Director of Survivor Advocacy, Houston Office

Unbound Now is ending human trafficking by identifying victims, supporting survivors, seeking justice, and leading system change. We are motivated by our faith in Jesus and work each day as individuals driven by hope, oriented towards service, and committed to excellence. To learn more about our values, please read our Statement of Faith. Job Title Director of Survivor Advocacy Job Location Local office, on-site (Houston, Texas) Job Status Full-time, Exempt-Grant Supported, with plans to seek continuance Job Summary The primary functions of the Director of Survivor Advocacy are to provide leadership and supervision for the advocacy team; ensure effective advocate training and excellence in service delivery; develop and maintain strong relationships with law enforcement, service partners, and other referral sources; monitor intake of new clients; and ensure timely and accurate documentation and data entry for grant reporting. Compensation Annual salary Benefits 100% Employer-Paid Health Insurance: We cover 100% of medical premiums for both the employee and their family. (For a single employee, this is a $8,267+ annual value added to your base salary). Employer-Paid Life Insurance: Fully covered for the employee at no cost. Retirement Savings: 401(k) plan with a 3% salary match (eligible after 90 days; 1-year vesting). Dental & Vision: Comprehensive plans available at the employee’s expense. Voluntary Benefits: Access to supplemental Accident, Critical Illness, Hospital, and Disability insurance Schedule / Availability Generally, Monday through Friday 8:30-5:30. Weekends, evenings, and holidays as needed. Frequent back-up/supervisory call. Anticipated 45-50-hour work week. Working Conditions Work is performed in a variety of venues and professional environments. Work duties may occasionally be performed in an environment that requires exposure to weather extremes, fumes, odors, and noise. Travel This position will require frequent travel within the area for partner meetings, training, and team/professional development opportunities, and occasional travel outside the service area for training purposes. Job Responsibilities Maintain a strong line of communication with the Regional Director and the Survivor Advocacy Program Director regarding any issues related to the local office’s Survivor Advocacy Program, as well as any issues of a programmatic nature. Rotate supervisory call with Lead Advocate, supporting advocates when they are responding to calls, unless the local structure allows for this requirement to be shared by two or more lead advocates and/or program coordinators. Ensure availability of immediate intervention and ongoing advocacy, case management, and emotional support for survivors of human trafficking. Pursue high advocacy staff retention by actively shouldering advocate responsibilities during periods of high demand or emergency, and supporting advocates’ emotional and supervisory needs. Ensure that advocates communicate a service‑oriented approach: an eagerness to offer case management in collaboration with associated service providers, so those seeking assistance are provided with help, even when they are ineligible for advocacy services or are seeking something outside Unbound Now’s scope. In coordination with the Regional and the Survivor Advocacy Program Director, monitor compliance with policies and procedures and minimum standards for CSEY advocacy. Develop and maintain good working relationships with law enforcement agencies and other service providers to ensure identification of victims and seamless referral for and provision of victim services. In coordination with the Survivor Advocacy Program Director and Regional Director and Lead Advocate(s) where applicable, recruit, screen, hire, train, engage, supervise, and retain advocates. In coordination with staff coordinating interns and volunteers, recruit, screen, train, engage, supervise, and retain advocacy interns and volunteers, if applicable. Work with local coalition or task force as appropriate. Schedule and document all required trainings for advocates and advocacy volunteers, including all onboarding and ongoing trainings. Facilitate weekly advocacy team meetings. Provide training and support in the implementation of the OHTS tool. Ensure that case management is carried out in a manner that is relationship‑based, trauma‑responsive, and survivor‑centered. Create clear expectations for advocates, ensuring that they know policies and protocol. Assess advocates’ skill sets and watch for/support in areas of weakness. Provide on‑the‑job training and model desired behaviors, alongside lead advocate(s). Ensure a minimum of every‑other‑week individual advocate supervision by phone or in‑person. Virtual/Phonetic supervision can only occur once every 30 days. Ensure supervision within one week of any care coordination team meeting during which a victim assigned to an advocate has been staffed. Ensure that advocates are spending an appropriate amount of time with the survivors assigned to them. Review safety plans routinely. Document supervision – maintain a supervision file for each advocate. Specify the mode of communication in supervision documentation. Supervision should reflect the application of the Stages of Change and Motivational Interviewing terminology. Review documentation of all advocates at least twice a month and document the review. Contact youth once a month and their parents/guardians once a month and document contact. Confirm records of contact and activities as reported by advocates and document confirmation. Meet with youth both during and upon completion of service to discuss their experience with the advocate relationship, including questions related to assessing the youth’s sense of safety and care within the program and with the advocate. Ensure compliance with DFPS MOU, and review and ensure completion of monthly and quarterly reports to DFPS (as applicable). With support of the Regional Director or Advocacy Program Support Specialist, where applicable, maintain the local office’s survivor advocacy calendar with on‑call