Survivor Advocacy Services Manager

We welcome all interested candidates to send a resume and cover letter to hiring@lifewire.org. 

Learn more at: https://www.lifewire.org/category/careers/

LifeWire’s survivor Services Manager leads the Survivor Advocacy Services (SAS) team to ensure survivors receive support through individual advocacy, referrals, support groups, targeted advocacy (e.g., youth and children) and domestic violence education. The Manager ensures LifeWire has the policies, procedures, staffing, training and practices in place to provide excellent services while meeting LifeWire’s contractual requirements. This role carries significant operational, safety, and decision-making responsibility, including on-site leadership, on-call coverage, system-level coordination, and real-time crisis response impacting survivors, staff, and organizational compliance.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:

Team Leadership and Management: Lead the SAS team to provide survivor-driven and trauma-informed services in alignment with LifeWire’s vision, mission, and service philosophy. Ensure team members are supported, trained, supervised with a trauma-informed and person-centered approach. Foster a culture of guidance and growth by providing professional development opportunities, constructive feedback, and clear performance expectations. Address challenges collaboratively and compassionately while holding responsibility for managing performance, including addressing non-performance or policy violations, initiating corrective action and performance plans, and recommending or participating in hiring and disciplinary actions, as appropriate.

Program Oversight and Coordination: Oversee the survivor services programs and supervise Service Advocates in the delivery of services for survivors, ensuring all services are provided from a Housing First perspective. Actively drive program development initiatives to ensure services meet support standards, maintain efficiency, sustainability, and adhere to trauma-informed, survivor-centered practices. Serve as an on-call leader on a rotating or assigned basis, providing availability for housing-related emergencies, staff escalation, survivor safety concerns, and facilities incidents. Exercise independent judgment to assess risk, deploy resources, and ensure timely resolution in alignment with organizational protocols.

Compliance, Risk Management, and Reporting: Ensure all Services programs operate in full compliance with contractual, regulatory, and organizational requirements, with a proactive focus on risk identification, documentation, and mitigation. Provide regular and timely communication to the Services Director, including weekly program status updates that clearly outline progress, emerging risks, challenges, and resource needs. Oversee accurate and timely data entry, outcome measurement, and program evaluation to ensure reporting meets organizational standards and funder requirements. Maintain responsibility for program-related financial management and tracking, including monitoring expenditures, ensuring adherence to financial policies, supporting audit readiness, and promptly addressing discrepancies to protect organizational integrity and funding compliance.

Call-Back Scheduling, Oversight, and Reporting: Provide support to call-back calendar to ensure adequate coverage across programs, including managing schedules, confirming staff availability, and addressing gaps in coverage. Provide active oversight of call-back responses, monitor adherence to response expectations, and document call-back activity as needed for accountability, reporting, and continuous improvement.

Survivor Support and Advocacy: Provide direct support to survivors, including mobile advocacy as needed. Provide onsite support at LifeWire location(s), three times a week, and as necessary. Ensure swift, trauma-informed responses to immediate survivor needs, including working and coordinating after-hours and on-call shifts for emergency situations.

Collaboration and External Partnerships: Manage and engage with the DV HopeLine Partnership and support the development of internal and external referral structures. Coordinate specialized advocacy services such as Community Service Officers, Coordinated Domestic Violence Response Team, legal, law enforcement, and youth and children’s services, in accordance with program priorities and needs.

Reloshare Invoice Oversight and Financial Tracking: Oversee all ReLoShare hotel stay invoicing related to survivor placements, including logging client identification numbers, length of stay, and associated costs. Ensure invoices are reviewed for accuracy, tracked consistently, and submitted to the Finance department in a timely manner for accounting, reconciliation, and reporting purposes. Maintain organized records to support budget monitoring, audit readiness, and funder compliance.

Community Representation and Education: Represent LifeWire in community meetings, acting as a professional leader to raise awareness about domestic violence issues. Provide community education and resources as requested to support outreach efforts.

