Veterans Service Officer/Director

This position requires a thorough knowledge of veteran benefits and services, including local, state, and federal laws and legislation.   Requires daily contact with the public, is responsible for the preparation of reports to the Veterans’ Administration, assesses specific concerns, and provides direction and insight toward the proper agency, department head or county government office. 

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. Duties include the following:

• Assist veterans, surviving spouses, and/or children to establish eligibility for a pension, compensation or dependency indemnity compensation, etc.
• Locate funds for veterans and families to help pay for utilities, rent, or food.
• Assist veterans, their surviving spouses, and/or children to establish eligibility to attend school to further education or cross-train into another career field.
• Assist veterans or their surviving spouses to participate in a home loan program through the VA or Texas Veterans Land Board.
• Answer a variety of telephone inquiries and refer to the correct department or organization.
• Ascertain the eligibility of a veteran to enroll in the VA Health care system and assist the veteran in enrolling in the system.
• Ascertain eligibility of a spouse of a veteran to enroll in VA health care and assist in enrollment in the program.
• Assist veterans with transportation to health care appointments, including transporting veterans in POV if necessary.
• Act as a liaison between local health care providers (i.e., hospital and private doctor) and the VA health care providers.
• Assist veterans and their spouses in nursing homes to obtain VA benefits if eligible.
• Make home visits to veterans/surviving spouses who cannot come to one of the offices and conduct follow-up visits as necessary.
• Counsel veterans/spouses on various issues and programs available to remedy their problems (i.e., mental health and substance abuse programs).
• Attend local service organizations meetings (i.e., VFW, American Legion, Senior Citizens Advisory Preparedness Council (SCAPC) and gatherings (judge chili cook-off, place flags at the veteran graves, etc.) as requested by the veterans or commissioners.
• Participate and chair various committees at the direction of Commissioners Court or as requested by the public and various organizations.
• Augment when needed or as directed by the Commissioners Court when emergency/natural disaster situations arise.
• Assist surviving members of veterans in obtaining VA headstones or markers.
• Assist veterans and surviving spouses in filing appeals on disapproved claims.
• Attend out area conferences provided by the Texas Veterans Commissioner twice a year to maintain certification for the position of Veterans County Service Officer that is mandated under the provisions of Section 434.038(a) of the Texas Government Code.
• Assist the Texas Work Force Commission’s VA representative in searching for employment opportunities and training for veterans.
• Act as liaison between Comal County Veterans Council and Commissioners Court.
• Reacquisition supplies to keep the office running effectively and efficiently.
• Prepare an annual budget proposal for the operations portion of the veteran services department.
• Other duties as assigned.
• Attendance is an essential function of the job.

Note:  The duties listed above are intended only as illustrations of the various types of work that may be performed.  The omission of specific statements of duties does not exclude them from the position if the work is assigned by the supervisor.

A High School Diploma or GED equivalent is required. Honorably served time in the armed forces is Mandatory.  A bachelor’s degree in business or human resources is strongly preferred.  The individual should possess a thorough working knowledge of Veteran services and benefit procedures and practices.  Must have a valid Texas driver’s license to operate county vehicles.

OTHER SKILLS AND ABILITIES

Other specialized job requirements are the ability to type, computer skills, good listening skills, and attention to detail when filling out various VA forms.  Ability to work independently on complex veterans and family issues.  A valid Texas Driver’s license is required.

LANGUAGE SKILLS

Ability to read, analyze, and interpret general business periodicals, professional journals, technical procedures, or governmental regulations. Ability to write reports, business correspondence, and procedure manuals. Ability to effectively present information and respond to questions from groups of managers, clients, customers, and the public.

MATHEMATICAL SKILLS

Ability to add, subtract, multiply, and divide in all units of measure, using whole numbers, common fractions, and decimals. Ability to compute rate, ratio, and percentage and to draw and interpret bar graphs.

REASONING ABILITY

Ability to apply commonsense understanding to carry out instructions furnished in written, oral, or diagram form. Ability to deal with problems involving several concrete variables in standardized situations.

This is a sedentary position.  The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential duties of this job.   Reasonable accommodation may be provided to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of this job.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to sit and talk or hear. The employee is frequently required to use hands to finger, handle, or feel objects, tools, or controls. The employee is occasionally required to stand; walk; reach with hands and arms; and stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 10 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus.

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodation may be provided to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions. 

The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.

Formal application, rating of education and experience; oral interview and reference check; job related tests might be required. 

This job description does not constitute an employment agreement between the employer and employee and is subject to change by the employer as the needs of the employer and requirements of the job change.   The employee further understands and accepts that this position falls under the provision of an “At Will” employment, and under no circumstances is this an employment contract. 

Salary : $69,522 - $97,331