Victim Advocacy - bilingual English Spanish

Are you passionate about providing services and support to crime victims and survivors as well as strengthening resources access for underserved communities?  The Oregon Youth Authority (OYA) is seeking a compassionate and highly motivated Victim Advocate to join our Victim Engagement Program. This position will be responsible for delivering trauma-informed and culturally responsive services  including crisis response, and systems navigation to crime victims and survivors impacted by youth in OYA’s care and custody. You will play a crucial role in ensuring crime victims understand their rights and how to exercise their rights,  exercise their rights, while also connecting them to culturally responsive, community-based services to help support their healing process.

In addition to direct advocacy, you will assist in the program’s operational tasks, including victim centered restorative justice programing, training volunteers, documenting program activities, and tracking outcomes. Collaboration with victim service organizations, both system and community-based, as well as juvenile justice partners, will be essential to your success.

We are looking for a bilingual (English/Spanish) candidate with a deep understanding of the Latine community, experience in victim advocacy, and knowledge of the criminal or juvenile justice systems. This position is located at OYA’s Central Office in Salem, Oregon. If you are committed to helping crime victims and survivors and want to make a meaningful difference, we encourage you to apply.

Additional Information:

• For a full description of duties and responsibilities, please click here.
• Hybrid Telework: This position is eligible for a flexible remote work schedule, The position will require in office work  several days a week during  the on boarding and initial training period. The position will require travelling to several OYA facilities, field offices, and/or community programs throughout the State of Oregon. Employees may be required to be in the office more frequently in response to business needs. Remote work is evaluated periodically to ensure business needs are being met and can be adjusted at any time.

• Comprehensive and equitable base salary offer within the listed range based on your experience, skills and education. For more information on pay equity, click here.

• The salary range listed is the non-PERS participating rate. If you are already a participating PERS member or once you become PERS eligible, the salary range will increase by 6%. Please review the Classification and Compensation page for more details.

• This position receives annual increases on anniversary date until the maximum of the salary range is reached.

• Please save a copy of this job announcement for your reference, as it may not be available for you to view after the job closes.

• We may use this recruitment to fill future vacancies.

Tentative Recruitment Schedule:

• 1st Round Interviews scheduled for November 1, 2024 (virtual interview)
• 2nd Round Interviews scheduled for November 8, 2024 (possible in-person interview)

ABOUT OYA

At OYA, diversity, equity, and inclusion are more than just words on a page. To meet our mission and live our values as an agency, DEI must be at the heart of all we do. We support cultural competence, develop teams and cultivate leaders in ways that are equitable to everyone, especially people of color, those who identify as LGBTQ+, or those from other marginalized communities. We are explicit and intentional as we identify resources that all our youth and staff need to grow and prosper. Our DEI work connects closely with our culture of positive human development, with safe and supportive environments where everyone is held accountable and connected to their community. The end goal is to protect the public and reduce crime by holding youth accountable and providing opportunities for reformation in safe environments.

If you are looking to join a team that values individual and cultural differences, with the opportunity to contribute to youth reformation by enriching our workforce with diversity, OYA wants to hear from you!  People of color, women, and other members of historically marginalized communities are strongly encouraged to apply!

For more information please visit www.oregon.gov/oya.

**Would you like to learn more about this position and OYA? Join us on Wednesday, October 9, 2024 between 11:00 a.m. - 11:30 a.m. for OYA Career Chats.

Click Here to Register for OYA Career Chats!

What's in it for You?
OYA values our employees. We believe that your time outside of the workplace is as valuable as it is inside the workplace. We offer a great work/life balance with flexible work schedules on most positions and a competitive benefits package, including low-cost, high-coverage health insurance, generous time-off, and a competitive retirement plan.

Discover more about working in Oregon state government by clicking here.

This position is represented by the Service Employees International Union (SEIU/OPEU). By joining and maintaining your membership with SEIU Local 503, the following benefits are available to you such as:

• $2,500 life insurance policy paid for by your union, SEIU Local 503. This policy is in effect if you are an active member.
• Up to $200,000 of additional life insurance can be purchased. Up to $100,000 member life, $40,000 spouse and $10,000 child is guaranteed within the first 90 days of new union membership.
• Short Term Disability insurance is guaranteed if purchased within the first 90 days of new union membership.
• Legal insurance enrollment is available to purchase within the first 90 days of new union membership.
• Tuition reimbursement.

