Summary This position is located in the Department of Homeland Security, U.S. Coast Guard, Work-Life Department in Cape May, NJ Responsibilities As a Field Victim Advocate Program Specialist (VAPS), you will provide a wide range of essential support and advocacy services, training and education, response, reporting and follow up for sexual assault matters. You will serve in a pivotal role from day one providing compliance support for victims of sexual assault through advocacy and resource information. As a Field Victim Advocate Program Specialist (VAPS) you will assist the Sexual Assault Response Coordinator (SARC), Health, Safety and Work-Life (HSWL) Service Center (SC) and the Sexual Assault Prevention, Response and Recovery (SAPRR) Program Manager (PM) located in Commandant (CG-1111) in implementing the CG SAPRR Program. Being a CG Civilian makes you a valuable member of the CG team. Typical work assignments include: Serving as a Victim Advocate providing support for victims’ immediate needs: assessing safety concerns, providing reporting options, providing information on available resources and facilitates referrals. Ensuring and providing 24/7 response for advocacy services for victims of sexual assault, receive all needed guidance and emotional support during administrative, medical, investigative and legal procedures. Accompanying victims and providing support in securing medical treatment, safe shelter, protective orders, court hearings, educational, transportation, financial services and follow-up assistance. Assisting victims with contacting appropriate military and civilian legal offices for personal legal advice and assistance specific to the victim’s circumstances or case, including the filing for civilian or military protective orders. Conducting standardized and interactive training as required for the Sexual Assault Prevention, Response and Recovery (SAPRR) Program in their area of responsibility (AOR) and in other geographic areas as directed. Requirements Conditions of Employment U.S. Citizenship is required. Males born after 12/31/1959 must be registered for Selective Service. This position may require up to 30% of travel. Must complete Sexual Assault Response Coordinator Training within 1 year. This position requires a Secret clearance. Must complete National Advocate Credentialing Program (NACP) certification. This position requires on-call availability nights and weekends. All qualification requirements must be met by the closing date of the announcement. This includes Time-In-Grade requirements for current status employees applying through merit promotion procedures. Status applicants applying for a promotion must have 52 weeks of service at the next lower grade. Qualifications Basic Requirements at both grade levels. 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 ADDTION TO THE BASIC QUALIFICATIONS ABOV# You qualify for the GS-11 grade level if you possess one of the following: (A) One year of specialized experience at the GS-09 grade level that demonstrates: Ensuring comprehensive care for victims throughout the victim’s recovery process. Implementing and supporting the Sexual Assault Prevention, Response and Recovery (SAPRR) Program in the field, according to guidance provided in and such other directives as may be issued by competent authorities. Planning, directing, consulting, monitoring, coordinating, formulating, organizing, developing, administering, evaluating, training, networking, publicizing and budgeting all program components including mandatory reporting requirements and a wide range of services involving the Sexual Assault Prevention, Response and Recovery (SAPRR) Program in their geographic area of responsibility. Supporting a team approach in addressing other behavioral health issues across a broader range of programs, to include Family Advocacy, Employee Assistance, Health Promotion, Substance Abuse Prevention, and other pertinent health service programs. OR (B) 3 years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to a Ph.D. degree or Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree; OR (C) A combination of successfully completed 2 years beyond the Masters education and experience. This will be calculated using your resume and unofficial transcripts submitted with your application. Specialized experience is experience that equipped you with the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform successfully the duties of the position, and that is typically related to the work of the position to be filled. National Service Experience (i.e., volunteer experience): 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). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience. The Office of Personnel management (OPM) must authorize employment offers made to current or former political appointees. If you are currently, or have been within the last 5 years, a political Schedule A, Schedule, C, Non-career SES or Presidential Appointee employee in the Executive Branch, you must disclose this information to the Human Resources Office. Education This position has a positive education requirement. If you are including education on your resume, report only attendance and/or degrees from schools accredited by accrediting institutions recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. See Required Documents section for detail. You must submit a copy of your college transcripts with your online application. FOREIGN EDUCATION: Education completed in foreign colleges or universities may be used to meet Federal qualification requirements if you can show that your foreign education is comparable to education received in accredited educational institutions in the United States. It is your responsibility to provide such evidence with your application. See Recognition of Foreign Qualifications click here Additional Information Applicants will be required to complete questions contained on the Declaration for Federal Employment (OF-306) at the time a tentative job offer is made. Certain responses on the form could pose a problem with suitability for employment determinations. If you receive a conditional offer of employment for this position, you will be required to complete/make updates to the OF-306 and to sign and certify the accuracy of all information in your application, prior to entry on duty. False statements on any part of the application may result in withdrawal of offer of employment, dismissal after beginning work, or imprisonment. DHS uses e-Verify, an Internet-based system, to confirm the eligibility of all newly hired employees to work in the United States. Learn more about e-Verify, including your rights and responsibilities at click here Recruitment incentives may be authorized. All Federal employees are required to have Federal salary payments made by direct deposit. This position will require the incumbent to be available nights and weekends, on an on-call status to provide advocacy services. Within one (1) year of employment must successfully complete required USCG Sexual Assault Response Coordinator Training and obtain the National Advocate Credentialing Program (NACP) credential certification, offered by the National Organization for Victim Assistance (NOVA). Failure to maintain credentials will result in immediate removal from the position. This position requires business travel and/or training approximately 30% of the time. The Department of Homeland Security encourages persons with disabilities to apply, to include persons with intellectual, severe physical or psychiatric disabilities, as defined by 5 CFR § 213.3102(u), and/or Disabled Veterans with a compensable service-connected disability of 30 percent or more as defined by 5 CFR § 315.707. Veterans, Peace Corps/VISTA volunteers, and persons with disabilities possess a wealth of unique talents, experiences, and competencies that can be invaluable to the DHS mission. If you are a member of one of these groups, you may not have to compete with the public for federal jobs. To determine your eligibility for non-competitive appointment and to understand the required documentation, click on the links above or contact the Servicing Human Resources Office listed at the bottom of this announcement. More than 1 selection may be made from this announcement if additional identical vacancies in the same title, series, grade, and unit occur within 45 days from the date the certificate was issued. If you need a reasonable accommodation for the application and hiring process, please contact 206-820-2648. Decisions on granting reasonable accommodation will be made on a case-by-case basis. Visit Reasonable Accommodation