UMass Amherst, the Commonwealth's flagship campus, is a nationally ranked public research university offering a full range of undergraduate, graduate and professional degrees. The University sits on nearly 1,450-acres in the scenic Pioneer Valley of Western Massachusetts, and offers a rich cultural environment in a bucolic setting close to major urban centers. In addition, the University is part of the Five Colleges (including Amherst College, Hampshire College, Mount Holyoke College, and Smith College), which adds to the intellectual energy of the region.
Incumbent is responsible for the development, administration, evaluation and continuous quality improvement of trauma informed sexual assault support and advocacy crisis services for Hampshire County and the Five Colleges. Primary services include: 24 hour hotline, legal and medical advocacy, counseling, and support groups for victims/survivors of rape, sexual assault, sexual violence and relationship violence.
Essential Functions
- Develop, plan, direct, and assess sexual assault support and advocacy services, providing crisis response and management. Ensures proper staffing and compliance with regulations, standards and protocols including those regarding privileged communication between rape crisis counselors and victims, mandated reporting, and Criminal Record (CORI) Checks. Provides direct service as needed. May represent CWC in absence of Director.
- Oversees and creates diverse staff team. Selects, trains and supervises professional staff. Oversees interns, volunteers and student staff. Ensures compliance with terms and conditions of multiple grants and contracts including training and reporting requirements.
- Manages projects for self and team to meet grant and campus goals; Creates and maintains systems to manage administrative tasks using appropriate technology including but not limited to data collection and analysis, report writing, scheduling, recruitment, etc; Meets timelines; Researches and assists to develop and manage grant and contracts; Manages related budgets.
- Implements partnerships with campus and community groups to promote program collaboration. Participates on relevant committees and task forces. Consults on policies and procedures and negotiates protocols with campus and community agencies and groups to improve sexual assault response, including public safety and medical personnel.
- Participates as member of CWC's leadership team. Participates in organizational initiatives, strategic planning and assessment.
Other Functions
- Performs related duties as assigned or required. Understands responsibilities with respect to Title IX, Clery and other compliance requirements.
- Demonstrates capacity, skill and willingness to engage students and contribute to student success.
- Works collaboratively with other campus stakeholders. Understands responsibilities with respect to conflicts of interest and behaves in ways consistent both with law and with University policy.
- Contributes toward creating a positive and respectful workplace. Uses access to sensitive and/or not yet public university related information only in the performance of the responsibilities of position and exercises care to prevent unnecessary disclosure to others.
Minimum Qualifications (Knowledge, Skills, Abilities, Education, Experience, Certifications, Licensure)
- Master's Degree in a related field, including but not limited to Public Health and Social Work, plus three (3) or more years post Master’s experience to include administration of comparable programs, supervision of professional staff, and experience in rape crisis services and/or violence prevention. Ability to effectively manage and respond to high risk crisis and safety situations.
- Ability to lead, coach and develop diverse staff team including the selection, training, supervision and retention of professionals.
- Ability to lead critical and strategic planning, organize and manage concurrent priorities and projects including fiscal/grant management, and compliance requirements.
- Contemporary knowledge of theory and best practices related to trauma informed practice and strategies relating to supporting both staff providing crisis services and victims/survivors in need of support. Demonstrated commitment to inclusion, equity, antiracist and trauma informed practice.
- Strong organizational skills to manage and improve work systems using technology. Ability to manage multiple tasks simultaneously, meet time sensitive deadlines and prioritize workload.
- Strong written and verbal communication.
- Ability to interact professionally, effectively, and collaboratively with broad range of partners. Effectively works both in a team and independently. Knowledge of emerging technologies and has proven expertise using Teams, Google Apps, or comparable software; Zoom; Microsoft Office 2016 or newer, and database systems. Understands best use and risk mitigation for technology use.
- Contemporary knowledge of current events, social movements, climate, and political trends and their implication on service. Experience working with relevant laws and practices.
- Ability to travel. Some weekend or evening hours required. A valid driver's license and access to car required.
Preferred Qualifications (Knowledge, Skills, Abilities, Education, Experience, Certifications, Licensure)
- Licensure in Massachusetts for independent practice of clinical social work (LICSW).
- Experience partnering with police, medical and legal professionals, teachers, schools, and other human service providers for comprehensive services.
- Experience supervising staff in various labor unions.
- Ability to write grants and contracts.
- Experience working in higher education setting.
- Understanding of unique needs related to service provision by a volunteer staff.
- Understands use of various social media platforms.
- Bilingual.
Additional Details
- Number of non-student employees directly supervised 10-12
- Number of non-student employees indirectly supervised: 21-50
- Number of student employees supervised at any given time: up to 100
Physical Demands/Working Conditions
- Typical counseling and psychological health clinic environment and activity.
- Ability to work in a noisy, crisis response environment.
Salary Information
Level 30
Special Instructions to Applicants
Along with the application, please submit a resume, cover letter and contact information for three (3) professional references. The search will remain open until filled.
UMass Amherst is committed to a policy of equal opportunity without regard to race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, age, sexual orientation, national origin, ancestry, disability, military status, or genetic information in employment, admission to and participation in academic programs, activities, and services, and the selection of vendors who provide services or products to the University. To fulfill that policy, UMass Amherst is further committed to a program of affirmative action to eliminate or mitigate artificial barriers and to increase opportunities for the recruitment and advancement of qualified minorities, women, persons with disabilities, and covered veterans. It is the policy of the UMass Amherst to comply with the applicable federal and state statutes, rules, and regulations concerning equal opportunity and affirmative action.