Director of Survivor Advocacy-Waco

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 ourStatement of Faith. 

 Job Title:Director of Survivor Advocacy 

Job Location:Local office, on-site

Job Status:Full-time, Grant-supported, with plans to seek continuation

Job Summary: The primary functions of the Director of Survivor Advocacy are to provide leadership and supervision for the local regional advocacy team; ensure effective advocate training and excellence in service delivery; develop and maintain strong relationships with law enforcement, state child welfare agencies (DFPS), care coordinators, service partners, and other referral sources; monitor intake of new clients; manage local office advocacy operations; and ensure timely and accurate documentation, data collection, and regional reporting for grant and state contract compliance.

Compensation: Annual salary

Benefits: Unbound Now is proud to offer a premier benefits package that prioritizes the health and financial security of our team members and their families:

• 100% Employer-Paid Health Insurance: We cover 100% of medical premiums for both the employee and their family.
• 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.

Schedule/Availability:  Generally Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Weekends, evenings, and holidays as needed. Frequent back-up/supervisory call. Anticipated 45–50-hour workweek. Active on-site presence required at the local office.

Working conditions:Work is performed in standard office settings, hospital/court environments, partner agency facilities, service-provider sites, or other professional business environments. Extensive work is conducted within the community, including high-vulnerability locations. Duties occasionally require exposure to weather extremes, hazardous environments, noise, fumes, odors, bodily fluids, and high-stress situations. 

Travel: Frequent travel within the immediate local area and occasional in-state or out-of-state travel required for partner meetings, crisis response, survivor transportation backup, court accompaniment, or professional training. 

Job Responsibilities

Supervisory & Direct Advocacy Leadership:

• Maintain a strong line of communication with Unbound Now's Survivor Advocacy Program Director regarding regional Survivor Advocacy Program issues, programmatic developments, and advocacy services.
• Meet regularly with other Unbound Now Directors of Survivor Advocacy and advocacy leadership for peer support, collaboration, and project alignment.
• In coordination with the Survivor Advocacy Program Director, Regional Director, and HR Department, recruit, screen, hire, train, engage, supervise, and retain Advocates, Program Support Specialists, Lead Advocates (where applicable), interns, and volunteers. Pursue high staff retention by actively supporting emotional/supervisory needs, shouldering advocate responsibilities during high-demand or emergency periods, and encouraging participation in the monthly advocate resilience group.
• Conduct annual performance reviews for all regional advocacy personnel in coordination with the Survivor Advocacy Program Director, if needed, and the HR Department.
• Rotate supervisory on-call coverage to support advocates responding on scene during all hours of the night. Maintain the regional office survivor advocacy calendar, including on-call schedules, time-off schedules, and weekly advocacy team meetings.
• Ensure immediate crisis intervention, ongoing relational advocacy, case management, and emotional support are provided to survivors of human trafficking (both CSEY Youth and Adult Labor). Ensure case management is relationship-based, trauma-responsive, and survivor-centered.
• Model, train, and evaluate advocates on conveying a service-oriented philosophy—ensuring warmth, helpfulness, warm handoffs, resourcefulness, and help for individuals even when ineligible for Unbound Now scope.
• Set clear policy and protocol expectations, assess advocate skill sets, provide on-the-job training, and model desired behaviors.
• Conduct individual advocate supervision at least every other week in person (virtual/phone supervision restricted to once every 30 days maximum). Ensure clinical/case supervision occurs within one week of any care coordination team meeting where an assigned client was staffed. Document all supervision sessions in a maintained supervision file for each advocate, incorporating Motivational Interviewing (MI) and Stages of Change terminology.
• Audit and verify advocate contact cadences with survivors (confirming bi-weekly in-town contacts, monthly out-of-town contacts, and routine safety plan updates). Contact youth/clients once a month and parents/guardians once a month, document contact, confirm advocate-reported contact records, and document confirmation. Meet with survivors both during and upon completion of service to assess their sense of safety and care within the program. 

