Career opportunity: investigator/advocate
Agency Description:
Disability Rights North Carolina (DRNC), a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, is the only organization that provides free legal advocacy services to people with all types of disabilities, of all ages, throughout North Carolina. We are NC’s designated Protection and Advocacy organization and recognized leader in advancing disability rights, with a strong staff and supportive, dynamic work environment. DRNC is committed to building race equity into our internal and external work. DRNC is well established and positioned for growth. Learn more about DRNC at www.disabilityrightsnc.org.
Job Description:
Conduct methodical, objective investigations of serious allegations of abuse and neglect including those involving deaths, for achieving individual and systemic policy change to protect the rights of individuals with disabilities and prevent future occurrences. Monitoring conditions in service settings to identify and prevent abuse, and other rights violations, including settings for adolescents with behavioral disabilities.
The successful candidate will demonstrate the following core values: relentless pursuit of results, respect and humility, personal responsibility, positive outlook, problem solving, effective communication, skill in organizing and prioritizing work, and effective internal and external relationships.
Job Duties include successfully:
- Provide information and short-term assistance to DRNC clients and constituents
- Conduct abuse/neglect investigations consistent with DRNC’s investigative protocol including interviewing witnesses and managing evidence
- Remain up to date with federal statutes and regulations relating to DRNC’s access authority
- Stay current with state and federal statutes, regulations and policies governing care and treatment of people with disabilities
- Monitor assigned facilities to prevent, detect and address instances of abuse, neglect, or exploitation consistent with Disability Rights NC’s monitoring protocol
- Interview people with disabilities, providing information and self-advocacy assistance to clients
- Identify facts and develop creative solutions
- Prepare reports, articles, and draft legislation and regulations
- Develop staff training programs on substantive issues related to abuse and neglect investigations and clients’ rights
- Collaborate with others regarding ongoing investigations and monitoring
- Collaborate with co-workers about trends, issues, and agency activities
- Perform other duties as assigned.
Requirements:
- Bachelor’s degree preferred with experience in conducting investigations, such as those performed by law enforcement, journalists, regulators, or other types of investigations
- Direct experience with or general knowledge of services and issues affecting individuals with disabilities
- Recognition of the human and civil rights of people with disabilities
- Proficiency in using computers for word processing, data collection and communication
- Effective communication skills regarding complex factual situations
- Ability to organize and prioritize tasks
- Ability to work independently with minimal supervision
Desirable qualifications:
- Life experience with disability
- Experience working children with disabilities, including behavioral health disabilities
- Experience in legal services, nonprofit or public interest environments
- Ability to communicate in ASL, Spanish or another non-English language
- Understanding of trauma and its prevalence among people with disabilities, valuing and using trauma-informed approaches
Essential Functions
- Travel including occasional overnight
- Occasionally work long hours and/or weekends
- Interact with people with disabilities
- Communicate effectively, both orally and in writing
- Engage appropriately with others, both internally and externally
- Research complex issues
- Record and access data in the agency’s database.
DRNC is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We do not discriminate in any aspect of employment with regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, veteran’s status or any other characteristic protected by state or federal law. Individuals who increase the diversity of our team are especially encouraged to apply. We participate in E-verify.
Compensation Package that is competitive with other non-profits: The hiring range is $21.06-$30.96/per hour, depending on experience. DRNC offers excellent benefits which include 100% employer-paid health, dental, vision, life and disability as well as generous paid time off and retirement plan with an employer match.
Send a detailed letter of interest explaining your qualifications and interest in the position and resume to: resumes.hr@disabilityrightsnc.org. Include Investigator/Advocate in the subject line of the email. No phone calls please.
Closing Date: Position will remain open until filled.