Legislative Advocate Jobs in Florida (NOW HIRING)

The Victim Advocate in the Center for Victim Advocacy and Violence Prevention provides individualized advocacy services to students, faculty, and staff and consultative services to the broader campus community. This position provides confidential survivor-centered, trauma-informed, and empowerment services within an integrated healthcare framework for those who have experienced crime, violence, or abuse. Primary responsibilities include crisis intervention, safety planning, risk assessment, emotional and academic support, resource navigation and referrals, assistance in understanding and navigating reporting options (including law enforcement, Title IX, and Student Conduct processes), court accompaniment, assistance in filing injunctions for protection, and advocacy for survivors. This position also supports outreach and awareness efforts related to victim advocacy and CVAVP's services. 

This position is considered Essential Personnel for USF as it relates to health and wellness needs and emergencies. This position will serve students, faculty, and staff on the Tampa campus, assist the St. Petersburg campus as needed, and serve as the primary advocate for the Sarasota-Manatee campus. This position reports directly to the Assistant Director of Victim Advocacy at the Center for Victim Advocacy & Violence Prevention. Some evening and weekend hours are required (rotating on-call component.)

Working at USF

With approximately 16,000 employees, the University of South Florida is one of the largest employers in the Tampa Bay area. We are dedicated to cultivating a talented, engaged and driven workforce that strives to be bold. Employees excel in USF's rich academic environment, which fosters their development and advancement. In 2025, Forbes recognized USF as one of Florida's best large employers, ranked No. 1 among the state's 12 public universities. Our first-class benefits package includes medical, dental and life insurance plans, retirement plan options, employee and dependent tuition programs, generous leave, and hundreds of employee perks and discounts.

About USF 

The University of South Florida is a top-ranked research university serving approximately 50,000 students from across the globe at campuses in Tampa, St. Petersburg, Sarasota-Manatee and USF Health. USF is recognized by U.S. News & World Report as a top 50 public university and the best value in Florida. U.S. News also ranks the USF Health Morsani College of Medicine as the No. 1 medical school in Florida and in the highest tier nationwide. USF is a member of the Association of American Universities (AAU), a group that includes only the top 3% of universities in the U.S. With an all-time high of $738 million in research funding in 2024 and as a top 20 public university for producing U.S. patents, USF uses innovation to transform lives and shape a better future. The university generates an annual economic impact of more than $6 billion. USF's Division I athletics teams compete in the American Athletic Conference. Learn more at www.usf.edu.

Compliance and Federal Notices

This position may be subject to a Level 1 or Level 2 criminal background check.

Applicants have rights under Federal Employment Laws: 

The University of South Florida is an equal opportunity employer that does not discriminate against any employee or applicant for employment based on any characteristic protected by law.  The University maintains programs for protected veterans and individuals with disabilities in accordance with all applicable federal and state laws.

Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA)

Applicants for USF employment are entitled to request reasonable accommodation(s) in the application process. A request is to be made at least five (5) working days prior to the time the accommodation(s) is needed. Visit the Central Human Resources ADA Accommodations webpage for more information on requesting an accommodation during the application/interview process.

Equal Employment Opportunity

The University of South Florida is an equal opportunity employer that does not discriminate against any employee or applicant for employment based on any characteristic protected by law.  The University maintains affirmative action programs for protected veterans and individuals with disabilities in accordance with all applicable federal and state laws.  This job description does not constitute an employment contract.  

Minimum Qualifications: 

• Each position assigned to this classification must require specific training at the Bachelor's degree or Master's degree level in Education, Special Education, Psychology, Social Work, or other field appropriate to the program content. Bachelor's degree candidates must have at least two years of applicable experience. The Master's degree may substitute for the required experience. Specific certifications or licensures may be required or preferred for certain program areas.
   

