Survivor Partnership Manager

Who We Are

International Justice Mission (IJM) is the global leader in protecting vulnerable people from violence around the world.

International Justice Mission (IJM) has implemented a collaborative approach to combating violence against those vulnerable for the last 23 years in 20 field offices around the world, including Africa, Asia, Europe, North and South America, collecting international best practices in tackling human trafficking. The capacity building model of criminal justice system transformation implemented by IJM includes individual support for survivors, support for government initiatives and jointly proposing policy changes to strengthen criminal justice systems (CJS) to respond effectively to human trafficking.

The Need

For 25 years, IJM has pioneered the work to protect vulnerable people from violence. 9 out of 9 times in the last decade, IJM’s Justice System Strengthening Projects have reduced slavery and violence between 50 and 85% for very large populations of people in poverty. As we grow to expand our impact to protect 500 million people from violence by 2030, we are seeking a Survivor Partnership Manager.

Job Description:

The primary responsibilities will include departmental management and developing and managing partnerships with other NGOs who provide social services including shelter services to survivors of trafficking. A main focus will be to work with partners who will provide direct social services on a broad spectrum to survivors. Partnership management will be a key area of focus. The Survivor Partnership Manager will develop and implement IJM’s strategy for social service provision for survivors of Trafficking in Human Beings (THB). This individual will lead a team of social workers and/or psychologists to facilitate holistic, ethical care of survivors within a trauma-informed and multi-disciplinary response. The Survivor Partnership Manager will closely collaborate with internal and external stakeholders across a range of professional disciplines, particularly law enforcement, prosecution, governmental and non-governmental social service providers, and will strengthen trauma-informed responses within each of these sectors. This role will build strategic partnerships with national, regional, and community-level social welfare officers, safe shelters, and other civil society organizations that provide social services to ensure the protection, recovery, and empowerment of survivors of THB toward safe reintegration, and will develop strategies to strengthen coordinated social service provision where gaps are present. This position will contribute to the implementation of a multi-year project achieving various objectives in support of the larger goal to combat THB across Romania. This position requires travel within Romania and some limited international travel.

Key Result Areas:

The success of this role is measured by the following KRAs:

1. Partnership Management: Effective partnerships are created with other NGO’s that can provide social services provisions for survivors. Effective partnerships are created and maintained with General Directorate of Social Assistance and Child Protection (DGASPC) officers, shelter staff, and other civil society actors capable of providing quality social services.
2. Trauma-Informed Case Management: Survivors of THB are protected by the justice system and empowered to restoration through trauma-informed, multi-disciplinary case management processes.
3. Mentorship and Training: Government, shelter and civil society partners are well trained in multi-disciplinary and trauma-informed psychosocial care for survivors of THB that results in reduced vulnerability to re-victimization.
4. Gap Analysis and Strategy: Clear analysis of the strengths and gaps within the governmental, shelter and civil society social service capacities and an articulated strategy for strengthening key gaps.
5. Team Management: Departmental leadership resulting in staff health, security and professional development.
6. Demonstrate IJM’s core values and adhere to IJM disciplines.

Roles and Responsibilities:

Leadership & Management:

1. Develop departmental policies and processes for facilitation of Survivor Partnership in a manner that is compliant with global policies, promotes survivor empowerment, and ensures team safety and wellness.
2. Monitor quality of departmental case management documentation, financial stewardship, and grant compliance.
3. Ensure team cohesion and alignment, both within the department and within the broader IJM Romania team.

Networking & Partnership:

1. Build effective partnerships with NGO’s that can provide effective social services provisions for survivors, justice system officials, social welfare officers, and other stakeholders at the regional and national level.
2. Work closely with stakeholders to strengthen the trauma-informed response to survivors of THB by enhancing linkages between DGASPC officers, police, and prosecutors to ensure a trauma-informed approach is adopted by all duty bearers especially during the interviews and court preparation.
3. Develop and maintain close working relationships with DGASPC staff, shelter staff, and other stakeholders to ensure safe placements and/or community reintegration, effective case management and seamless provision of services to survivors of THB.
4. Convene and provide leadership in multi-disciplinary meetings with a variety of government and non-government stakeholders and support inter-institutional dialogue and coordination on cases of THB.
5. Develop and maintain an effective network of contacts within the health, social service, and community development sectors for the benefit of survivors of THB; and
6. Participate and support advocacy initiatives with other team members to engage politicians, church, government, and civil society leaders.

