Title 5 Sexual Assault Prevention Response Victim Advocate (Sapr Va) (Mi J9)

Army National Guard Units•Fort Custer, MI

About The Position

This is a National Guard Title 5 Excepted Service position with the Michigan Joint Force Headquarters Army National Guard. The position is located at the Brigade and Wing level in an IRC-funded role and serves as the primary Sexual Assault Prevention and Response (SAPR) victim assistance resource for supported tenant commands in high-concentration areas. The SAPR Victim Advocate provides adult victims of sexual assault with a non-clinical response that is trauma-informed, gender-responsive, culturally competent, and recovery-oriented. The role accepts Restricted and Unrestricted Reports, explains reporting options, makes referrals, and supports victims in navigating available services and processes. The advocate provides crisis intervention, risk screening, safety assessments and planning, and needs assessments. The position prioritizes confidentiality and informed consent while coordinating medical, legal, civilian law enforcement, and military law enforcement resources. It also supports SAPR training for stakeholders and local populations, and coordinates training logistics. The position reports to and is supervised and evaluated by the Supervisory Principal Sexual Assault Response Coordinator (SARC). This position requires an active DoD Sexual Assault Advocate Certification Program (D-SAACP) certification. The incumbent must complete required SAPR training and receive the DoD Sexual Assault Advocate Certificate within six months of appointment. Work may include irregular and overtime hours, evenings, weekends, holidays, and on-call or rotational coverage. Temporary duty travel may be required up to 25% of the time. The position is subject to random drug testing.

Requirements

U.S. citizenship.
Federal employment suitability as determined by a background investigation; a favorable Tier 3 background investigation must be completed within 60 days of appointment to a Position of Trust and Moderate Risk and maintained as directed by DoD.
Must graduate from required SAPR training courses and receive the DoD Sexual Assault Advocate Certificate within six months of appointment.
Must maintain active D-SAACP certification as a condition of employment.
Must possess a valid civilian driver's license and be able to operate a motor vehicle.
Must comply with random drug testing as a Testing Designated Position.
Must self-report civilian arrests, criminal charges, and criminal convictions.
Must meet the education or equivalent experience requirement: a degree in behavioral or social science or an appropriate related discipline with at least 24 semester hours in behavioral or social sciences; an equivalent combination of education and experience with the same coursework; or four years of appropriate experience demonstrating equivalent knowledge in one or more behavioral or social sciences.
Applicants must provide employment dates and hours worked per week in their resumes; resumes are limited to two pages for this announcement.
Must participate in direct deposit.
May be required to successfully complete a trial period.
Must be able to work irregular and overtime hours and evenings, weekends, and holidays, including on-call or rotational hours.
Must be able to travel on military and/or commercial aircraft or vehicles for temporary duty assignments.

Responsibilities

Provide trauma-informed, gender-responsive, culturally responsive, recovery-oriented, non-clinical victim advocacy and crisis intervention services to adult victims of sexual assault.
Respond to victims within mandated timeframes and complete required documents within those timeframes.
Conduct initial risk screening, ongoing non-clinical safety assessments and planning, and needs assessments; develop tailored interventions for individual victims.
Coordinate medical, legal, civilian law enforcement, and military law enforcement resources to address immediate risks, safety, and supportive service needs, consistent with applicable policy and informed-consent requirements.
Accept official sexual assault reports and assist victims with DD Form 2910 and other applicable DoD forms, handling personally identifiable information and covered communications sensitively.
Explain the SAPR VA role and subsequent reporting processes; provide tailored referrals and resources.
Explain Restricted and Unrestricted Reporting options, options for victims who are not ready to report, relevant exceptions and limitations, and eligibility criteria for Special Victims' Counsel.
Advise victims about confidentiality and informed consent, including protections and exceptions under Military Rules of Evidence 514, the D-SAACP Professional Code of Ethics, and applicable guidance.
Prepare and submit the Victim Advocate Recommendations to the Commander package to the SARC within 24 hours of each Unrestricted Report, addressing immediate and ongoing care, known risks and safety concerns, retaliation, and victims' rights, privacy, confidentiality, and safety.
Collaborate and consult with state SAPR personnel to support efficient service delivery, caseload management, and reporting requirements.
Maintain awareness of vicarious trauma and support individual and organizational resilience efforts.
Facilitate planning, scheduling, and delivery of SAPR training for diverse stakeholders and local populations on SAPR policies, procedures, reporting options, and other topics delegated by the Supervisory Principal SARC.
Locate and reserve SAPR annual training and briefing sites and coordinate audiovisual support, equipment, and training materials.
Establish and maintain connections with internal and external stakeholders.