Survivor Partnership Manager – IJM Bulgaria, Sofia

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, by 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.

International Justice Mission launched its European Anti-Trafficking Program at the end of 2019 with the goal of supporting governments across Europe to end impunity for cross-border trafficking. By 2030 IJM seeks to strengthen cross-border collaboration among criminal justice system actors and to create a network of civil society partners across Europe that will ensure a continuum of care for victims and accountability for perpetrators, leading to a significant reduction in the prevalence of human trafficking across Europe.

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 Services Manager.

The primary responsibilities will include empowering survivors of human trafficking towards restoration and developing and managing partnerships with other NGOs who provide social services including shelter services to survivors of trafficking. The focus will be to work with partners who will provide direct social services on a broad spectrum to survivors. The Survivor Partnership Manager will develop and implement IJM’s strategy for social service provision for survivors of Trafficking in Human Beings (THB). 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 Bulgaria. This position requires travel within Bulgaria 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 established and maintained with Agency for Social Assistance (ASA), The National Commission for Combating Trafficking in Human Beings (NCCTHB) and its shelter’s 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. Staff Wellbeing and Support: Ensure staff health, welfare. This includes being accessible to staff when support is needed, addressing the unique challenges inherent in anti-trafficking work, and fostering ongoing professional development.

1. Empower survivors of human trafficking 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.

2. Collaborate with social workers, psychologists, shelter staff, and other stakeholders to ensure safe placements and/or community reintegration, effective case management and seamless provision of services to survivors of human trafficking.

3. Provide mentoring and support to social workers and justice officials to ensure that survivors of human trafficking are provided with trauma-informed protection and support throughout the investigation and court proceedings.

4. Provide court preparation and support to survivors of human trafficking.

Networking & Partnership:

1. Build effective partnerships with NGO’s that can provide effective social services for survivors, Bulgarian law enforcement, prosecutors, and NGOs, 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 Agency for Social Assistance (ASA), The National Commission for Combating Trafficking in Human Beings (NCCTHB), specialized 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 Agency for Social Assistance (ASA) 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. Support advocacy initiatives by offering expertise and recommendation regarding victim services to politicians, church, government, and civil society leaders.

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.

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 Bulgaria team.

1. Analyze and document cases of THB that can contribute to updated case management protocols.

2. Research the issue of THB in Bulgaria and throughout Europe as relevant for program development and goal setting for the IJM Bulgaria office.

3. Work with Bulgaria 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.

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.

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 Bulgarian Association of Social Workers will be a plus.

Technical Competencies:

Non-Technical Competencies:

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.

1. Full time

2. Ability to travel within Bulgaria and within Europe, up to 40% of the time

1. Comprehensive Medical Service Plan

2. Life Insurance

3. 24 days paid leave

4. Quarterly retreats

5. Robust staff care resources