Advocate Manager

Position Title: Advocate Manager

Supervisor: Program Manager

Position Classification: Full Time

Status: Salaried Exempt

Supervises: Volunteers

Program Description

Virginia Beach Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA), is a nonprofit organization that recruits, trains, and supervises community volunteers to advocate for abused and neglected children involved in the juvenile court system and in foster care.

Position Description

The Advocate Manager is responsible for advocate recruitment, selection, training, case assignment, supervision, recognition, and retention, as well as court report editing, and to serve as a court liaison during court hearings. The Advocate Manager is principally responsible for providing staff support to CASA volunteers, ensuring that children assigned to the CASA program receive appropriate advocacy services. The Advocate Manager will coordinate her/his efforts with the Program Manager and the other Advocate Managers. The Advocate Manager may occasionally procure and supervise interns.

Education and Experience

Bachelor’s degree in Social Sciences, Human Services, Child Development, Criminal Justice, or related areas, or an equivalent combination of education and experience. Professional knowledge of child abuse & neglect, juvenile law & justice, the foster care system, court proceedings and timelines, trauma, ACEs, attachment theory, resilience, domestic violence, addiction, substance dependency/use disorder, poverty, systemic oppression, and cultural competency/humility.

Summary of Responsibilities

• Advocate Management. Prepare, present, and implement measurable goals related to the improvement of recruitment, selection, training, continuing education, advocate support, and retention, as well as strategies and activities to achieve these goals.
• Advocate Training. Plan, coordinate, and lead a 35-hour pre-service training program for selected volunteer advocates, in collaboration with the Program Manager and other Advocate Managers. Secure community professionals to contribute their expertise to the training curriculum as guest speakers/presenters. Prepare and update the training manual and materials as needed. Coordinate court induction/swearing-in ceremonies for volunteers who comply with all training requirements. Training must meet requirements outlined by National CASA (NCASAA) and the Department of Criminal Justice Services (DCJS). Trainings are typically conducted in the evening time, so schedule flexibility is required.
• Advocate Continuing Education. Assist in planning and implementing at least 12-hours of continuing education training annually. Monitor the compliance of each volunteer advocate with this annual requirement.
• Advocate Supervision. Supervise, guide and support volunteer advocates as they carry out their advocacy. Respond to questions and provide support promptly when requested (including outside of typical business hours when occasional urgencies arise). Provide positive and constructive feedback to volunteers frequently, and corrective feedback as needed. Offer and implement coaching as needed. Monitor volunteer's activities for compliance with VA Code, DCJS, and NCASAA regulations. Apply corrective actions when regulations are breached. Review volunteer advocacy activities for completeness, thoroughness, and effectiveness. Review and edit volunteer court reports. Attend court case hearings with volunteer advocates. Attend case-related visits and meetings with CASA volunteers as needed.
• Case Management. Consult with Court and DHS staff regarding needs for volunteer assignments. Assign active volunteers to ongoing caseload. Initiate notifications to case agencies and parties when case is opened. Keep Program Manager informed of any problems or concerns involving CASAs or others which might have a negative impact on the organization. Read, edit, and prepare all CASA case reports for the court. Ensure that all CASA reports are submitted to the court in a timely manner. Enter and maintain case and CASA volunteer related information in the organization’s program database in a timely manner.
• Advocate Retention. Assist in identifying and implementing activities to increase volunteer retention by making their experience satisfying and rewarding; cultivating their feeling of belonging and connection to the organization; and maintaining a culture that is positive, enthusiastic, and encouraging.
• Institutional Relationships. Cultivate relationships with court personnel, DHS, GALs, schools, providers, etc. as volunteers carry out their advocacy.

Core Competencies

• Capacity to independently prepare, implement, and assess plans with multiple goals and deadlines.
  
• Capacity to identify and communicate opportunities for improvement, including issues that might have a negative impact on the organization.
  
• Capacity to speak in public.
  
• Capacity to conduct interviews to select volunteers based on a predefined criterion and understanding of their ability to meet the job requirements.
  
• Capacity to plan, prepare, and facilitate an extended training program as well as continuing education opportunities.
• Capacity to supervise, coach, give feedback, and support the work of staff and volunteers and to apply corrective actions when necessary.
  
• Capacity to understand legal laws and regulations, as well as organizational and grant policies.
  
• Capacity to maintain a professional, courteous, positive and collaborative relationship with professionals.
• Capacity to read, edit, prepare, and submit a significant amount of complex and detailed reports.
  
• Capacity to receive constructive feedback from both internal and external stakeholders.
  
• Capacity to maintain and grow knowledge in relevant areas. Research and learn how to do new things. Quick technological adopter.
  
• Capacity to work harmoniously and effectively with different personalities and individuals from diverse backgrounds.
  

Physical Demands and Work Environment

The employee is occasionally required to stand; walk; sit; use hands to handle or feel objects, tools or controls including the operation of computer keyboard, calculator, copier machine and other office equipment; reach with hands and arms; climb stairs; balance; bend and stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl; talk or hear within normal range for telephone use. The employee must be able to regularly lift and/or move up to 50 pounds. The employee must have close visual acuity to perform activities such as viewing a computer terminal, preparing and analyzing data and figures, extensive reading, and driving. Occasional high stress work may be required in dealing with volunteers/staff.

Salary range: $42,000–$45,000/year, salaried exempt.

Closing Date: Position is open until filled.

How to Apply: Submit cover letter, résumé, and three references to vlane@vbgov.com.

Equal Employment Opportunity Virginia Beach CASA is an equal opportunity employer. Virginia Beach CASA prohibits harassment and/or discrimination of any applicant or employee on the basis of race, religion, color, gender, national origin, disability, sexual orientation or any other basis made illegal by the laws of the United States or of the Commonwealth of Virginia.