Program Specialist, Child Sex Trafficking Programs

National Center for Missing & Exploited Children

Position Description

TITLE:                                                 Child Sex Trafficking Program Specialist

FLSA:                                                  Exempt

DIVISION:                                         Analytical Services Division (ASD)

DEPARTMENT:                                Child Sex Trafficking Programs (CSTP)

TRAVEL REQUIREMENT:              

Ability to travel as needed (conferences, training, presentations, etc.).  This position does require travel.

HOURS and SCHEDULE:               

Basic hours are Monday – Friday, 9:00am to 5:30pm (37.5 hours within five (5) days per week); unless otherwise required or approved by management.  

SUPERVISION RECEIVED:            

Position reports to the Executive Director, Child Sex Trafficking Programs

RESPONSIBILITY FOR PUBLIC CONTACT:

Position requires daily contact with non-profit organizations, community-based service providers, survivors, child-serving professionals,  law enforcement, community outreach groups, Electronic Service Providers, and other relevant groups and individuals requires courtesy, discretion, and sound judgment.  This position also requires the ability to adjust messaging to align with the target audience in a way that ensures effective communication.

LICENSING AND CERTIFICATION:

Must be eligible to apply for VCIN certification which requires either U.S. citizenship or having been a lawful resident of the U.S. for the past 10 consecutive years. Must obtain VCIN certification within three (3) months of hire and maintain certification including completion of all required training. VCIN certification requires background screening, to include fingerprinting, criminal history check, and professional references.

GENERAL DESCRIPTION:

Develop new and innovative ways to enhance the growth and effectiveness of NCMEC’s existing efforts to combat child sex trafficking based on internal data, trends, knowledge of external research, and engagement with key stakeholders including but not limited to those with lived experience.  The CST Program Specialist will support the Executive Director of Child Sex Trafficking Programs by being a thought and issue leader. Developing innovative and strategic plans to maximize the impact and reach of NCMEC’s CST programs and information for audiences both internal and external to NCMEC.  This position will also interact with various divisions across NCMEC to maximize the information flow, streamline efforts, and coordinate projects regarding NCMEC’s response to child sex trafficking. 

The CST Program Specialist will operate as a subject matter expert both internally and externally to represent NCMEC’s unique national perspective on child sex trafficking.  This may include but is not limited to: development and delivery of trainings, developing content to amplify NCMEC’s CST messaging, managing and updating CST deliverables, reviewing data for trend analysis, developing or updating existing online training modules, convening working groups and feedback sessions, policy and legislation advocacy, leading special projects and initiatives, and providing technical assistance to various professional populations.

The CST Program Specialist is responsible for ensuring NCMEC operates based on current knowledge of emerging research, promising practices, and model policies that align with NCMEC’s mission.  This position will liaise with nonprofit organizations, law enforcement groups, victim service providers, and other local and national stakeholders in the anti-trafficking field to develop and cultivate working relationships to further NCMEC’s efforts to combat child sex trafficking. 

This position is also responsible for the coordination and management of NCMEC’s Child Sex Trafficking Survivor Consultant engagement and ensuring that all aspects of NCMEC’s programmatic and operational work includes the insight of those with lived experience.

The Child Sex Trafficking Program Specialist must be creative, innovative and able to balance the many needs and perspectives of law enforcement, survivors, child-serving professionals, and other external partners with the capabilities and resources of NCMEC.  They must have a proven track record for innovating and delivering on projects from concept to launch. 

This position requires an enthusiastic and a self-motivated candidate who possesses innovative and critical thinking and a tenacious perspective to further NCMEC’s efforts related to combating child sex trafficking in the United States. Reports received by NCMEC related to child sex trafficking contain written materials that reference or detail crimes against children or adults to include child abduction, child sexual exploitation, violence, adult pornographic content, child sexual abuse material, explicit content of adults or minors, child homicide and unidentified human remains believed to be children.  This position requires an employee that can handle exposure to sensitive content as well as demonstrate a high level of accuracy and thoroughness in their work product.  In addition to being self-aware of personal limits, this position must understand impact of vicarious trauma and how to promote individual self-care.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

