Victim Advocate Program Specialist

U.S. Coast Guard•Honolulu, HI

3d•Onsite

About The Position

The Victim Advocate Program Specialist serves as a Field Victim Advocate Program Specialist in the U.S. Coast Guard’s Sexual Assault Prevention, Response, and Recovery (SAPRR) Program and assists the Sexual Assault Response Coordinator (SARC). The role supports survivors, volunteer advocates, SAPRR policy and training, and program analysis. The position is located in Washington, District of Columbia; salary depends on the selected duty location. Business travel and/or training is required approximately 30% of the time. The specialist assists with tracking victim services from initial report through resolution; may co-chair the Crisis Intervention Team in the SARC’s absence; and assigns, trains, supervises, and mentors Volunteer Victim Advocates. The specialist accompanies survivors to medical examinations, law-enforcement interviews, and court appearances. The role also helps develop written SAPRR technical directives based on applicable federal and Coast Guard authorities and analyzes sensitive sexual-assault data, including data from the Defense Sexual Assault Incident Database (DSAID), to monitor trends, evaluate service delivery, and provide data-driven insights to senior leaders. The specialist provides leaders and commanders with case updates, training, technical guidance, statistical reports, trend analysis, and unit-climate insights. The role assesses annual training needs, including VVA C-School seats, BIT training sessions, Commanding Officer in-briefs, and unit training sessions, and develops and implements community education programs, awareness campaigns, and required training. Within one year of employment, the employee must complete required USCG Sexual Assault Response Coordinator training and obtain National Advocate Credentialing Program (NACP) credential certification. The credential must be maintained.

Requirements

Meet the positive education requirement: a degree in behavioral or social science or an appropriate related discipline; an equivalent combination of education and experience; or four years of appropriate experience demonstrating knowledge equivalent to a major in one or more behavioral or social sciences.
Have at least one year of specialized experience equivalent to GS-09, or qualify through the stated substitution of three years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to a Ph.D., a Ph.D., or equivalent doctoral degree.
Specialized experience must include entering data, reviewing subordinate data input, creating reports, and providing workforce technical assistance for DSAID and CATCH programs.
Specialized experience must include articulating Congressional, Department of War, and Coast Guard SAPRR mandates to the field.
Specialized experience must include analyzing workforce training requirements, developing tools to track expiring credentials, and developing and presenting training to the workforce or command leadership.
Specialized experience must include presenting briefings and coordinating actions vertically with DoW, DHS, and headquarters and horizontally with stakeholders such as CGIS, medical, legal, and PSC.
Specialized experience must include knowledge of current training, research, and theories on best practices for sexual-assault prevention and trauma-informed response capabilities focused on safety, trust, and empowerment.
Be a U.S. Citizen and registered with or exempt from Selective Service.
Successfully pass a background investigation; the position does not require a clearance.
Obtain and maintain qualifications for a Government Travel Card.
Submit required transcripts by the announcement closing date when qualifying based in whole or part on education.
Meet all qualification requirements by the announcement closing date.

Responsibilities

Assist the SARC with tracking victims’ services from initial report through resolution.
Co-chair the Crisis Intervention Team in the absence of the SARC.
Assign, train, supervise, and mentor Volunteer Victim Advocates (VVAs).
Accompany survivors to medical examinations, law-enforcement interviews, and court appearances.
Help develop written SAPRR technical directives grounded in applicable National Defense Authorization Act, Coast Guard Authorization Act, and Coast Guard instruction requirements.
Analyze sensitive sexual-assault data from multiple sources, including DSAID, to monitor trends, evaluate service delivery, and provide data-driven insights to senior leaders.
Provide senior leadership and commanders with case updates, training, technical guidance, statistical reports, trend analysis, and insights into unit climate.
Conduct annual training analysis to determine VVA C-School training seats, BIT training sessions, Commanding Officer in-briefs, and unit training sessions needed.
Develop and implement community education programs, awareness campaigns, and mandated training sessions.
Complete required USCG Sexual Assault Response Coordinator training and obtain NACP credential certification within one year of employment; maintain the credential.