Director of Military & Veteran Affairs - Cookeville, TN

Military Spouse Corporate Career Network•Cookeville, TN

About The Position

The Director of Military & Veteran Affairs manages the Department of Military and Veteran Affairs Coordinator of Veteran Educational Benefits, ensuring that certification and enrollment verification comply with federal, state, and university directives concerning veterans’ and dependents’ education benefits. The Director oversees VA-sponsored work-study staff in the Veterans Center and serves as a secondary School Certifying Official. The role maintains knowledge of veterans’ affairs policies and procedures, prepares reports for federal and state entities, and develops programs, policies, and tools to support compliance and direct service to the university’s veteran and military student community. The Director manages the departmental budget, allocates restricted annual reporting fees responsibly, and manages purchases and vendor contracts. The role serves as a liaison among the department, university departments, veteran and dependent students, and the Department of Veteran Affairs (DVA). It collaborates with university faculty, staff, and advisors to ensure students are certified in accordance with DVA policies and procedures. The Director also advises the Student Veterans Organization and advocates for student veterans transitioning into the university. This includes meeting with prospective students and families to explain VA educational benefits, developing relationships with local and regional military installations for outreach and recruitment, and collaborating with the Tech ROTC program and local Veteran Service Organizations to support student veterans.

Requirements

At least seven years of related professional experience, including experience working with veterans’ educational benefits.
Must have served in a U.S. military branch with honorable discharge, or have significant experience supporting military and veteran populations.

Nice To Haves

Prior experience as a School Certifying Official.
Experience with public speaking and presentations.
Experience in recruitment, training, and supervising.
Knowledge of DVA educational benefits and federal and state benefits pertaining to veterans.

Responsibilities

Manage the Coordinator of Veteran Educational Benefits and ensure certification and enrollment verification comply with federal, state, and university directives.
Oversee VA-sponsored work-study staff in the Veterans Center.
Serve as a secondary School Certifying Official.
Maintain knowledge of veterans’ affairs policies and procedures to support university compliance with state and federal agencies.
Prepare and submit reports to appropriate federal and state entities.
Develop programs, policies, and tools to maintain compliance and provide direct service to veteran and military students.
Manage the departmental budget and allocate restricted annual reporting fees responsibly.
Manage purchases and process vendor contracts.
Liaise between the department and university departments, and between veteran and dependent students and the Department of Veteran Affairs.
Collaborate with university faculty, staff, and advisors to ensure students are certified under DVA policies and procedures.
Serve as Academic Advisor for the Student Veterans Organization.
Advocate for student veterans transitioning into the university by meeting with prospective students and families and explaining VA educational benefits.
Cultivate relationships with local and regional military installations for outreach and recruitment.
Collaborate with the Tech ROTC program and local Veteran Service Organizations to support student veterans.