and time off schedules and weekly advocacy team meetings. Develop local survivor advocacy budget and spending protocols in coordination with the Survivor Advocacy Program Director and monitor compliance. Seek feedback from service partners. Monitor for red‑flag or inappropriate behaviors and/or policy violations. Respond appropriately to allegations of abuse, including youth‑to‑youth sexual activity. Take allegations seriously. Respond immediately – if there is a reason to believe behavior is abusive, report to authorities. Report to Office Director and the Survivor Advocacy Program Director immediately. Collect information, as appropriate. Develop and document the response and corrective action. Determine and meet the needs of the alleged victim, as appropriate; prevent further access by the alleged perpetrator. Review regional data for programmatic grant reports. Support advocate participation in the monthly advocate resilience group. Conduct annual advocate performance reviews at least annually in coordination with the Regional Director, the Survivor Advocacy Program Director, and the HR Department. Approve and monitor advocacy mileage, expense transactions, and advocacy staff timesheets. Meet regularly with other Unbound Now Directors of Survivor Advocacy and CSEY Advocacy Coordinators for peer support and to collaborate on advocacy projects. Submit expense documentation properly and within required time frames per the company expense policy. Card Managers are responsible for reviewing each team member’s spend and assessing adherence to the policy every week, and following all Ramp Monthly Closeout Instructions and Process. Submit travel reimbursements daily and approve TripLog weekly, adhering to all travel guidelines. Review and approve timesheets bi‑weekly – identifying that grant allocations are met. Complete all Unbound Now required training promptly. This position description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties, or responsibilities that are required of the employee. The scope of the position may change as necessitated by organizational demands. Desired Outcomes Clients served with professionalism and compassion – both in terms of relational support and case management. High standards of excellence in advocacy services are upheld in local service regions, including in the areas of grant compliance and best practices. Excellent working relationships with law enforcement, care coordinators, service partners, and any other referral sources. Strong working relationship with the local advisor for the Governor’s Child Sex Trafficking Team. Compliance with Unbound Now policies and protocol and with Minimum Standards for CSEY Advocacy. Collaboration and congruence with other Unbound Now advocacy services in other regions. Working Relationships Supervisor: Regional Director Supervises: Lead advocates (where applicable), Advocates, Advocacy Program Support Specialist (where applicable), and survivor advocacy volunteers or interns Works with: Local Care Coordinators and MDTs, Governor’s Child Sex Trafficking Team regional advisor, Unbound Now regional team, other Unbound Now Survivor Advocacy teams, and the Unbound Now HQ team Education and Experience Bachelor’s degree or higher in social work or related field Clinical licensure Supervisory experience Experience working with victims of human trafficking, victims of child abuse and neglect, or youth experiencing homelessness and/or addiction Demonstrated ability to provide trauma‑informed care Demonstrated effectiveness in the application of MI and understanding of the stages of change model for human trafficking survivors Preferred 2-3 years of case management and/or crisis intervention experience Job Requirements Mature Christian faith, as evidenced by participation in a local Christian church Strong commitment to the mission and values of Unbound Now Provide at least three references (supervisor, professional, personal) Agree to and pass all required criminal background checks, including the DFPS criminal history check and the abuse and neglect registry check Pass employment eligibility verification Demonstrated ability to work in a high‑speed, professional setting Experience working with survivors of human trafficking Fulfill Unbound Now’s annual and ongoing training requirements for specialized CSEY advocates Abide by all Unbound Now policies and procedures and MDT protocols at all times, including Unbound Now’s Abuse Prevention and Response Policy Willingness to use personal vehicle for work travel; valid driver’s license, reliable vehicle, with valid car insurance At least 23 years of age or older Submit expense documentation properly and within required time frames per the company expense policy, and follow all Ramp Monthly Closeout Instructions and Process. Submit travel reimbursements daily, adhering to all travel guidelines Submit time‑sheet hours/grant allocations daily, adhering to grant guidelines (if applicable) Complete all Unbound Now required training on time Critical Qualities Excellent leadership skills with strong administrative abilities Excellent communication, interpersonal, and supervision skills Commitment to personal and professional growth Ability and willingness to maintain the confidentiality of sensitive information Ability to problem solve in the moment with advocates and provide coaching and resources as needed Courageous, trustworthy, and tenacious in achieving goals Ability to stay hope‑filled in the fight against human trafficking High degree of self‑motivation and initiative Resilience and adaptability in dynamic environments Exceptional active listening skills High degree of cultural competency and professionalism in diverse public settings Physical and Driving Requirements Must possess a valid driver’s license Ability to drive personal vehicles and maintain proper insurance coverage Demands include sitting for long periods at a computer, repetitive hand motions from frequent keyboarding Demands frequently require close visual attention Demands frequently require prolonged mental concentration Demands frequent remote video calls #J-18808-Ljbffr unboundnow