2025, The REAL ID act requires visitors to have a REAL ID or passport to access to Government Facilities. This will be a requirement for employment.
• 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 . 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.

Education

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.

Additional information

The Federal government offers a number of exceptional benefits to its employees. Benefits you get to enjoy while working for our TEAM include but are not limited to:

• Comprehensive benefits package (medical, dental, life insurance, spouse & dependent life insurance, long-term disability, retirement, and 401(k) savings plan, annual and sick leave, tuition reimbursement, etc.).
• Stability of Federal Civilian Service
• People with passion for doing work that matters
• Quality of Work Life Balance

Some positions have special requirements- Position is a non-critical, sensitive, position requiring access to IT II system and/or access to PII. An access National Agency Check investigation (ANACI) is required via the SF 86 security form.- Required to submit a Financial Disclosure Statement, OGE-450. Executive Branch Personnel Confidential Financial Disclosure Report upon entering the position and annually, in accordance with DoD Directive 5500-7R, Joint Ethics Regulation, dated 23 March 2006.- Salary is dependent on experience and/or education.- For positions requiring travel more than twice per year, selectee may be required to obtain and maintain in good standing a Government-issued Travel Card for official government travel purposes.

This announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies within 90 days of closing date.

The Department of the Navy (DON) is an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer. Applicants are assured of equal consideration regardless of race, color, national origin, religion, sex, age, mental or physical disability, genetic information, reprisal, marital status, political affiliation, sexual orientation, or any other non-merit factor. This agency provides reasonable accommodations to applicants with disabilities. Applicants with disabilities who believe they may require reasonable accommodations should email their request to to ensure proper consideration is given. The decision on granting reasonable accommodation will be on a case-by-case basis.

This activity is a Drug-Free workplace. The use of illegal drugs by NAF employees, whether on or off duty, cannot and will not be tolerated. Federal employees have a right to a safe and secure workplace, and Sailors, their family members, and all other customers have a right to a reliable and productive Federal workforce.