Preferred Qualifications: 

• Master's degree in Psychology, Social Work, Criminology, Gender Studies, Counseling, or other appropriate field. A minimum of six months of experience in direct client victim services (encompassing knowledge of trauma-informed, survivor-sensitive victim service provision, criminal justice system process, Florida criminal statutes, and issues related to a wide variety of crime victimization). Designated by the State of Florida as a Victim Services Practitioner* or equivalent certification in Victim Assistance Training through the Office for Victims of Crime. (*Please be advised that applicants lacking the Victim Services Practitioner Designation must obtain it within the first year of employment - will be paid by CVAVP). One year of post-graduate professional work experience. One year of work experience in a college environment. Experience in providing educational workshops and consultation services.

    Senate Bill 1310- The Florida Senate (https://www.flsenate.gov/Session/Bill/2023/1310) is conditional upon meeting all employment eligibility requirements in the U.S.
    SB 1310: Substitution of Work Experience for Postsecondary Education Requirements
    A public employer may include a postsecondary degree as a baseline requirement only as an alternative to the number of years of direct experience required, not to exceed:
(a) Two years of direct experience for an associate degree;
(b) Four years of direct experience for a bachelor's degree;
(c) Six years of direct experience for a master's degree;
(d) Seven years of direct experience for a professional degree; or
(e) Nine years of direct experience for a doctoral degree
    Related work experience may not substitute for any required licensure, certification, or registration required for the position of employment as established by the public employer and indicated in the advertised description of the position of employment.
    Minimum Qualifications that require a high school diploma are exempt from SB 1310.

• Serve as a Victim Advocate by providing confidential, survivor-centered, trauma-informed, and empowerment-based advocacy services to students, faculty, and staff impacted by crime, violence, or abuse. Conduct crisis intervention, safety planning, risk assessment, and provide emotional support, advocacy, and resource navigation. Assist individuals in understanding and navigating reporting and response options, including law enforcement, Title IX, Student Conduct, and other campus or community processes. Facilitate referrals to campus and community resources, accompany survivors to court proceedings and related appointments, assist with filing injunctions for protection, and provide ongoing support throughout the decision-making processes. Consult with members of the campus community regarding survivor support and response. Maintain knowledge of issues affecting crime victims and survivors, and remain current on emerging trends, evidence-informed practices, legal considerations, and professional standards in victim advocacy and trauma-informed care. Conduct research and gather information as needed to support effective service delivery and provide follow-up advocacy services to ensure continuity of care and support.
• Participate in the 24/7 OneUSF rotating on-call advocacy system to provide after-hours support to individuals experiencing urgent or crisis-related needs. Responsibilities may include responding to individuals impacted by crime, violence, or abuse; providing crisis intervention, consultation, safety planning, and resource coordination; and offering in-person or virtual advocacy, accompaniment, and support during evenings, weekends, holidays, and university closures, as appropriate. Due to the nature of this role and the potential need for in-person response across USF campuses and within the surrounding community, access to reliable transportation is required.
• Advocacy Outreach and Awareness: Serve as a victim advocacy representative within CVAVP's outreach, prevention, visibility, and awareness efforts led and coordinated by CVAVP's prevention team. As requested by prevention, serve as the primary advocacy contact for tabling (events, resource fairs, orientations, etc.) and short-form presentations/activities that provide information about victim advocacy, CVAVP services, and campus and community resources. The position may also assist, in consultation with prevention and/or other victim advocates, in longer-form educational workshops/presentations on topics such as victim advocacy, supporting survivors, responding to disclosures, reporting options, safety planning, and trauma-informed care.
• Administrative Responsibilities: Maintain confidential records, case documentation, and statistical data in accordance with applicable laws, university policies, ethical standards, and professional best practices. Manage client, outreach, and programmatic data; maintain and update client resources; and remain informed regarding relevant university policies, procedures, and reporting processes, including Title IX, Student Conduct and Ethical Development (SCED), and Student Outreach and Support (SOS). Represent the office on university, divisional, and community committees, workgroups, and initiatives as assigned. Develop and maintain collaborative relationships with campus and community partners to enhance services, resources, and support for survivors. Assist with departmental and Health & Wellness/Student Success initiatives as needed, including strategic planning, trainings, outreach, programming, assessment, and other operational activities.