County Veterans Service Officer - Department of Disability and Aging Services; DAS

This role involves developing and implementing CVSO policies, goals, and objectives, while ensuring compliance with applicable laws, ordinances, and regulations. The County Veterans Service Officer prepares reports for Department Heads, Boards, and Commissions and leads a team of Veterans Claims Representatives, who assist veterans and their dependents in securing benefits and services through interviews and counseling.

This position requires strong leadership and relationship building ability, as well as excellent critical thinking and analytical skills. In addition, the ideal candidate must possess excellent communication and negotiation skills and the ability to build relationships with internal and external stakeholders; must be able to lead and coordinate people who work across multiple disciplines within and outside unit boundaries; must coordinate budget preparation, monitoring of expenditures and financial reporting for the CVSO.

According to Civil Service Commission Rule 109, the duties specified below are representative of the range of duties assigned to this job class and are not intended to be an inclusive list; may include additional duties as assigned.

• Oversee CVSO staff assignments and service levels to achieve the office's goals and objectives and guide the identification of service improvements to meet veterans' needs.
• Develop and manage the CVSO budget, including preparing budget requests and forecasts, as well as monitoring and approving expenditures.
• Manage resource allocation and service levels to address veterans' needs, including benefits and programs related to education, disability pensions, employment, loans, life insurance, hospitalization, and burial entitlements.
• Oversee organizational changes and provide guidance to office staff.
• Review, analyze, and interpret regulations and proposed legislation for existing and new programs/benefits, and communicate relevant information to staff.
• Develop strategies and oversee program outreach and service delivery to homeless veterans, student veterans, and veterans with disabilities at off‑site locations.
• Analyze projections of county recipients in federal and state veterans’ programs and estimate annual county receipts from these agencies related to veterans’ benefits.
• Serve as a liaison between executive management, veterans' organizations (at county, district, and state levels), staff, and volunteers; provide information on federal and state programs and services to Boards and Commissions.
• Collaborate with the Agency's public information officer and veteran’s advocacy groups to address media inquiries about current rules, regulations, changes, and trends in veterans' benefits.
• Provide any other veterans-related services as requested by the Board of Supervisors.
• Administer Veterans’ aid in accordance with the Military and Veterans Code.
• Investigate all claims, applications, or requests for aid within the area of responsibility.

• Education:
  
  Possession of a baccalaureate degree from an accredited college or university.
• Experience:
  
  Three (3) years of verifiable experience working in a federal, state, county, non‑profit assisting veterans to identify and obtain benefits, and/or making referrals to obtain benefits.
• Veteran status as defined in the California Military and Veterans Code (MVC), section 980.

Note:

Accreditation by the California Department of Veteran Affairs (pursuant to Title 38, code of Federal Regulations, 14.629) must be obtained within six (6) months of employment.

Substitution for

Education:

Additional experience as described above may be substituted for the required degree on a year‑for‑year basis. Thirty (30) semester units or forty‑five (45) quarter units equal one (1) year.

Substitution for

Experience:

Possession of a Juris Doctorate (JD) or Master’s degree may substitute for one (1) of the required experience.