Victim / Survivor Advocate

Cornell University • Ithaca, NY

4d • Hybrid

About The Position

The Victim/Survivor Advocate supports Cornell’s comprehensive response to sexual violence, dating or intimate partner violence, sexual harassment, stalking, and other forms of sexual misconduct. The role supports the SHARE Office within the Skorton Center for Health Initiatives through confidential advocacy, institutional collaboration, and related activities intended to reduce risk and promote care, health, and safety within the Cornell community.

The advocate uses independent professional judgment to assess survivor needs, develop individualized advocacy and support strategies, and help coordinate institutional responses. The position involves direct client services, case management, program coordination, group facilitation, and educational or support programming. It requires collaboration with campus partners and a multidisciplinary team, while maintaining confidentiality and responding to complex, sensitive, and changing circumstances. This is a five-year term position, with a salary of up to $91,000 per year. The listed pay range is $82,735 to $98,574.

Requirements

• Master’s degree in public health, social sciences, student affairs, or a related field, and at least three to five years of relevant experience in a collegiate or comparable setting; or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Direct client services experience in victim assistance or crisis intervention.
• Demonstrated ability to exercise independent professional judgment in complex, sensitive, and rapidly evolving situations involving trauma, confidentiality, safety, and institutional response.
• Knowledge of sexual violence, interpersonal violence, sexual harassment, gender-based violence, and trauma-informed care, particularly in college populations.
• Understanding of and sensitivity to the needs of diverse and historically underrepresented communities.
• Strong case-management skills, including organization, follow-up, attention to detail, and sound judgment and discretion when handling confidential and sensitive information.
• Experience in program coordination, group facilitation, and delivering educational or support programming.
• Knowledge of public health and behavioral health principles relevant to survivor support and prevention.
• Effective written and verbal communication skills; ability to build collaborative relationships across campus constituencies and work independently and as part of a multidisciplinary team.
• Compassionate, empathetic listening skills, strong problem-solving abilities, responsiveness to survivors’ evolving needs, and cultural humility.
• Familiarity with forensic processes.
• Flexibility to adapt to changing priorities and willingness to work occasional evenings and weekends as needed.
• Experience working with inclusion, belonging, and wellbeing programs.
• Advanced trauma-informed knowledge and understanding of varied survivor experiences.
• Strong interpersonal communication and listening skills, ability to build relationships and trust, assess stakeholder needs, and advocate for achievable solutions.
• Demonstrated success with public speaking and communicating with audiences and individuals from diverse backgrounds, identities, and life experiences.
• Robust project management skills, including the ability to multitask in a fast-paced, high-volume environment with attention to detail and follow-through.
• Commitment to collaborative work with colleagues and student affairs professionals with varying work styles.
• Integrate diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging values throughout work with clients and colleagues.
• No visa sponsorship is available for this position.

Nice To Haves

• Doctoral degree in public health, social sciences, student affairs, or a related field.
• In-depth knowledge of adolescent and early adulthood development.
• Experience with trauma-informed practice for support and care.
• Deep understanding of campus dynamics that may affect survivor engagement with services, education and activities, and adjudication processes.
• Commitment to equitable access, social justice, and individual empowerment.
• Demonstrated knowledge and understanding of Title IX.
• Familiarity with Cornell and local resources.

Responsibilities

• Provide confidential advocacy and support to victims and survivors of sexual violence, dating or intimate partner violence, sexual harassment, stalking, and other sexual misconduct.
• Assess survivor needs and develop individualized advocacy and support strategies using independent professional judgment.
• Support coordinated institutional responses and consult with campus partners.
• Provide direct client services, including case management and support in complex and sensitive situations involving trauma, confidentiality, and safety.
• Coordinate programs, facilitate groups, and deliver educational or support programming.
• Collaborate with colleagues, student affairs professionals, and multidisciplinary campus partners.
• Contribute to activities that reduce risk and promote care, health, and safety in the Cornell community.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level