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Appointment Type: Permanent-Exempt (PEX) Appointment. Pursuant to the City & County of San Francisco Charter, Section 10.104.13, any person occupying a position under exempt appointment shall not be subject to civil service selection, appointment, and removal procedures. Exempt employees shall serve at the pleasure of the Appointing Officer.
The San Francisco District Attorney's Office is one of the premier law enforcement organizations in the United States. Our mission is to collaborate with the City’s diverse communities and law enforcement agencies to make San Francisco one of the safest cities in America. Our office engages in public education and crime prevention efforts while maintaining the traditional role of investigating, charging, and prosecuting all criminal violations occurring within the City and County of San Francisco. The unparalleled opportunities for challenging, meaningful, and sophisticated work have consistently drawn top candidates to our office over the years.
The Victim Services Division (VSD) of the San Francisco District Attorney’s Office strives to make the criminal justice system humane and accessible by providing support and assistance to victims and their families in the immediate aftermath of a crime, during criminal prosecution, and after a verdict has been reached. Even if justice is served in the courtroom, it does not always immediately change the way victims feel in their day-to-day lives. Our division provides victims with advocacy support during the pendency of the criminal justice process, streamlines the process for collecting restitution and recouping compensation for financial losses when possible, and, in general, works tirelessly to support victims regain control over their lives. To accomplish that end, our division is organized into the following units:
• Victim Advocacy Unit
• Victim Compensation Unit
• Restitution Unit
The Office of the District Attorney is seeking the role of a Victim/Witness Advocate to work within the Victim Advocacy Unit.
The Victim Services Division is seeking qualified applicants for positions in the 8129 Victim Witness Investigator I job classification, functional title Victim/Witness Advocate. The Victim/Witness Advocate role is an in office, administrative role that involves working to support victims of crime dealing with crisis in the aftermath of a crime. While Advocates support victims, witnesses, and survivors during challenging circumstances, the role does not include providing clinical services, therapeutic counseling, or long‑term social‑work intervention. Instead, Advocates coordinate legally mandated services under the Victim‑Witness Assistance Program, pursuant to California Penal Code Section 13835 and the Victims’ Bill of Rights.
Examples of job duties and responsibilities for all vacancies include but are not limited to:
*Please Note: Placement will be based on prior experience, certification, and team assignment rotations may occur on occasion based on business operational needs and remain at the discretion of VSD leadership.
Requires a minimum of one (1) year of training, education, and/or experience in social welfare, behavioral science, criminology, or a closely related field and responsible social service, criminal justice or advocacy experience.
Note: One year of full-time employment is equivalent to 2000 hours. (2000 hours of qualifying work experience is based on a 40-hour work week.)
Applicants must meet the minimum qualification requirement by the final filing date unless otherwise noted. Applicants who meet the minimum qualifications are not guaranteed to advance through all of the steps in the selection process.
Desired qualifications
B.A. or higher in Social Work, Psychology, Sociology or closely related field, or equivalent experience.
Training in domestic violence, sexual assault, human trafficking, crisis response, 40-hour Entry Level Advocate, 24-hour Advanced Advocate and/or Mandated Reporter certifications.
Desired Experience and Knowledge
Strong understanding of trauma recovery, victim advocacy, mental health services, the criminal justice system, court processes, and public safety. Familiarity with San Francisco’s diverse neighborhoods and their community based programs. Experience collaborating across government agencies and facilitating multi‑agency processes. Demonstrated ability to take initiative, work independently, operate flexibly in a fast‑paced environment, and manage a high volume of cases. Background in crisis‑intervention techniques and trauma‑informed practices. Ability to speak Spanish or Cantonese strongly desired.
Knowledge, Skills & Abilities
All applicants are required to submit the following supplemental materials in a single Word or PDF file along with their application:
Applications will be screened for relevant qualifying experience. Additional screening mechanisms may be implemented in order to determine candidates’ qualifications. Only those applicants who most closely meet the needs of the Department will be invited to participate in the selection process. Applicants meeting the minimum qualifications are not guaranteed advancement in the process. Additional supplemental materials may be requested during the recruitment process.
Selection Procedures: After application submission, candidates deemed qualified must complete all subsequent steps to advance in this selection process, which includes the following:
Candidates who meet the minimum qualifications will be sent a Supplemental Questionnaire. The Supplemental Questionnaire is designed to measure the knowledge, skills and abilities, experience, and proficiency across skills relevant to the role. All candidates’ responses to the Supplemental Questionnaire are subject to verification.
Verification of Education and Experience:
Applicants may be required to submit verification of qualifying education and experience at any point during the recruitment and selection process. Education verification information on verifying foreign education credits or degree equivalency, can be found at https://sfdhr.org/how-verify-education-requirements
Note: Falsifying one’s education, training, or work experience or attempted deception on the application may result in disqualification for this and future job opportunities with the City and County of San Francisco.
All work experience, education, training and other information substantiating how you meet the minimum qualifications must be included on your application by the filing deadline. Information submitted after the filing deadline will not be considered in determining whether you meet the minimum qualifications. Resumes will not be accepted in lieu of a completed City and County of San Francisco application. Applications completed improperly may be cause for ineligibility and/or, disqualification.
What else should I know?
Applicants will receive a confirmation email from notification@careers.sf.gov that their online application has been received in response to every announcement for which they file. Applicants should retain this confirmation email for their records. Failure to receive this email means that the online application was not submitted or received.
The City and County of San Francisco encourages women, minorities and persons with disabilities to apply. Applicants will be considered regardless of their sex, race, age, religion, color, national origin, ancestry, physical disability, mental disability, medical condition (associated with cancer, a history of cancer, or genetic characteristics), HIV/AIDS status, genetic information, marital status, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, gender expression, military and veteran status, or other protected category under the law.