What You Need To Qualify:

• A Bachelor's Degree in Business or Public Administration, Behavioral or Social Sciences, or a degree related to the agency program that demonstrates the capacity for the knowledge and skills; OR

• Any combination of experience or education equivalent to three years technical-level experience that typically supports the knowledge and skill requirements listed for the classification.

Special Requirement:

Bilingual Required: English & Spanish

This position does require bilingual language skills in English & Spanish to assist with a need in the communities that we serve.   

Desired Attributes: If you have these qualities, let us know. It’s how we will choose whom to move forward!

Note: You do not need to have all these qualities to be eligible for this position.

• Knowledge of crime victims’ rights and how victims can exercise their rights, along with demonstrated experience in victim advocacy work either in system based or community-based programing.  
• A deep understanding of the Latine community including knowledge of the history of oppression and discrimination that effects Latine communities, and a strong desire to strengthen and expand resource access opportunities for all underserved communities
• Knowledge and demonstrated work experience in criminal and/or juvenile justice systems. 
• Self-directed and highly motivated with the ability to manage multiple competing priorities and keen attention to detail, ensuring deadlines are met.
• Experience building collaborative relationships with internal teams, agency staff, and community partners to help expand resources access and service provision for crime victims, survivors and youth.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills, including experience in facilitating trainings and presentations.

How to apply:

• Ensure your application and/or resume thoroughly reflect your skills, experience (both lived and professional), knowledge, and/or education pertinent to this position, including how you meet the minimum qualifications and any/all desired attributes.

• Submit a comprehensive application or upload a detailed resume, including dates of employment and descriptions of duties/responsibilities for each position.

• COVER LETTTER REQUIRED: Describe your experiences, skills, and knowledge as they relate to the desired attributes of the position, and explain why you are the best fit for this role. Limit your cover letter to no more than 3 pages and ensure it is in PDF format for accessibility.

• Complete the questionnaire.

• Following the submission of your application, promptly respond to the public records request authorization and gender identity questionnaire. If you're an employee, these tasks will be in your Workday inbox.

• Veterans may receive preference; indicate your veteran status if applicable. Click here for more information about veterans’ preference.

​Caution: If you fail to follow these instructions, including failing to attach a cover letter as described above, we will have to disqualify your application. We cannot consider incomplete or late applications.

More Information:

Our goal is to be a diverse workforce that is representative, at all job levels, of the citizens we are here to serve. OYA is an equal opportunity and affirmative action employer. All aspects of employment including the decision to hire, promote, discipline, or discharge, will be individualized based on merit, competence, performance, and business need.

We do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, marital status, age, national origin, ancestry, physical or mental disability, medical​​​ condition, pregnancy, genetic information, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or ​expression, veteran status, or any other status protected under federal, state, or local law.” The more diverse we are, the better our work will be.

Applicants with a disability may request a reasonable accommodation to participate in the hiring process. For assistance regarding reasonable accommodation or for alternative format please contact OYA Recruitment at 971-345-1236. Oregon Relay Service can be reached by calling 7-1-1.

Pre-employment Checks:

In keeping with our mission, OYA will conduct a criminal record check, per OAR 416 Division 800, a driving record background check and a vulnerable population abuse and neglect check. Information obtained about an individual is confidential. An individual who refuses to consent to a criminal records/background check shall be disqualified from consideration in the position for which you applied. All applicants are subject to additional pre-employment check(s) such as fingerprint based on criminal records check, pre-employment drug screening and/or education verification as required for the position.

In 2003 Congress passed the Prison Rape Elimination Act (PREA), the first federal civil statue focused specifically on addressing sexual violence in juvenile facilities, jails, prisons, and other facilities.  In recognition of the rights, safety, and well-being of the youth we serve you will be asked specific questions about your background to ensure our hiring and promotion practices comply with the National PREA standards. 

All positions in OYA will require the incumbent to serve as a "mandatory reporter" of child abuse.

Visa Sponsorship:

We do not offer Visa sponsorship. If you are hired, you will be required to fill out the US Department of Homeland Security’s I-9 form confirming you are able to work in the US. OYA uses E-Verify to confirm that applicants are authorized to work in the United States.

Have Questions?:          

For questions about the job announcement, email HR Recruiter.