Administrative, Compliance & Operational Governance:

• Monitor compliance with Unbound Now policies, procedures, state agency requirements (including DFPS MOUs), CSEY Minimum Standards, and, if applicable, the Adult Labor standards in coordination with the Survivor Advocacy Program Director.
• Audit and review documentation of all advocates to be within 72 hours of client interactions (at least twice a month formally with assistance from the specific Program Coordinators, Lead Advocates, or Support Specialists) and document the completion of the review. Ensure full team adherence to entering timely, accurate data into the case management software system. 
• Develop and maintain excellent working relationships with local DFPS, law enforcement agencies, care coordinators, service partners, MDTs, local task forces/coalitions, and the regional advisor for the Governor's Child Sex Trafficking Team (CSTT) to ensure rapid victim identification and seamless referral pathways. Actively seek formal and informal feedback from state and community service partners.
• Schedule and document all required onboarding and ongoing trainings for advocates, volunteers, and interns. Provide training, support, and supervision in the implementation of the OHTS tool. Schedule and facilitate weekly advocacy team meetings and staffings.
• Guide advocates through statutory mandatory reporting obligations and handle escalated red-flag or inappropriate behaviors and policy violations. Respond appropriately and immediately to allegations of abuse, including youth-to-youth sexual activity, adhering strictly to protocol: 
  • Take all allegations seriously.
  • Respond immediately—if there is reason to believe behavior is abusive, report to law enforcement and child welfare authorities (DFPS).
  • Report to the Regional Director and Survivor Advocacy Program Director immediately.
  • Collect information, as appropriate.
  • Develop and document the response and corrective action plan.
  • Determine and meet the needs of the alleged victim.
  • Prevent further access by the alleged perpetrator.
• Develop local survivor advocacy budgets and spending protocols with the Survivor Advocacy Program Director and ensure team budget compliance.
• Review regional programmatic data for grant and state contract reports, ensure completion of monthly DFPS reports, assist with quarterly reporting, and assist in setting goals and providing data for future DFPS contract and grant funding applications.
• Act as local Card Manager to review team spend weekly, assess policy adherence, and follow all Ramp Monthly Closeout Instructions and Process. Submit expense documentation properly per policy.
• Submit personal travel reimbursements daily and approve team TripLog weekly. Review and approve bi-weekly timesheets, verifying that grant and state contract allocations (DFPS) and mileage requirements are met.

Desired Outcomes:

• Clients (CSEY Youth and/or Adult Labor) receive immediate, compassionate, and safe crisis response, addressing urgent basic needs, physical safety, and crisis stabilization. 
• Survivors experience consistent, relationally grounded advocacy and case management with measurable progress toward personal safety, independence, and long-term recovery goals. 
• The local office advocacy program operates with high standards of excellence, fully complying with Unbound Now policies, DFPS MOUs, CSEY Minimum Standards, and state/federal grant requirements.
• Productive, collaborative relationships are maintained with local DFPS, law enforcement, care coordinators, local MDTs, service providers, and the regional CSTT advisor to ensure rapid victim identification and seamless referral pathways.
• Advocates, lead staff, and volunteers receive consistent clinical supervision, field backup, and resilience support—resulting in high staff morale, effective skill development, and strong team retention.
• Regional budgets, Ramp expense reviews, TripLog travel approvals, and bi-weekly grant/contract timesheet allocations are managed accurately and submitted within required organizational deadlines.
• Regional advocacy operations maintain active collaboration, alignment, and programmatic consistency with other Unbound Now regional offices and the Survivor Advocacy Program Director.

*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

Working Relationships:

Supervisor: Regional Director(with programmatic oversight from Survivor Advocacy Program Director). 

Supervises: Program Coordinators (where applicable, such as North Texas), Lead Advocates (where applicable), Advocates, Advocacy Program Support Specialists (where applicable), and survivor advocacy volunteers or interns.

Works with:Local DFPS caseworkers, Care Coordinators, MDTs, local task forces, Governor's Child Sex Trafficking Team regional advisor, regional Unbound Now team, and HQ staff.

