Victim Advocate/Educator (Grant Funded) Position Available!

Category: Professional & Managerial
Department: Center for Women, Gender & Sexuality
Location: North Dartmouth, MA
Type: Full-time

About University of Massachusetts Dartmouth:
The University of Massachusetts Dartmouth distinguishes itself as a vibrant public university actively engaged in personalized teaching and innovative research, and acting as an intellectual catalyst for regional and global economic, social, and cultural development.

The University of Massachusetts reserves the right to conduct background checks on potential employees.

UMass Dartmouth is an Affirmative Action, Equal Opportunity, Title IX Employer.

Job Description:
The Victim Advocate/Educator is responsible for serving as the primary first responder, advocate, resource, and point of referral for students and others seeking sexual violence services and information. They will provide ongoing support to survivors of sexual assault and gender-based violence, as needed. The Victim Advocate/Educator is responsible for coordinating campus and community resources to support students who have experienced sexual assault, sexual harassment, intimate partner violence, stalking, or related abuse. The Victim Advocate/Educator will design effective, on-campus education awareness and prevention programs to address sexual violence under the UMass Dartmouth Steps Up to Stop Violence initiative. The CWGS is a dynamic and diverse team of professionals committed to anti-violence work from a social-justice, anti-racist perspective.

EXAMPLES OF PRIMARY DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Serve as primary contact person for campus survivors of sexual assault, relationship abuse, and stalking providing sensitive and timely information.
• Collaborate with campus partners to create a continuum of coordinated campus and community services for victims of sexual violence on campus and for traditionally underserved populations, including students of color, international students, and gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender students.
• Collaborate with other campus departments as well as local sexual assault, intimate partner violence, and stalking prevention and response organizations to create and deliver campus-wide violence education and prevention programs for students, including a mandatory first-year student training.
• Coordinate and develop comprehensive educational programming for students, staff, and faculty on sexual violence on campus and for traditionally underserved populations, including students of color, international students, and gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender students.
• Coordinate three-part first-year orientation program addressing issues of interpersonal violence and bystander intervention.
• Coordinate, implement, and evaluate Bystander Intervention Training (Step UP!) for students; including athletes, student leaders, Greek Life, and other groups/students interested in these issues.
• Assist in the training of faculty, staff and students in responding to students who report incidents of sexual assault or gender-based violence.
• Coordinate and assist in trainings and workshops for Conduct Board, Resident Assistants, Department of Public Safety, and mandated faculty and staff reporters.
• Perform administrative duties such as report writing, program evaluation and assessment, and other activities related to the UMass Dartmouth Steps Up to Stop Violence program.
• Collaborate with the Title IX Investigator, update and review campus-wide policies, protocols, and activities in response to sexual assault, intimate partner violence and stalking.
• Provide leadership for the implementation of the university’s sexual violence prevention and response team and make up program and policy recommendations, and develop, implement and evaluate campus-wide prevention, awareness, and educational programming and activities consistent with evidence-based practices.
• Oversee the Step UP! Bystander Intervention student organization in recruitment, selection, training, meetings, and workshops.

Requirements:
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:
EDUCATION:
Bachelor’s Degree in Women’s or Gender Studies or related field.

EXPERIENCE:
Over one year’s experience working in a women’s organization. Experience working with diverse population of students preferred. Must be willing and able to work a flexible schedule, including weekends and evenings. Travel is required.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES REQUIRED:

• Ability to advocate on survivors’ behalf while navigating through a range of complex medical, legal, and disciplinary procedures and protocols.
• Understanding of the cultural and social causes of sexual and other gender-based violence; deep understanding of cultural, ethnic, racial, religious, sexual, and gender diversity and the ability to lead educational programming tailored to meet the needs of specific groups.
• Strong facilitation, training, and presentation skills as well as the ability to teach challenging material to a wide range of audiences.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, including but not limited to listening and counseling skills, and sensitivity to the range of physical, emotional, and cultural responses to sexual assault, gender-based violence, intimate partner violence, and stalking is essential.
• Ability to work with a wide range of individuals, including administrators, faculty, staff, law enforcement, medical personnel, and students as well as the ability to coordinate services and facilitate communication between groups and on behalf of survivors.
• Ability to use sound judgment, initiative and discretion.
• Strong writing skills and the ability to draft documents, posters and presentations on various topics for a variety of audiences.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:
Masters in Higher Education or Women’s Studies
Experience with Adobe Photoshop.

Additional Information:
OFFICIAL JOB TITLE: Victim Advocate/Educator
DIVISION: Academic & Student Affairs
DEPARTMENT: Center for Women, Gender & Sexuality (CWGS)
BARGAINING UNIT STATUS: ESU, Cat. 11
EEO STATUS: 3.2
JOB CODE: 326
FLSA STATUS: Exempt
MINIMUM STARTING SALARY: $37,453
REPORTS TO: Director of the Center for Women, Gender & Sexuality
SUPERVISES: Step UP! Bystander Intervention Program students