Policy Advocate (Underserved Populations)

If your goal is to make a positive impact on the lives of sexual assault survivors, especially those whose voices have been under-represented, then this position is a perfect opportunity to enhance your professional journey. The Maryland Coalition Against Sexual Assault (MCASA) provides technical assistance, training, outreach, education, and prevention in pursuit of our mission to end sexual assault in Maryland. Our team works together to produce trainings, address system change, and increase public awareness. Through this position, you will be meeting the needs of underserved populations by providing outreach and training to professionals who serve sexual assault survivors. Key responsibilities of this position include coordinating MCASA’s Women of Color Network and providing leadership to MCASA’s Prison Rape Elimination Act (PREA) program. PREA-specific work will help ensure that incarcerated survivors of sexual violence receive appropriate services as required by the Prison Rape Elimination Act (PREA). The ideal candidate will possess exceptional communication and public speaking skills, and a knowledge of sexual assault and intersectionality.

This position, along with the rest of the agency, entails significant virtual work and allows for flexible scheduling. Employees are expected to be available to travel to the MCASA office in Silver Spring within 90 minutes or live within the State of Maryland. While many job duties may be performed virtually, some are in-person. This may include on-site meetings, meetings with stakeholders or community members, training workshops, outreach events, conferences or other in-person events. The MCASA offices are also available to employees, and they may choose to work there as needed. Most MCASA staff work remotely, with MCASA providing laptops and office supplies.

Responsibilities and Duties

• Identify training opportunities and create meaningful content and curriculum that support MCASA’s mission to end sexual assault in Maryland and our commitment to ensuring excellence in resources for and about underserved sexual assault survivors.
• Support Maryland’s rape crisis and recovery centers in improving response and outreach to underserved populations through training and technical assistance and dissemination of recent research findings or policy changes. Underserved populations may include, but are not limited to, rural populations, members of the military, women of color, people who are economically challenged, incarcerated survivors, LGBTQ+ individuals, people with disabilities, people who are sex workers, victims of human sex trafficking, people in later life, people with isolated professional or school cultures (such as elite sports), and allies of these populations.
• Assist with development and coordination of MCASA’s Maryland Women of Color Network (MWOCN) including meeting facilitation, group expansion, producing quarterly newsletters, maintaining the MWOCN membership directory, and event planning. Ensure communication to support a positive relationship with MWOCN and other parts of MCASA.
• Serve on the planning committee for the MWOCN conference and other events. Assist with the production and presentation of annual conference and events.
• Convene and facilitate monthly PREA Advocate Calls and help ensure incarcerated survivors have access to services.
• Coordinate with MCASA’s Communication Coordinator to update and distribute electronic and tangible educational materials including training announcements, brochures, booklets, fact sheets, press releases, and other outreach connected to services for underserved populations and the Maryland Women of Color Network.

General

• Gather and document feedback from training participants after each educational session to assess satisfaction, knowledge gained, and effectiveness of instruction
• Collect data and prepare grant reports.
• Support effective agency communications including, for example, listservs, social media, e-newsletter, conference calls, etc.
• Prioritize and fulfill responsibilities in accordance with available funding and grant requirements.
• Recruit and supervise interns each semester, Fall, Spring, and Summer
• Other duties as assigned by Executive Director or Associate Director

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Public Health, Women’s Studies, Education, Sociology, Criminal Justice, Social Work, or related degree preferred
• Experience working with survivors of sexual assault or other personal violence such as domestic violence, child abuse, elder abuse, or stalking preferred
• Knowledge and previous work experience to include one or more of the following: direct service work, writing, professional training, and community outreach
• Grant writing experience is an asset
• Strong oral and written communication, organizational, problem solving and planning skills.
• Proficiency in project management and experience collaborating with partners strongly preferred
• Experience with Microsoft Office applications (Word, Power Point, Excel), the Google Suite, Canva, and Zoom Webinar are assets
• Performing arts and debate experience preferred
• Ability to use and communicate professionally and effectively through e-mail and social media including Facebook, X, Instagram, Bluesky and other platforms; able to learn and use new technology such as online databases and communication systems
• Commitment to ending sexual violence and serving underserved populations
• Access to a car and valid driver’s license; this position requires some travel within Maryland

Classification: Non-Exempt

Salary: Individuals holding a comparable position at the time of this posting receive compensation ranging from $47,000 – $54,000 (depending on experience and education) and the salary for this position is expected to fall within this range.

MCASA is committed to transparency, fairness, and equity in the hiring process. Compensation is determined based on education and work experience, and language skills. MCASA values a range of life and work experiences and encourages people to apply for positions they believe they are a good fit for even if there are aspects of the job that they will have to learn.

MCASA sets salary ranges being attentive to compensation levels throughout the agency, equity, and skill levels. The agency is mindful of the need to use objective criteria to ensure that new employees and current staff with similar credentials are paid fairly and the agency does not negotiate salaries with individual employees or applicants. MCASA does not consider prior salary history of applicants and requests that applicants omit this information from application materials.

MCASA’s current benefits include:

• 80% health insurance premium (3 plans to choose from)
• 100% of vision and dental insurance premiums
• Flexible work environment, including hybrid work, flexible hours, and supportive
• colleagues
• 40-hour work week including paid one-hour lunches
• Paid sick and safe leave
• Twelve paid holidays
• Paid vacation beginning at 10 days the first 12 months, increasing to 15 days the following year, with additional set increases over time.
• Three additional floating holidays during the winter holiday seasons (12/15 – 1/7)
• Two personal days annually
• Non-exempt employees: Overtime after 40 hours (note this is legally required, not a true benefit).This position is non-exempt.

Other reasons you will love working at MCASA:

• Organizational commitment to survivor justice, sexual assault prevention, and offender accountability
• Organizational culture that is inclusive, supportive, and purposeful
• Balance between individual and collaborative work
• Professional development opportunities inside and outside the agency

Physical Demands

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to sit; use hands to finger, handle, or feel; and talk or hear. The employee frequently is required to stand, walk, and reach with hands and arms. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 10 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and ability to adjust focus.

Work Environment

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.

MCASA is committed to advancing equal employment opportunities as required by law.

Medical, Dental & Vision Insurance. Personal, holiday, sick, & annual leave.