Experience and Education

• Master's degree in Social Work (MSW) or a related human services field preferred; Bachelor's degree in a related human services field with significant relevant supervisory and field experience will be considered. 
• Clinical licensure (LMSW, LCSW, LPC, or equivalent Credentialed Advocate-CA) required
• Demonstrated supervisory and administrative leadership experience in a professional setting.
• Program management, state contract compliance (DFPS), and grant administration experience.
• Proven experience of 2–3 years in crisis intervention, case management, or direct victim services (specifically working with human trafficking survivors, domestic violence, homelessness, or substance dependence).

Core Competencies

• Demonstrated ability to recruit, train, develop, and retain frontline advocates; provides balanced, trauma-responsive supervision, field backup, and crisis debriefing that fosters team resilience and prevents staff burnout.
• Deep proficiency and application of Motivational Interviewing (MI), Stages of Change, and trauma-informed principles to guide advocates through complex crisis interventions across both CSEY youth and adult labor trafficking populations.
• Exceptional ability to build, maintain, and navigate strategic working relationships with law enforcement, DFPS caseworkers, MDTs, judicial systems, legal aid, and regional healthcare/social service networks.
• High-level organizational competence in tracking grant deliverables, monitoring state contract MOUs/standards, auditing case records to be within 72 hours, and executing rigorous financial closeout protocols (Ramp, TripLog, daily timesheet allocations).
• High emotional intelligence, composure, and swift decision-making capabilities during high-stakes emergency responses and complex child welfare or law enforcement interventions.
• Demonstrates strong personal resilience, vicarious trauma mitigation, self-care discipline, and cultural competency, serving as an inspiring leader and collaborative brand steward across all regional field operations.

Job Requirements:

• Mature Christian faith, as evidenced by participation in a local Christian church; commitment to the vision, mission, and core values of Unbound Now using the HOPE model. Active participation in staff devotions and consistent prayer support for the ministry, donors, and volunteers.
• Must be at least 23 years of age or older; pass employment eligibility verification (Form I-9); provide 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.
• Abide by all Unbound Now policies, state and federal regulations, MDT protocols, and organizational safety guidelines at all times, including the Abuse Prevention and Response Policy. Maintain strict adherence to administrative governance, including prompt completion of required annual/pre-service training, expense reviews, and daily timesheet/grant allocation logs.
• High level of emotional maturity, strong responsibility, and a strong service ethic with a commitment to excellence. Action-oriented, positive, innovative problem solver, adaptable, courageous, trustworthy, and tenacious in achieving goals, with a commitment to personal and professional growth, building trust with others, and maintaining absolute data security, survivor privacy, and confidentiality protocols.
• Demonstrated case management or crisis response experience with a high level of accountability, bringing frontline experience with a track record of success. Ability to operationalize advocacy strategies, support survivors and teams, achieve service objectives, contain field expenses within budget, and complete time-sensitive case documentation with excellence.
• Strong written, verbal, and interpersonal skills with proficiency in technology, case management database software, and collaborating effectively across teams. Ability to inspire, engage, and mobilize regional partners, CST care coordinators, law enforcement, and community leaders in Unbound Now’s mission.
• Knowledge of human trafficking dynamics and Unbound Now's core programs and operations, with the ability to maintain a hope-filled posture in the fight against human trafficking, practice robust vicarious trauma mitigation/self-care, and serve as a collaborative brand steward across all field operations.
• Ability to manage client assistance resources, field spending, travel reimbursements, and grant-funded allocations responsibly within allocated budget guidelines. Valid driver’s license, reliable personal vehicle, valid car insurance coverage, and willingness to use personal vehicles for survivor transport and field travel. Full willingness to serve in an on-call rotation for 24-hour crisis response, including nights, weekends, and holidays.

Physical and Driving Requirements:

• Must possess a valid driver’s license and be able to operate a personal vehicle as needed for work-related travel.
• Demands the ability to respond on scene during all hours of the night for backup calls.
• Occasional physical demands may require the ability to lift or carry loads up to 50 pounds.
• Frequent demands require close visual attention to detail and prolonged periods of mental concentration.

• Ability to enter documentation into a case management software system 
• Demands frequent remote video calls

Equal Employment Opportunity & Faith Statement: Unbound Now is an equal opportunity employer. As a faith-based non-profit organization, Unbound Now exercises its legal right under Section 702 of Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 to hire individuals who align with our Christian faith, mission, and core values.