Survivor Advocate

University of New Hampshire; Durham (NH); On-site; USD 48,000 - 85,000; Full time

Job summary

University of New Hampshire is seeking a Survivor Advocate to support individuals impacted by sexual violence, relationship abuse, stalking, and harassment. The role emphasizes trauma-informed, power-conscious advocacy and coordinating SHARPP Center’s 24/7 helpline across UNH campuses.

Responsibilities include providing confidential advocacy, organizing peer advocate coverage, and engaging with the UNHSHARPP community through outreach and education.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s Degree in social work, psychology, criminal justice or related field.
• 2–4 years of experience in interpersonal violence advocacy or related field (public health, prevention, trauma-informed care, or mental health).
• Confidentiality training under NH RSA 173:C or ability to obtain within 30 days of hire.
• Valid driver’s license.

Responsibilities

• Provide one-on-one advocacy to UNH community impacted by interpersonal violence, assess services, and coordinate referrals.
• Coordinate SHARPP Center helpline coverage and supervise on-call Peer Advocates; conduct trainings and maintain files.
• Engage in community outreach and trauma-informed survivor-centered engagement activities; create materials and assist with events.
• Maintain confidential records and ensure grant compliance.

Skills

Interpersonal skills

Communication

Relationship-building

Judgment

Confidentiality

Organizational skills

Diversity experience

Night/weekend availability

Education

Bachelor’s Degree in social work, psychology, criminal justice or related field

Master’s degree in related field

Job description

Reporting to the Assistant Director of Advocacy, the Survivor Advocate is the primary staff member responsible for meeting with individuals in the UNH community impacted by sexual violence, relationship abuse, stalking, and harassment. The Survivor Advocate is expected to identify and provide relevant services using trauma-informed and power-conscious frameworks. The Survivor Advocate also coordinates coverage of the SHARPP Center’s 24/7 helpline and assists with the training of the SHARPP Center’s pool of undergraduate student advocates.

Duties/Responsibilities

Confidential Advocacy Services (65%)

• Provide one-on-one, remote and in-person advocacy to students, faculty and staff who have experienced interpersonal violence at all UNH campuses:
  • Assess and identify culturally relevant and appropriate services based on individual needs and experiences
  • Provide general emotional support and validation, trauma education, and crisis counseling as needed
  • Collaborate with survivors to create individualized emotional and physical safety plans.
  • Provide accompaniment, transportation, and support to survivors as needed during meetings, appointments, and proceedings related to university conduct, civil, and criminal justice processes, including protective order hearings and Title IX investigations
  • Provide accompaniment, transportation, and support to survivors as needed during medical examinations, such as sexual assault forensic exams at local hospitals.
  • Identify and facilitate appropriate referrals to university and community-based resources.
• Participate in biweekly SHARPP Center case review team meetings led by the Assistant Director of Advocacy
• Maintain confidential records of services as required by grant funding.

Advocate Management and Helpline Coordination (25%)

• Mange the pool of on-call Peer Advocates, a group of 10-15 undergraduate student volunteers providing basic advocacy services after hours on the SHARPP Center helpline, including:
  • Providing individual feedback and yearly reviews as required by funding and program standards
  • Facilitating monthly peer advocate group meetings to support group dynamics, peer-to-peer relationships, and address secondary trauma and burnout
  • Arranging continuing education opportunities to comply with statutory requirements
  • Maintaining detailed peer advocate files and volunteer records to ensure compliance with funding requirements and program standards
  • Create volunteer engagement and recognition initiatives to support morale and retention of Peer Advocates
• Coordinate coverage of the SHARPP Center’s 24/7, 365 confidential helpline as required by funding and program standards:
  • Communicate with Peer Advocates and oversee shift signups to ensure adequate coverage on helpline
  • Maintain accurate on-call coverage calendar
  • Communicate coverage schedules as needed with SHARPP Center staff, advocates, and call center
• Support the Assistant Director of Advocacy with recruiting, interviewing, and training efforts for new Peer Advocates.

Community Engagement (10%)

• Under the leadership and guidance of the Assistant Director of Engagement & Prevention, assist with community engagement efforts, such as:
  • Facilitating interactive community tabling, SHARPP 101 and SHARPP Jeopardy presentations
  • Creating and implementing new survivor-centered and trauma-informed engagement efforts & activities
  • Designing and implementing advocacy-related materials such as social media posts, website content, resource cards, and brochures
  • Assisting with SHARPP Center events and initiatives such as Take Back the Night and End-of-Year Celebration as needed
• Build and maintain intentional partnerships and collaborations with UNH community members, departments, and student organizations to support referrals and resource utilization
• Support other projects, events, and initiatives within the Division of Student Life as needed

Requirements

Minimum Acceptable Education & Experience

• Bachelor’s Degree social work, psychology, criminal justice or related field.
• 2-4 years of experience working in interpersonal violence advocacy or related experience with public health, prevention, trauma-informed care, or mental health

Required Licenses & Certifications

• Confidentiality under NH RSA 173:C (30+ hours of training by a New Hampshire Coalition Against Domestic and Sexual Violence crisis center) or ability to obtain within 30 days of hire
• Valid driver’s license

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities

• Understanding of interpersonal violence and its impact on survivors
• Exceptional interpersonal, communication, and relationship-building skills
• Excellent judgment; ability to deal with sensitive issues, maintain confidentiality, and navigate clients experiencing emotional escalation
• Ability to develop and implement strong organizational systems
• Experience working and building rapport with individuals from diverse backgrounds
• Ability to work some nights and weekends

Other Requirements

• Successful completion of background check and motor vehicle records check required

Preferred Qualifications

• Master’s degree, preferably in human services, social work, higher education, public health, gender studies, or another related field
• Working knowledge of interpersonal violence, Title IX, Clery Act, and other related statutes
• Experience supporting individuals in a one-on-one capacity
• Experience working with college students
• Experience navigating complex systems (ex. legal/judicial, medical, and Title IX)

The University of New Hampshire is an R1 Carnegie classification research institution providing comprehensive, high-quality undergraduate and graduate programs of distinction. UNH is located in Durham on a 188-acre campus, 60 miles north of Boston and 8 miles from the Atlantic coast and is convenient to New Hampshire’s lakes and mountains. There is a student enrollment of 13,000 students, with a full-time faculty of over 600, offering 90 undergraduate and more than 70 graduate programs. The University actively promotes a dynamic learning environment in which qualified individuals of differing perspectives, life experiences, and cultural backgrounds pursue academic goals with mutual respect and shared inquiry.

EEO Statement

The University System of New Hampshire is an Equal Opportunity/Equal Access employer. The University System is committed to creating an environment that values and supports diversity and inclusiveness across our campus communities and encourages applications from qualified individuals who will help us achieve this mission. The University System prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, age, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, disability, genetic information, veteran status, or marital status.

Compensation Pay Range

$47,920.00 - $85,410.00

The pay range for this position is listed above. Actual offer will be based on skills, qualifications, experience, and internal equity, in addition to relevant business considerations. More information on benefits can be found here: USNH Employee Benefits | Human Resources

Location

Durham