Victim Specialist

Full Job Description

This position provides crime victims with statutory rights & services in a victim-centered and trauma-informed manner & assists witnesses to crime with fairness and respect.

Incumbent has responsibility for case management, contacting victims and witnesses directly and assists victims of crime by providing a full range of services.

Open to the first 50 applicants or until 03/19/2026 whichever comes first. All applications submitted by 11:59 (EST) on the closing day will receive consideration.

GS-07 GRADE LEVEL: To qualify for this position you must possess all of the following minimum qualifications by close of the announcement.

EXPERIENCE: 1 full year of specialized experience comparable in scope & responsibility to the GS-05 grade level in the Federal service (obtained in either the public or private sectors).

Experience at this level must include all of the following: 1) Assisting in providing basic crises support service; 2) Helping others understand processes by providing information on procedures & preparing related forms or documents under guidance; 3) Assisting with program activities including gathering information & maintaining basic documentation or record-keeping systems; 4) Performing routine administrative, documentation, & data-entry tasks, including maintaining logs, preparing reports, & entering information into records systems while maintaining confidentiality; & 5) Supporting training, outreach, or technical assistance efforts, such as preparing materials, scheduling events, & participating in community awareness activities.

You must include your resume with hours worked per week annotated.

-OR- EDUCATION: Completion of at least 1 year of graduate level education or superior academic achievement, if related to the occupation. You must include transcripts.

-OR- COMBINATION: Completion of a combination of education & experience as described above.

Combinations of successfully completed post-high school education & experience may be used to meet total qualification requirements for the grade levels specified & may be computed by first determining the applicant's total qualifying experience as a percentage of the experience required for the grade level; then determining the applicant's education as a percentage of the education required for the grade level; & then adding the two percentages.

The total percentages must equal at least 100 percent to qualify an applicant for that grade level. You must include transcripts.

GS-09 GRADE LEVEL: To qualify for this position you must possess all of the following minimum qualifications by close of the announcement.

EXPERIENCE: 1 full year of specialized experience comparable in scope & responsibility to the GS-07 grade level in the Federal service (obtained in either the public or private sectors).

Experience at this level must include all of the following: 1) Providing direct victim support services, including conducting initial assessments of victim needs, delivering crisis intervention, offering information & options, & making referrals to community resources while ensuring statutorily mandated victim rights are upheld; 2) Supporting victims throughout investigative & prosecutorial processes, including accompanying victims during interviews, forensic examinations, enforcement operations, & court proceedings; maintaining contact & providing updates consistent with case integrity requirements; 3) Explaining the criminal justice system, victim rights, & procedural steps; assisting with preparation of statements, protection orders, court documents, & victim impact statements; 4) Evaluating victim eligibility for state victim compensation programs, gathering necessary information, & assisting victims with application completion & documentation requirements; 5) Initiating & maintaining victim service documentation, including case logs, reports, & entries in a records systems, ensuring confidentiality & accuracy in accordance with legal & agency policy; & 6) Supporting delivery of technical assistance & training for law enforcement & victim service personnel, contributing to victim-centered practices & community awareness initiatives.

You must include your resume with hours worked per week annotated.

-OR- EDUCATION: Completion of at least a Master's or equivalent graduate degree or 2 full years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to such a degree or LL.B.

or J.D., if related to the occupation. You must include transcripts. -OR- COMBINATION: Completion of a combination of education & experience as described above.

Combinations of successfully completed post-high school education & experience may be used to meet total qualification requirements for the grade levels specified & may be computed by first determining the applicant's total qualifying experience as a percentage of the experience required for the grade level; then determining the applicant's education as a percentage of the education required for the grade level; & then adding the two percentages.

The total percentages must equal at least 100 percent to qualify an applicant for that grade level.

Only graduate education in excess of the amount required for the next lower grade level may be used to qualify. You must include transcripts.

GS-11 GRADE LEVEL: To qualify you must possess all of the following minimum qualifications by close of the announcement EXPERIENCE: 1 full year of specialized experience comparable in scope & responsibility to the GS-09 grade level in the Federal service (obtained in either the public or private sectors).

Experience at this level must include all of the following: 1) Providing comprehensive, independent victim services, including crisis intervention, emergency assistance, needs assessment, safety planning, & referrals to community resources, while ensuring all statutorily mandated victim rights & services are upheld; 2) Supporting victims through the full span of investigative & prosecutorial processes, including accompanying victims to interviews, forensic exams, enforcement operations, & judicial proceedings, while providing case updates & guidance on criminal justice procedures; 3) Evaluating eligibility for state victim compensation programs, gathering documentation, assisting victims with applications, & maintaining accurate case records & file systems; 4) Applying deep knowledge of Federal Victims' Rights laws, Attorney General Guidelines, state compensation systems, & law enforcement operations to support victims, guide them through legal processes, & liaise with prosecutors & law enforcement officials; 5) Independently initiating, maintaining, & safeguarding victim service documentation, including reports, case logs, & accurate entries in law enforcement records management systems in accordance with policy & security requirements; 6) Providing technical assistance & training to law enforcement personnel & victim service professionals, developing training materials, & participating in community awareness activities related to victim services; & 7) Exercising independent judgment in prioritizing & managing victim service cases, including responding to complex, sensitive, or unexpected situations requiring diplomacy, analytical skills, & trauma-informed practices.

You must include your resume with hours worked per week annotated. -OR- EDUCATION: Completion of at least a Ph.D.

or equivalent doctoral degree or 3 full years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to such a degree or LL.M., if related to the occupation. You must include transcripts.

-OR- COMBINATION: Completion of a combination of education & experience as described above.

Combinations of successfully completed post-high school education & experience may be used to meet total qualification requirements for the grade levels specified & may be computed by first determining the applicant's total qualifying experience as a percentage of the experience required for the grade level; then determining the applicant's education as a percentage of the education required for the grade level; & then adding the two percentages.

The total percentages must equal at least 100 percent to qualify an applicant for that grade level.

Only graduate education in excess of the amount required for the next lower grade level may be used to qualify. You must include transcripts.

*See more qualification information including volunteer experience and listing hours in the Additional Information section* Major Duties:

Major Duties of the Victim Specialist position include, but are not limited to the following: Provides crisis intervention, emergency assistance, needs assessment, referrals to community resources.

Assistance with applications for victims' assistance, protection orders, impact statements, restitution claims, and other documentation.

Assists victims with participation in investigative, prosecutorial and judicial processes. Assists law enforcement and victim advocates in park units working with victims of crime.

Maintains logs of casework and compiles reports. Assists with data collection and annual reporting of the program.

Training of NPS law enforcement officers on statutory obligations of victim services and rights, victim-centered best practices, and trauma-informed victim support.

Promotes the goals of the victim assistance program through direct connection to park units across the service. Duties will be developmental in nature when filled below the full performance level.

Any individual who is currently holding, or has held within the previous 52 weeks, a General Schedule position under non-temporary appointment in the competitive or excepted service, must meet time-in-grade requirements (must have served 52 weeks at the next lower grade or equivalent in the Federal service); with few exceptions as outlined in 5 CFR 300.603(b).

Time-In-Grade requirements also apply to former Federal civilian employees applying for reinstatement who have had a break in service of less than one year, as well as current employees applying for Veterans Employment Opportunities Act of 1998 (VEOA) appointments.

Time-in-grade does not apply to new excepted service appointments and must be met by the closing date of this announcement.