Training and Development:

1. Develop and deliver high-quality, professional training curriculum to multi-disciplinary stakeholders.
2. Support joint training programs with police, judiciary, and social welfare on survivor-friendly and trauma-informed interventions, including ethical and safety considerations for survivors of THB.
3. Convene and provide leadership in multi-disciplinary meetings with a variety of government and non-government stakeholders, and support inter-institutional dialogue and coordination on cases of THB.
4. Provide training on case management and service provision to DGASPC officials and shelter staff that incorporates elements of trauma-informed approaches; and
5. Develop expertise and competency to innovatively and interactively train and mentor all stakeholders on the incorporation of trauma-informed approaches into their service delivery through classroom and field-based training.

Casework:

1. Provide mentoring and support to social welfare officers and justice officials to ensure that survivors of THB are provided trauma-informed protection and support throughout the investigation and court proceedings.
2. Provide court preparation and support to survivors of THB.
3. Provide mentoring and support to social welfare officers and other stakeholders to empower survivors of THB towards restoration by conducting holistic assessments to evaluate survivor strengths and vulnerabilities including the safety of the home and community environment, developing individualized care and safety plans and ensuring their implementation to address vulnerabilities and critical needs, coordinating psychosocial services for survivors, monitoring and reporting survivor progress towards defined psychosocial goals and assessing sustainable safety at the time of case closure; and
4. Collaborate with police, other government and shelter partners and team members to continually assess and implement safety and security plans.

Documentation, Reporting & Data Management:

1. Analyze and document cases of THB that can contribute to updated case management protocols.
2. Research the issue of THB in Romania and throughout Europe as relevant for program development and goal setting for the IJM Romania office.
3. Work with Romania Country team members to monitor and evaluate the project, including monitoring and reporting of project targets, results, collection of data, and output delivery.
4. Contribute to the timely submission of reports and monitoring of progress for grant objectives.
5. Create and maintain records and documentation of IJM Survivor Partnership cases in a manner that is accurate under GDPR policies.

Supervisory:

1. The Survivor Partnership Manager reports directly to Casework Manager.

Education & Experience:

1. Master’s degree in social work, psychology, or related field.
2. Minimum five years of relevant experience working with survivors of trauma; clinical experience preferred, including provision of therapy.
3. Minimum five years of experience in team management.
4. Experience in networking and partnering with social service providers.
5. Capacity to develop and deliver trainings in English and Romanian to government and non-governmental agency partners, on the topic of trauma, crisis intervention, methods of intervention adapted for survivors of trauma and trauma-informed casework, among other topics.
6. Proficiency in the Microsoft Office Suite with ability to quickly learn and consistently use other software systems for purposes of case management, M&E and documentation.
7. Registered and in good standing with the National College of Social Workers will be a plus.

Technical Competencies:

1. Strong understanding of trauma and proven application of trauma-informed approaches within case management and/or clinical interventions.
2. Proven ability to mentor, guide and coach multi-disciplinary stakeholders. Prior experience working with law enforcement or justice system officials preferred.
3. Fluent in written and oral communication in Romanian and English.
4. Excellent writing, documentation and reporting skills, including the ability to maintain digital records and generate high-quality reports on all casework interventions, stakeholder interactions, etc.
5. Ability to contribute or develop program proposals an advantage.

Non-Technical Competencies:

1. Passionate commitment to IJM’s mission and values including bridge building and professional.
2. Servant leader, humble.
3. Courageous, ability to think creatively and innovatively.
4. Attention to detail, organized and disciplined with priorities.
5. Professional in demeanor, appearance, writing and oral communication.
6. Works well under stress with a sustained positive attitude.
7. Exceptionally high level of honesty and integrity.
8. Intelligent, creative and proactive problem solver.
9. Diplomatic and flexible with strong service ethics.
10. Ability to contribute outside of the designated areas of responsibility, team player.

This position is based in Bucharest and reports to the Casework Manager.

This position is based in Bucharest, Romania and is available to be hybrid (onsite Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays) and remote Monday and Wednesday.

Application Process:

Please submit Resume/CV, Cover Letter, in one document to romania@ijm.org

What does IJM have to offer?

• Comprehensive Medical Service Plan
• 24 days paid leave
• Daily, quarterly, and annual community spiritual formation
• Robust staff care resources

IJM holds strict safeguarding principles and a zero tolerance to violations of the Safeguarding Policy, Protection against Sexual Exploitation, Abuse and Harassment Policy, and Code of Conduct. Parallel to technical competence, recruitment, selection, and hiring decisions will give due emphasis to assessing the candidates value congruence and thorough background, police clearance, and reference check processes.