Allegheny County Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Summary

The Missing Persons & Exploitation Prevention Coordinator will serve as the County's central point of contact for missing persons reports, with a priority on children and vulnerable adults. This role ensures rapid response to recover missing individuals, addresses the underlying risks contributing to disappearances, and implements strategies to prevent reoccurrence. The coordinator will also lead the County's efforts in preventing and disrupting human trafficking, child exploitation, and other forms of abuse that may be linked to missing incidents.

Key Responsibilities

1. Case Management & Coordination

• Receive, log, and track all missing person reports referred to the County, ensuring accurate data entry into internal systems and state/national databases (NCIC, NAMUS).
• Coordinate the County's missing persons response in partnership with law enforcement, CYF caseworkers, schools, and community agencies.
• Lead high-priority response efforts for cases involving suspected human trafficking, exploitation, or significant mental health risk.
• Maintain a secure, confidential case management system for all open and closed cases.

1. Interagency Collaboration

• Serve as liaison between CYF, Allegheny County Police, Pennsylvania State Police, municipal police departments, the FBI, NCMEC, and other relevant entities.
• Facilitate multidisciplinary team (MDT) meetings for complex or high-risk cases involving law enforcement, social services, victim advocacy, and healthcare providers.
• Develop joint prevention campaigns with community partners, focusing on at-risk youth populations.

1. Prevention & Recovery Support

• Create and maintain individualized recovery plans for returned missing persons, including interviews, safety planning, and referrals to therapeutic or protective services.
• Conduct exploitation risk assessments for all recovered children and youth in CYF care.
• Implement prevention strategies targeting repeat-missing youth, including mentoring, family mediation, and placement stability initiatives.

1. Special Focus - Human Trafficking & Exploitation Prevention

• Identify patterns and indicators of human trafficking and exploitation linked to missing person cases.
• Develop and maintain relationships with victim service providers, safe housing programs, and survivor advocacy networks.
• Deliver countywide training for CYF, foster carers, and law enforcement on trafficking indicators, survivor-centered engagement, and rapid response protocols.
• Ensure mandatory reporting to NCMEC and law enforcement for all suspected trafficking cases.

1. Compliance & Reporting

• Ensure compliance with Pennsylvania missing persons laws, the Adam Walsh Act, the Missing Children's Assistance Act, and Allegheny County policy.
• Submit monthly data reports to leadership highlighting trends, recovery rates, and trafficking concerns.
• Maintain readiness for internal audits, external reviews, and grant compliance checks.

1. Training & Policy Development

• Develop and deliver training modules for County staff, law enforcement, and partner agencies on missing persons procedures, exploitation risk, and trauma-informed practice.
• Contribute to updates of the County's Missing Persons Protocol and Human Trafficking Response Plan.

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Qualifications

1. Education & Experience

• Bachelor's degree in criminal justice, Social Work, Public Administration, or related field (Master's preferred).
• Minimum 3 years' experience in missing person's coordination, child welfare, victim services, or law enforcement.
• Demonstrated experience in human trafficking prevention and multi-agency coordination.

1. Knowledge, Skills & Abilities

• Strong understanding of Pennsylvania missing people's statutes, NCIC protocols, and child protection law.
• Excellent crisis response, investigative coordination, and stakeholder engagement skills.
• Ability to handle sensitive, confidential information with integrity.
• Skilled in risk assessment and trauma-informed interviewing.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite and case management software.

1. Licenses & Certifications

• Valid Pennsylvania driver's license.
• NCIC certification (or ability to obtain within 6 months).
• Completion of certified human trafficking awareness and response training (or ability to obtain within 6 months).
• Child abuse and criminal history clearances required.

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Working Conditions

• Primarily office-based with required fieldwork.
• May require evening, weekend, or on-call availability for urgent cases.
• Frequent contact with individuals in crisis and exposure to sensitive information.