Student Services Specialist; Confidential Advocate

Description

Title: Student Services Specialist (Confidential Advocate)

Other Conditions: Temporary with the possibility of conversion to permanent. General funds to begin approximately June 2026, pending position clearance, availability of funds, satisfactory performance and program needs.

• Advocacy & Direct Support
  • Essential Function: Provides confidential advising and advocacy to students, faculty, and staff reporting incidents of sex discrimination or gender-based violence.
  • Essential Function: Serves as a primary intake point and first line of support for individuals in crisis, conducting assessments, clarifying needs, and facilitating connections to the most appropriate campus and community services.
  • Essential Function: Offers education and advocacy regarding discrimination policies, grievance processes, supportive measures, safe zones, and related resources.
  • Essential Function: Enhances safety through risk assessments, safety planning, and implementation of supportive measures, using best-practice tools.
  • Essential Function: Supports reporting parties through informal and formal University processes, including document preparation, hearings, and serving as a process advisor when appointed.
  • Facilitates informal resolution and alternative dispute resolution processes when appropriate.
  • Maintains confidentiality in compliance with HRS § 304A-120 (2016), Title IX, the Clery Act, VAWA, and Hawai'i Rules of Evidence 505.5 (including the required 35-hour training).
• Prevention & Education
  • Develops and delivers culturally appropriate prevention, wellness, and educational programming in collaboration with the Title IX Coordinator and campus units.
  • Provides workshops, trainings, outreach, and campus-wide initiatives to promote mental health, wellness, inclusion, and violence prevention.
  • Creates and disseminates educational content (e.g., websites, social media) on advocacy services, policies, and resources.
  • Evaluates the impact of educational efforts on campus climate, identifying trends, implicit/explicit bias, and systemic issues to recommend improvements.
• Process & Compliance
  • Documents case-related information, referrals, and follow-ups in a manner that protects privacy.
  • Collects, maintains, and reports aggregate service-related data to fulfill University reporting requirements.
  • Ensures the University’s compliance with state and federal laws related to discrimination, harassment, and violence prevention.
• Additional Responsibilities
  • Participates in Behavioral Intervention Team (BIT) / Coordination, Assessment, Response, and Education (CARE) team;
    Prevention, Awareness, Understanding (PAU) Violence Coalition; and other committees or task forces to strengthen campus well‑being and safety.
  • Builds capacity across campus to recognize and respond to wellness issues, providing appropriate referrals and follow‑up.
  • Collaborates with students, faculty, staff, and community partners to develop culturally responsive practices and improve institutional response to misconduct and violence.
  • Supports campus climate by engaging in outreach, professional development, and leadership opportunities aligned with the University’s strategic plan and mission.
  • Keeps abreast of current literature, professional best practices, and relevant associations.
  • Supports overall campus response efforts by assisting with direct services related to crisis intervention, mental health assistance, and other supportive efforts.
  • Provides evening or weekend support as needed.
  • Performs other duties as assigned.

• Possession of a baccalaureate degree in counseling, social work, gender studies, social sciences or related field and three (3) years of progressively responsible professional experience with responsibilities for providing direct advocacy and/or crisis counseling related to discrimination, sexual misconduct, and gender‑based violence, including but not limited to sexual assault, harassment, stalking, and domestic or dating violence; or any equivalent combination of education and/or professional work experience which provides the required education, knowledge, skills and abilities as indicated.
• Considerable working…