Other Duties: Perform other responsibilities as assigned in support of LifeWire’s mission, ensuring the continuous improvement of services and the well-being of survivors.

QUALIFICATIONS:

Language Skills:

Fluency in multiple languages is preferred but not required, for most direct services positions. LifeWire is especially interested in candidates who speak Spanish, Mandarin, Russian, Korean, or Vietnamese, as these are the most common languages in King County. LifeWire provides an additional hourly premium for staff members who demonstrate fluency in one or more foreign languages.

Education and Experience:

• A Bachelor’s degree in a related field is required. Relevant work experience may substitute for education.
• 5-7 years of experience in crisis intervention, domestic violence advocacy, or related fields, with at least 2 years in a supervisory or leadership role.
• Proven track record of working with individuals affected by economic abuse, mental health challenges, or chemical dependency required.

Leadership and Management Skills:

• Proven skill to build, lead, and manage diverse teams effectively, fostering a positive and inclusive work culture.
• Demonstrated ability to manage staff in environments with structured employment frameworks, including collective bargaining agreements, with a focus on consistency, documentation, fairness, and compliance.
• Advanced skills in performance management, including setting clear expectations, developing individual and team goals, and conducting performance reviews.
• Proven implementation and management of strategic plans to drive programs, team development and service outcomes.
• Skilled in conflict resolution and fostering team cohesion, especially during challenging situations.
• Manage interdepartmental coordination and work with other leadership team members to achieve organizational goals.
• Delegate tasks effectively and ensure team members meet performance standards while maintaining high morale.

Cultural Competence

• Must be able to work effectively with cultural humility among a diverse team and with participants from various cultural backgrounds.
• Strong intersectional understanding of race, identity, marginalization, and domestic violence.

Background and Transportation Requirements:

• Must meet LifeWire’s background check standards.
• Access to reliable transportation and a valid Washington State driver’s license is required. Must have the ability to travel independently between multiple work sites within a day. Mileage and fuel costs incurred for work-related travel will be reimbursed in accordance with LifeWire's reimbursement policy.
• Ability to safely drive LifeWire vehicles, including a 15-passenger van.

Certifications:

• CPR and First Aid Certification, and AIDS/HIV Bloodborne Pathogen Certification required.
• Must complete ongoing training for domestic violence advocacy as required by law within 6 months of hire.

Technical Skills:

• Proficiency in Microsoft Office, Adobe, and custom databases.
• Experience with data management, reporting, and using technology to optimize team performance and operations.

Work Style:

• Strong organizational skills to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment.
• Take initiative and work independently, while managing a team.
• Maintains strict confidentiality of participants at all times.
• Work efficiently and meet deadlines without sacrificing quality. Strong attention to accuracy in tasks like data entry, documentation, and compliance with processes and procedures.
• Strong problem-solving skills, able to think critically and adapt strategies quickly in complex and time-sensitive situations.
• Support team members and foster a collaborative, open communication environment.

Strong Communication Skills:

• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills with the ability to communicate effectively with staff, leadership, participants and members of the community, especially in urgent or high-stress situations.

Stress Management and Resilience:

• Experience or training in crisis management and de-escalation techniques in volatile or emotionally charged environments.
• Manage stress effectively and remain calm under pressure, including supporting staff during high stress situations.
• Displays empathy and sensitivity to support the emotional needs of both participants and staff in challenging situations.
• Guide and support staff through crisis/emergent situations, ensuring resolution, and maintaining team safety and morale. Demonstrated ability to guide the team through change and emerging challenges, proactively identifying solutions and leading efforts to improve processes.

Time Management and Prioritization:

• Excellent organizational skills, with the ability to prioritize tasks, manage multiple demands simultaneously, and delegate tasks appropriately.
• Skilled at delegating responsibilities and balancing the team's workload to ensure deadlines and organizational goals are met.