Advocacy Manager

Job Title: Advocacy Manager

Department: Advocacy

Reports To: Client Support Services Director

FLSA Status: Exempt

Classification: Full-Time

Revised: September 2024

WCA Mission Statement: Assisting victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, human trafficking and stalking and their children to achieve safety and empowering them to lead self-determined lives.

WCA Values:

We will exemplify what it takes to be a premier organization as an employer of choice, service provider, partner and collaborator and financial steward, and demonstrate our steadfast commitment to: Respect, Integrity, Collaboration and Excellence.

Summary: 

This position provides support, advocacy, options, and referrals to victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, stalking, and human trafficking. She/he supervises WCA Advocates and Case Managers and guides them as they do the same. The Advocacy Manager is responsible for staffing the agency’s 24-hour crisis line on a rotating basis, maintaining relationships with the agency’s community partners, and collaborating with other agency leaders.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

Administration

• Recruit, train, supervise, and mentor WCA Advocates and Case Managers.
• Review timesheets and monthly financial documentation from Client Support Services Staff.
• Oversee data entry in the Osnium database system
• Compile quantitative and qualitative data and work with the Client Support Services Director and Quality & Compliance Officer to ensure grant reports are accurate and submitted on time.
• Ensure accuracy and timeliness of client file management.
• Develop and maintain good working relationships with key local and statewide contacts.
• Maintain professional and effective working relationships with other organizations, community leaders, and WCA’s staff and volunteers.
• Ensure appropriate staffing at WCA office and other assigned off-site locations.
• Authorize requests for emergency funds.
• Foster an inclusive and safe office environment in which all clients are treated equally, regardless of race, ethnicity, national origin, disability, sex, sexual orientation, gender expression, gender identity, or religion.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Direct Client Services

• Provide crisis intervention, follow-up, support, advocacy, information and referrals to victims in-person and over the phone.
• Serve as the Manager On-Duty (MOD) on a rotating basis to respond to urgent needs of staff providing services to clients.
• Assist regularly when asked to cover of on-call shifts to ensure 24-hour advocacy coverage for hospitals and law enforcement.
• Cover the 24-hour crisis line as needed.
• Conduct check-ins with clients and provide necessary follow-up advocacy.
• Assess victim safety and assist with safety planning, including the arrangement of housing options as needed. 
• Provide advocacy on behalf of clients working with community-based systems such as law enforcement, courts, social services, mental health providers, and substance abuse services. 
• Provide legal advocacy, including assistance with protection orders, victim’s compensation, divorce filings, child support, and criminal/civil court support.   
• Identify resources within the community and maintain good working relationships with community programs offering assistance to clients. 
• Immediately report suspected child abuse and neglect to Child Protection Services.
• Provide assistance with other direct service components of programming as needed. 

Job Training/

• Provide a format for Advocates to share information about community organizations and resources
• Identify training and professional development opportunities for the staff they supervise.

Other duties may be assigned (5%)

Education and Experience:

A Bachelor’s degree and three to five years of direct service and case management experience are required. A master’s Degree in Social Work, Criminal Justice, public Administration, or a related field is preferred. One to three years of previous experience supervising in a social services environment is also preferred. WCA also strongly values the personal, lived experience of individuals from all backgrounds.

Qualifications:

• Ability to work with a diverse client population and cultural backgrounds.
• Understanding of the impact of domestic violence, sexual assault, and stalking issues with clientele.
• Knowledge of community resources.
• An ability to work as an advocate in various settings such as, but not limited to: criminal justice system, civil court, hospitals, outside agencies, and businesses.
• Ability to work with clients in crises while remaining positive and client-focused.
• Ability to supervise client support services staff.
• Ability to problem solve with clients.
• Ability to participate as a team player within Client Support Services and across programs.
• Ability to multi-task.
• Ability to answer the on-call phone if assigned on-call shifts.
• Ability to provide own transportation to community meetings, agencies, area hospitals, etc..

• Ability to speak, read, and write in Spanish fluently preferred.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Strong de-escalation and conflict-resolution skills.
• Good working knowledge of computer programs including Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Internet, and database programs.
• Regular and predictable attendance is required.
• Maintain confidentiality standards of the agency.

Work Hours and Working Conditions:

• Work hours will be 8 am - 5 pm, with occasional evenings and weekends.
• Assistance required with on-call phone coverage.
• Required to work in-office. No remote work is available.

Physical Requirements:

The physical demands described here are representative of those that an employee must meet to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform these functions.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee will be in a normal office environment and will be required to sit, stand, walk, and occasionally lift and/or move up to 10 pounds. In addition, the employee will be required to drive to other locations and carry presentation materials to conduct company business.

WCA is an E-Verify employer and will provide the necessary information from each new employee’s Form 1-9 to confirm work authorization.