Victim Advocate

Job Description 

Job Title:
​Advocate​ 

Job Status: 
​Regular Full Time, Salaried ​ 

FLSA:
​               Exempt​ 

Reports to:
​Director​ 

Job Summary/Purpose: 

​​The Victim Services Advocate provides advanced case management and trauma-informed advocacy for individuals impacted by domestic violence. Operating with a high level of autonomy and discretion, this role conducts comprehensive client assessments, oversees intake processes, and coordinates referrals to internal and external service providers. The Advocate ensures that clients are informed of their legal rights, understands complex judicial processes, and receives both immediate crisis intervention and ongoing emotional support.​ 

Essential Duties and Key Responsibilities:  

​​ 

• ​Conducts comprehensive assessments of clients to determine needs and appropriate services; assigns intake interviews to staff based on case complexity and team capacity. 

• ​Manages and oversees the maintenance of confidential client records, ensuring accurate case notes, data entry, and compliance with agency protocols and funding requirements. 

• ​Provides crisis intervention and emergency support to victims of domestic violence, using professional judgment to assess risk and ensure immediate safety and stabilization. 

• ​Ensures victims are informed of their legal rights, in accordance with relevant federal, state, and local laws; serves as a knowledgeable point of contact regarding legal and judicial procedures. 

• ​Implements trauma-informed strategies to provide emotional and logistical support, reduce risk of re-victimization, and connect clients to long-term resources. 

• ​Interprets and explains legal, law enforcement, and agency regulations to clients, facilitating their understanding of complex systems such as courts and social services. 

• ​Coordinates and monitors follow-up services as appropriate, exercising discretion in determining scope and level of continuing support. 

• ​Acts as liaison to off-site placement locations, providing the VISTAS Program Director with ongoing updates related to placement schedules, policies, closures, and site-specific compliance. 

• ​Represents the agency in communication with partner organizations, ensuring alignment with VISTAS program standards and facilitating inter-agency coordination. 

• ​Prepares detailed monthly program reports, compiling statistical and qualitative data to support performance evaluation, compliance with funders, and internal decision-making. 

• ​Drafts and presents written materials, including case summaries, policy recommendations, and professional correspondence; engages in public speaking as needed to represent the agency’s services and outcomes. 

• ​All members of the SDLR workforce are expected to support the agency’s community outreach, civic engagement, and recruitment efforts.  

• ​Support the agency’s fundraising objectives, which may include tasks such as active fundraising, grant development, solicitation of donations, agency ambassadorship, informational outreach, and public speaking. 

• ​Commitment to and experience with equity, cultural relevance, diversity, social justice, and disparity reduction practices with persons of color, agencies of color, and underserved communities. 

• ​Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with clients, co-workers, agency partners, and the public. 

• ​Other duties as assigned.​ 

Required Education, experience and Credentialing: 

•  High School diploma or equivalent 
•  Bilingual (English-Spanish)

Preferred Education, experience and Credentialing: 

• ​​Bachelor’s degree in human services, psychology, social work, public health, or related field preferred.  

• ​Two years experience in the human services field preferred.​ 

• National Advocate Credential Program (NACP) certification preferred. 

Key Competencies:  

• VALUES & CULTURE –
  Respects the agency’s values and is accountable to living the mission of Servicios de la Raza. 

• DIVERSITY & INCLUSIVITY- Is sensitive to cultural diversity, race, gender, and other individual differences in the workforce; recognizes the value of diverse perspectives and experiences and fosters a work environment reflective of the community at large. 

• DECISION MAKING - Identifying and understanding issues, problems, and opportunities; comparing data from different sources to draw conclusions; using effective approaches for choosing a course of action or developing appropriate solutions; taking action that is consistent with available facts, constraints, and probable consequences. 

• BUILDING TRUST - Interacting with others in a way that gives them confidence in one’s intentions and those of the organization. 

• BUILDING PARTNERSHIPS – Identifying opportunities and taking action to build strategic relationships between one’s area and other areas, teams, departments, units, or organizations to help achieve business goals. 

• INNOVATION - Creating novel solutions with measurable value for existing and potential customers (internal or external); experimenting with new ways to solve work problems and seize opportunities that result in unique and differentiated solutions. 

• DRIVING FOR RESULTS - Setting high goals for personal and group accomplishment; using measurement methods to monitor progress toward goals; tenaciously working to meet or exceed goals while deriving satisfaction from that achievement and continuous improvement. 

• STRESS TOLERANCE - Maintaining stable performance under pressure or opposition (e.g., experiencing time pressure, conflict, or job ambiguity); handling stress in a manner that is acceptable to others and to the organization. 

Working Environment and Physical Requirements 

• While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to: stand, sit, talk, hear, and use hands and fingers to operate computers, telephones, and a variety of office equipment. 

• Occasionally may need to reach, stoop, or kneel. 

• Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision requirements due to computer work. 

• ADA accessible; Active Safety Committee. 

• Ability to perform basic office duties. 

Benefits: 

• An eager, thriving organization committed to serving with excellence. 

• SDLR supports Fair Chance hiring and employment practices. 

• Generous benefit package including Health, FSA, Dental, Vision, Short-term Disability, Long-term Disability, Life Insurance, Employee Assistance Program, and Paid Time Off,401K, etc. 

Inclusion and Diversity:  

Servicios de la Raza is an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer. We are a non-profit organization where diverse backgrounds, experiences, and viewpoints are valued. Servicios de la Raza does not make hiring or employment decisions based on race, color, religion, gender, gender identity, sex, sexual orientation, disability, veteran status, age, ethnic or national origin, or any other basis protected by all local, state, or federal laws.