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Position Summary:

Reporting to the Assistant Director for Advocacy Services at the Project Safe Center for Sexual Misconduct Prevention and Response, the Victim Resource Specialist provides advocacy, resource coordination, and subject matter programming for victims of sexual misconduct, including sexual assault, sexual harassment, dating and domestic violence, sexual exploitation, stalking, and other forms of sexual misconduct. Multicultural awareness and responsiveness are important components of victim advocacy, violence prevention and community outreach-oriented work, and specific knowledge, experience, and skills working with AAPI, international, African American, Latinx, and/or LGBTQI students are preferred.

This is a full-time position. Shift hours and days may vary; standard business hours of Monday through Friday, 8 AM to 5 PM, though frequent evening and weekend hours are required, particularly when responsible for on-call victim advocacy services, which include crisis hotline response and accompanying victims to the emergency department for forensic exams.

About the Work Unit:

The mission of the Project Safe Center is to provide information, support, referrals, and education about sexual and intimate partner violence (including sexual harassment, sexual assault, dating violence, domestic violence, and stalking), as well as consent, healthy relationships, and healthy sexuality to the Vanderbilt University community. Project Safe serves as a central resource for those impacted by power-based personal violence and can assist with navigating the University’s resource and support network (including, among others, the University Counseling Center, Student Health, the Title IX Office, Equal Opportunity and Access Office, the Employee Assistance Program, and the Vanderbilt University Police Department), as well as external support and law enforcement resources.

Our highly skilled and multidisciplinary staff develop safety and support plans tailored to each individual's unique background and needs by working together with students, campus partners, and community providers. The Project Safe Center emphasizes prevention and education through collaboration and consultation focused on the development of the skills and self-awareness needed to excel in a challenging educational environment. We offer culturally responsive services in a safe and affirming space and are committed to engaging in an ongoing dialogue that provides our team with opportunities to grow in the context of their cultural identity development. The Project Safe Center is committed to understanding the role of diverse experiences and backgrounds in order to promote the best mental health and wellbeing in the lives of individuals and our community.

About Student Affairs at Vanderbilt University:

Student Affairs serves a central role in student learning and development at Vanderbilt, advancing the University’s mission of teaching, research, and service. Student Affairs at Vanderbilt cultivates vibrant, inclusive communities that foster a student’s sense of belonging and wellbeing through collaborative partnerships, transformative learning experiences, and an accessible and holistic network of resources. We value connection, belonging, compassion, development, and innovation. Our staff are committed to continued growth in knowledge, awareness, skills, and experience engaging with these priorities in a higher education environment.

Key Functions and Expected Performance:

• Help design, implement, and provide programs that address advocacy and supporting survivors.

• Provide outreach and educational programming to a diverse campus community to support campus and individual mental health, wellness, and skill development.

• Partner with social equity and diversity-focused campus partners (including the LGBTQI Life, Women’s Center, the Black Cultural Center, Center for Spiritual and Religious Life, International Student and Scholar Services, etc.) to design, implement, and assess prevention programming that is intersectional, inclusive, and responsive to diversity. Specific knowledge, experience, and skills in providing outreach and liaison services to a diverse student population, including AAPI, international, transfer, Black/African American, Latinx, and/or LGBTQI students, is preferred.

• Support campus-wide strategic planning for health, safety, and well-being related to interpersonal violence.

• Assist in the supervision, provision of training, and evaluation of student volunteers, student peer educators, departmental interns, practicum students, and/or graduate students.

• Maintain timely and efficient communication in a professional manner (through email, telephone, and other forms of correspondence).

Victim Assistance

• Provide on-call response, crisis intervention, ongoing case management, and resource referral as a confidential (limited) resource to the Vanderbilt community.

• Maintain detail-oriented confidential records of interactions and communications with students, including regularly updating student information and prevention programming data.

• Share responsibility for Project Safe’s 24-hour crisis hotline that provides immediate assistance to Vanderbilt community members in need with other Prevention Educators and Victim Resource Specialists.

• Serve as a first or secondary responder/support resource for incidents related to sexual misconduct, which may involve responding to the Vanderbilt Emergency Department or Student Health Center to support those in need of a Medical Exam.

• Know relevant campus resources, policies and procedures, and serve as a reliable and accurate source of information to the Vanderbilt community.

• Support students in navigating the Title IX process, which regularly includes accompanying students to meetings, answering questions regarding the process, and communicating information to the student regarding their Title IX investigation.

• Aid students in interacting with the criminal justice process, which includes supporting students during their meetings with law enforcement officers, helping students obtain orders of protection or other protective measures, and accompanying students to court, as needed.

• Serve as a victim advocate on hand at various University programs and events.

• Assist victims in ways that are culturally responsive, victim-centered, trauma-informed, evidence- based, and incorporates best practices of victim advocacy.