• This position requires the ability to access and use NCIC/Nlets data after successfully completing VCIN certification
• Support the Executive Director for Child Sex Trafficking Programs in developing a strategic plan for CST efforts annually.
• Evaluate sound practices and model policies in the area of child sex trafficking to share with social services/child welfare, law enforcement, the juvenile justice arena, and Electronic Service Providers as they respond to child sex trafficking in the United States
• Support various divisions within NCMEC regarding the implementation of and NCMEC’s response to the requirement of States to report each missing or abducted foster child to law enforcement and NCMEC as part of the Preventing Sex Trafficking and Strengthening Families Act, P.L. 113-183 (H.R. 4980)  and related laws
• Establish and maintain close collaboration with several internal NCMEC divisions such as Analytical Services Division, Missing Children’s Division, Exploited Children’s Division, Family Advocacy Division, Outreach/Training/Prevention, Legislative Affairs, Training, and Regional Offices regarding internal efforts related child sex trafficking
• Coordinate distribution of information and facilitate information sharing regarding NCMEC efforts related to child sex trafficking amongst the relevant Divisions/Staff
• Work with NCMEC’s Training Division to consistently review and update all online training modules and identify areas of gaps that need to be reviewed and included based on new trends or information emerging in the field
• Work with NCMEC’s Communications team to identify opportunities to pitch and amplify NCMEC’s CST data, knowledge, and information.  This may also include drafting blogs, supporting the development of social media messaging and visuals, facilitating live events, and updating web content
• Responsible for ensuring all of NCMEC’s public facing materials have consistent and updated messaging and information
• Manage all programmatic aspects of NCMEC’s CST Survivor Consultant engagement.  Identify opportunities for onboarding new consultants to maintain a diverse pool of qualified consultants. This also involves supporting all divisions across NCMEC in their outreach and programmatic engagement with CST survivor consultants.
• Innovate, develop, and execute approved project plans that support the strategic vision of Child Sex Trafficking Programs and NCMEC. 
• Coordinate with appropriate NCMEC management on CSTT program operations, project development, and implementation
• Assist with recommendations for a long-term media strategy and reactive engagement with media outlets regarding NCMEC efforts to combat child sex trafficking
• Work with NCMEC’s Legal Team regarding NCMEC’s position on existing and proposed policy and legislation related to child sex trafficking in the United States
• Assist with crafting talking points, unified messaging and strategic direction related to child sex trafficking
• Conduct strategic outreach to help forge new relationships with key stakeholders and groups to increase the visibility and impact of NCMEC’s efforts and resources to combat child sex trafficking in the United States.  These external groups may include other nonprofit organizations, law enforcement groups, victim service providers, and other local and national stakeholders in the anti-trafficking field.
• Design and implement a comprehensive plan for identifying and cultivating key external alliances, which includes the expansion and diversification of existing partnerships
• Participate on working groups, task forces, and advisory committees involving child sex trafficking
• Represent NCMEC in meetings related to the topic of child sex trafficking with visiting dignitaries, potential donors, law enforcement groups, nonprofit organizations, etc.
• Conduct presentations for NCMEC staff, law enforcement, anti-trafficking organizations and community outreach groups. The purpose of these presentations is to educate the audience on the topic of child sex trafficking and the many resources available through NCMEC on this issue
• Provide support to the ASD Executive Director and Vice President by attending meetings, making presentations, and responding to inquiries as directed or in his or her absence
• Active weekend and after-hours on-call availability possible
• Promote and exhibit loyalty to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children and the cause of protecting children worldwide
• Conform with and abide by all regulations, policies, work procedures, and instructions
• Communicate with co-workers, NCMEC management, the public, law enforcement officials, and other agencies in a courteous and professional manner
• Respond promptly when returning telephone calls and replying to correspondence
• Other duties as assigned

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE:

• BA or BS in Criminal Justice, Social Work or related discipline
• An equivalent combination of education and experience may be substituted
• 8 years of professional experience in child sex trafficking field combined with a practical and academic knowledge of the anti-child sex trafficking movement in the United States
• Experience working with nonprofit organizations, government agencies, and/or law enforcement and fostering collaboration among diverse groups
• Previous experience developing and implementing strategic plans, preferred

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES

• Ability to successfully pass the background screening, to include fingerprinting, criminal history check, and professional references
• Strong knowledge and familiarity with topics related to child sex trafficking in the United States such as child victim vulnerabilities, tactics used by traffickers to exploit children, available victim services, survivor informed efforts, and existing and proposed policy and legislation
• Demonstrated ability to develop a project plan
• Demonstrated success in project management with the ability to enhance and deliver on assigned projects of work
• Demonstrated success managing and forging relationships with local and national stakeholders in the anti-trafficking field
• Demonstrated ability to communicate and resolve workplace concerns and issues
• Strong verbal and written communication skills, to include giving presentations and responding to interview requests from print, television, and radio media outlets
• Flexible and adaptive style which includes leadership skills that positively impact strategic and tactical partnerships
• Ability to work independently without constant supervision while also being a team player who will engage with others at varying levels of seniority throughout NCMEC
• Strong organizational skills including the ability to balance projects, meet deadlines, and ensure staff project deadlines are met
• Ability to solve problems and work using creativity and innovation
• Ability to handle and maintain the integrity and confidentiality of highly sensitive material and information
• Passion for combating child sex trafficking in the United States and NCMEC’s larger mission related to missing and sexually exploited children
• Strong computer skills to including the use of MS Office Suite including PowerPoint and Excel
• Achieve and maintain an employee performance evaluation standard that meet and exceeds the minimum of an “expectation for competency” (3).
• Maintain an acceptable time and attendance record