Veterans Service Representative I

County of Contra Costa • Martinez, CA

4d

About The Position

Veterans' benefits programs are important to millions of Americans. Approximately one-third of the U.S. population is potentially eligible for federal Veterans' benefits. Veterans are THE reason this department exists, our common purpose, and we direct our efforts toward meeting their needs. The Contra Costa County Veterans Service Office was created to help local Veterans and their families obtain Veterans' benefits from federal, state, and local agencies. Since the department's inception, the Board of Supervisors has continued to recognize the need for professional Veterans' advocates to provide claims assistance to the 50,000 Veterans and their families who reside in this county. Because of this, we maintain the willingness to change and are flexible in our attitudes. County Veterans Service Offices play an important role in a national Veteran's advocacy network. We work in concert with state employees, Veterans service organizations, and U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) staff to secure clients' benefits. We are often the initial contact for Veterans in the community. Therefore, it is important to us that our first contact with a Veteran be a positive experience. We believe that respect, integrity, trust, and fairness are the hallmarks of all our interactions and we value a culture where everyone is involved, accountable, respected, and appreciated. This recruitment will be used to fill one vacancy. We are looking for someone who is: Passionate about helping Veterans Thorough and responsive in their work Able to learn laws, policies, and procedures quickly

Requirements

• Possession of a bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university.
• Two (2) years of professional experience providing one-on-one eligibility and counseling services to clients of state and federal programs including claim preparation and appeal assistance OR, two (2) years of experience providing Veterans benefits claim assistance and client services within a Veterans Service Office.
• Qualifying experience must include research and analysis of pertinent laws, regulations, and programs.
• As a condition of employment and within the probationary period, the incumbent shall obtain United States Department of Veterans Affairs (USDVA) accreditation through the California Department of Veterans Affairs (CDVA) pursuant to Title 38, Code of Federal Regulations (CFR), 14.629.

Nice To Haves

• Active Duty experience as a commissioned officer or a non-commissioned officer in the U.S. Armed Forces may be substituted for the required experience on a year-for-year basis.

Responsibilities

• Effectively leading interviews with Veterans to understand which benefits they are eligible to apply for
• Assisting Veterans in applying for Federal and State benefits
• Managing multiple claims and appeals for Veterans regarding a variety of programs
• Thoroughly documenting case notes and providing status updates to your clients
• Networking with Federal, State, and local agencies on behalf of your clients

Benefits

• The eligible list established from this recruitment may be used to fill future openings for up to six (6) months.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level