Victim Support Specialist

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Position Title: Victim Support Specialist
Location: New York
Country: United States
Deadline Date:

Job Details

Job Posting Organization:
The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) is a global development network established in 1965, with a mission to eradicate poverty and reduce inequalities through sustainable development. UNDP operates in approximately 170 countries and territories, working with governments and people to address development challenges. The organization emphasizes diversity, equity, and inclusion, ensuring that all personnel are empowered to contribute to its mission. UNDP is committed to upholding UN values and has a zero-tolerance policy towards sexual exploitation and abuse, harassment, and discrimination. The organization has established a corporate Strategy and Action Plan on the Prevention of Sexual Exploitation, Abuse, and Harassment (PSEAH) to prioritize accountability, prevention, reporting, and support for victims and survivors.

Job Overview:
The Victim Support Specialist (VSS) plays a crucial role in UNDP's victim-centered approach (VCA) to support individuals who report sexual misconduct or experience gender-based violence. The VSS serves as a key point of contact for victims of sexual harassment (SH) and sexual exploitation and abuse (SEA), providing confidential, empathetic, and professional assistance. The position is integral to ensuring that victims' voices are heard and respected throughout the reporting process. The VSS will work closely with various UNDP offices, including Audit and Investigations, Ethics, Legal Services, and Human Resources, to address incidents of sexual misconduct. The role requires the ability to travel as needed and to collaborate across multidisciplinary teams to achieve strategic goals.

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Lead the design and development of policies and strategies related to UNDP’s victim-centered approach (VCA).
• Develop a comprehensive victim-centered, trauma-informed response strategy and action plan for victims of SH and SEA.
• Provide guidance on the development of relevant policies, guidelines, and training modules to ensure alignment with a victim-centered approach.
• Strengthen UNDP’s capacity to analyze risks and identify trends related to sexual misconduct.
• Design and implement initiatives to promote awareness of UNDP’s strategies and policies on the victim-centered approach.
• Build capacity and awareness among personnel and partners regarding the victim-centered approach.
• Serve as a support person during formal investigation processes, ensuring a victim-centered approach is applied.
• Support Country Offices in establishing and strengthening victim-centered approaches, including mapping available services for victims.
• Represent UNDP in interagency working groups and contribute to relevant discussions on victim-centered approaches. 1
• Monitor progress of VCA activities and draft reports and documents as required.

Required Qualifications:

• Advanced university degree (master’s degree or equivalent) in Social Work, Sexual and Gender-Based Violence, Counselling, Psychology, Psychotherapy, or a related field is required.
• A first-level university degree (bachelor’s degree) in the above fields, combined with an additional two years of qualifying experience, will be considered in lieu of the advanced degree.
• Minimum of 7 years of demonstrated experience in case management, preferably involving victims of sexual harassment, exploitation, and abuse.
• Proven experience in prevention and response to sexual harassment in the workplace or sexual exploitation and abuse.
• Demonstrated ability to understand and respect cultural differences when working with victims from diverse backgrounds.
• At least 3 years of experience working in developing country contexts is required.
• Experience in designing and delivering training sessions related to victim-centered approaches is an asset.

Educational Background:
Candidates must possess an advanced university degree (master’s degree or equivalent) in relevant fields such as Social Work, Sexual and Gender-Based Violence, Counselling, Psychology, or Psychotherapy. Alternatively, a first-level university degree (bachelor’s degree) in these fields, along with two additional years of qualifying experience, will be considered. This educational background is essential for understanding the complexities of victim support and the psychological aspects of trauma.

Experience:
The position requires a minimum of 7 years of relevant experience for candidates with a master’s degree, or 9 years for those with a bachelor’s degree. This experience should include demonstrated work in case management, particularly with victims of sexual harassment, exploitation, and abuse. Candidates should have a proven track record in prevention and response initiatives related to sexual misconduct, as well as experience in culturally sensitive interactions with diverse populations. Experience in developing countries is also essential, along with a background in training and capacity-building programs.

Languages:
Fluency in English is mandatory for this position. Additionally, working knowledge of another UN language is considered an asset, enhancing the ability to communicate effectively in a diverse international environment.

Additional Notes:
The position is full-time and may involve travel as required. UNDP emphasizes a zero-tolerance policy towards sexual exploitation and misconduct, and all selected candidates will undergo rigorous reference and background checks. The organization is committed to diversity and inclusion, encouraging applications from marginalized or excluded populations. UNDP reserves the right to select one or more candidates from this vacancy announcement and may retain applications for similar positions at the same grade level.