• Support and train campus partners on appropriate and culturally responsive responses to sexual misconduct.

• Coordinate support services with campus and community partners (including Housing and Residential Experience, the University Counseling Center, Center for Student Wellbeing, Vanderbilt University Police Department, LGBTQI Life, Women’s Center, Student Health Center, Student Access Services, Student Accountability, Community Standards, & Academic Integrity, the Title IX Office and others).

• Help design, implement, and provide programs that address advocacy and supporting survivors.

• Provide outreach and educational programming to a diverse campus community to support campus and individual mental health, wellness, and skill development. Partner with social equity and diversity-focused campus partners (including the LGBTQI Life, Women’s Center, the Black Cultural Center, Center for Spiritual and Religious Life, International Student and Scholar Services, etc.) to design, implement, and assess prevention programming that is intersectional, inclusive, and responsive to diversity. Specific knowledge, experience, and skills in providing outreach and liaison services to a diverse student population, including AAPI, international, transfer, Black/African American, Latinx, and/or LGBTQI students, is preferred.

• Support campus-wide strategic planning for health, safety, and well-being related to interpersonal violence.

• Assist in the supervision, provision of training, and evaluation of student volunteers, student peer educators, departmental interns, practicum students, and/or graduate students.

Other Administrative Functions

• Serve on divisional committees and working groups to enrich the experience and resources available to staff across the division.

• Participate in division wide events as needed to support colleagues and ensure these events run smoothly.

• Maintain an understanding of institutional and departmental financial policies related to areas such as travel, procurement, expense, and time reporting to ensure compliance and proper stewardship of university resources.

• Demonstrate a willingness to support colleagues across the division in order to encourage the implementation or fulfillment of divisional goals and strategic priorities.

Supervisory Relationships:

This position does not have supervisory responsibility; this position reports administratively and functionally to the Assistant Director for Advocacy Services at the Project Safe Center.

Education and Certifications:

• A Bachelor’s degree is necessary.

• A Master’s Degree in Social Work, Public Health, Women’s, Gender, and/or Sexuality Studies, or related field is preferred.

Experience and Skills:

• One year of experience is necessary.

• At least 2 years of experience in a higher education setting, or in organizations primarily focused on women’s or gender-related issues, violence prevention, and/or advocacy is preferred.

• Experience and knowledge of contemporary best practices for sexual misconduct prevention efforts targeting undergraduate and graduation or professional students is preferred.

• Experience working directly with persons impacted by interpersonal violence in an advocacy, case management, counseling or support-related role is preferred.

• Ability to understand and articulate prevention education and victim services from a perspective that includes the intersections of gender, race, sexual orientation and other significant aspects of individual and cultural identity is preferred.

• Formal victim advocacy training and/or certification, including knowledge of the appropriate role of a victim advocate in legal proceedings and medical examinations is preferred.

• Experience answering calls to a crisis/support hotline is preferred.

• Familiarity with legislation related to sexual harassment and violence, including Title IX, Campus SaVE, the Clery Act, and their application to campus environments is preferred.

• Ability to plan, coordinate, oversee, and assess projects and programs is preferred.

• Comfort and competence with respect to diversity and demonstrated commitment to addressing the intersections of multiple identities is preferred.

• Familiarity with college student development and university systems is preferred.

Commitment to Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion

At Vanderbilt University, we are intentional about and assume accountability for fostering advancement and respect for equity, diversity, and inclusion for all students, faculty, and staff. Our commitment to diversity makes us who we are. We have created a community that celebrates differences and lets individuality thrive. As part of this commitment, we actively value diversity in our workplace and learning environments as we seek to take advantage of the rich backgrounds and abilities of everyone. The diverse voices of Vanderbilt represent an invaluable resource for the University in its efforts to fulfill its mission and strive to be an example of excellence in higher education.

Vanderbilt University is an equal-opportunity, affirmative action employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or status as a protected veteran, or any other characteristic protected by law.

Please note, all candidates selected for an offer of employment are subject to pre-employment background checks, which may include but are not limited to, based on the role for which they have been selected: criminal history, education verification, social media review, motor vehicle records, credit history, and professional license verification.

Commitment to Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion At Vanderbilt University, we are intentional about and assume accountability for fostering advancement and respect for equity, diversity, and inclusion for all students, faculty, and staff. Our commitment to diversity makes us who we are. We have created a community that celebrates differences and lets individuality thrive. As part of this commitment, we actively value diversity in our workplace and learning environments as we seek to take advantage of the rich backgrounds and abilities of everyone. The diverse voices of Vanderbilt represent an invaluable resource for the University in its efforts to fulfill its mission and strive to be an example of excellence in higher education. Vanderbilt University is an equal opportunity, affirmative action employer. Women, minorities, people with disabilities, and protected veterans are encouraged to apply.