Victim Advocate

Duties

• Provide comprehensive assistance, information, and referrals to victims of sexual assault and sexual harassment, offering advocacy and educational services to service members, family members, DoD civilians, and contract personnel, when authorized.
• Coordinate medical, legal, civilian and/or military law enforcement resources to address immediate risk, safety, and supportive service needs in accordance with applicable policy, prioritizing confidentiality, and informed consent.
• Collaborate closely with victims to develop and adapt safety plans and needs assessments to prioritize and address potential risks and vulnerabilities, applying trauma-informed best practices and informed consent 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.
• Evaluate findings to inform leadership, improve response strategies, and support evidence-based program enhancements within the SHARP program.
• Administer safety planning and initiate the notification process with agencies such as law enforcement, safe shelters, and command to ensure health, safety, and well-being for the victim, affected Family members and the community.
• Conduct outreach sessions within the community to promote SHARP awareness.

Requirements

Conditions of employment

• Appointment may be subject to a suitability or fitness determination, as determined by a completed background investigation.
• 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.
• In accordance with DoDI 6495.03: Must be able to obtain and maintain DoD Sexual Assault Advocate Certification Program (D-SAACP).
• Incumbents must complete initial training and obtain D-SAACP certification within 6 months from the starting date of appointment as a SHARP VA.
• Continuing education credit includes DoD approved foundational coursework in ethics, response, military cultural competencies, and Military Department, Military Service, or NGB policies and regulations, SHARP Competencies, Leadership Competencies.
• In the event that D-SAACP certification is expired, suspended, or is revoked, the individual is not authorized to serve in any SHARP position or perform SHARP duties until D-SAACP certification is reinstated.
• Must be able to obtain and maintain access to Catch a Serial Offender (CATCH) Program, Defense Sexual Assault Incident Database (DSAID) and Integrated Case Reporting System (ICRS).
• In accordance with DoDI 6495.03 investigation requirements: Must be able to obtain and maintain a Secret Clearance. This position has been identified as a position of public trust IAW DOD policy.
• Minimum of a Tier 3 background investigation must be conducted every 5 years IAW the OPM requirement. Personnel may not have a disqualifying condition as listed in DoDI 6495.03.
• Pre-screening requirements must be met prior to ordering a minimum Tier 3 background investigation as defined in the federal investigative standards implementation plan.
• Personnel may proceed with obtaining D-SAACP certification once pre-screening requirements have been met and no adverse information or disqualifying conditions were found.
• Due to the nature of work in this position, the incumbent may serve in an "on call" duty status outside of normal work hours that include remaining in a reasonable call back radius.
• Carrying a cellphone, staffing the 24/7 support line duty as needed; regularly checking email to respond to crises; remaining in a state of readiness to perform work with limitations on pursuing outside leisure activities while on call.
• Reporting to a designated post of duty to be ready to or to perform work. Required to self-report civilian arrests, the filing of criminal charges, and/or convictions of any criminal offense to their supervisors.
• This position is designated Tier 3, Non-Critical Sensitive, Moderate Risk and requires the incumbent to obtain and maintain a Secret Security Clearance Level as a condition of employment.
• This position is emergency essential.
• Occasional Temporary Duty Travel (TDY) away from home station.

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 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)
• 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
• 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 1998

In order to qualify, you must meet the education and 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 .

Basic Requirement for Victim Advocate must be met first:
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.
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 1. Provide initial victim advocacy services and crisis intervention support to victims of sexual harassment and assault; 2. Maintain accurate records by documenting reports to ensure compliance requirements are met within the SHARP (Sexual Harassment/Assault Response and Prevention) program; and 3. Establish relationships with law enforcement, legal, and behavioral health personnel to coordinate care plans for sexual assault victims; and 4. Conduct training sessions to promote awareness regarding the SHARP program.
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 or Psychology.

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.

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-09).

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: .

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.
• This position requires a 1 year probationary periodduring which the agency evaluates your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public interest. In making this determination, the agency may consider your performance and conduct; agency needs and interests; whether your continued employment supports organizational or Government goals; and whether it promotes the efficiency of the Federal service. Continued employment requires written certification that it advances the public interest.
• 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 information sheet.
• This is a(n) Medical Career Field position.
• Multiple positions may be filled from this announcement.
• Salary includes applicable locality pay or Local Market Supplement.
• When you perform a Civilian Permanent Change of Station (PCS) with the government, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) considers the majority of your entitlements to be taxable. Visit for more information.
• Permanent Change of Station (PCS) allowances may be authorized, subject to the provisions of the Joint Travel Regulations and an agency determination that a PCS move is in the Government Interest.
• This position is covered under 5939.
• Occasional Temporary Duty Travel (TDY) away from home station.
• Advance-in-Hire may be authorized.
• Recruitment/Relocation/Retention Incentive may be authorized.

Reasonable Accommodation (RA) Requests : If you believe you have a disability (i.e., physical or mental), covered by the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 as amended that would interfere with completing the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments, you will be granted the opportunity to request a RA in your online application. Requests for RA for the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments and appropriate supporting documentation for RA must be received prior to starting the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments. Decisions on requests for RA are made on a case-by-case basis. If you meet the minimum qualifications of the position, after notification of the adjudication of your request, you will receive an email invitation to complete the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments, based on your adjudication decision. You must complete all assessments within 48 hours of receiving the URL to access the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments if you received the link after the close of the announcement. To determine if you need a RA, please review the Procedures for Requesting a Reasonable Accommodation for Online Assessments here: