Veterans Services Officer - Mobile South

State of Maine•Portland, OR

About The Position

This is professional services work overseeing day-to-day operations of an assigned field office and multiple itinerant offices, advising and advocating for veterans and members of the armed services, their families, dependents, and survivors, and providing technical assistance to obtain federal, state, regional, and local veterans benefits and services. The role includes developing and filing claims and advocating for eligible benefits and services, including pension, compensation, education, housing, financial assistance, and medical care. The position supervises staff, evaluates and verifies information, determines eligibility, and leads appeal strategies and activities. Work is performed under limited supervision. The successful candidate administers veteran-services operations, prepares and presents claims and appeals, and builds partnerships with agencies and community organizations. They represent the agency in public forums and work to ensure veterans’ rights and entitlements are protected through consistent application of relevant laws, policies, and procedures.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Business/Public Administration, Human Resources, Education, a Social Services/Behavioral Science area, or a related field, and two years of experience directly providing or administering benefit programs, personnel administration, or related social-services/human-resources work; equivalent work experience may substitute for education year for year.
Must have served on active duty during a federally recognized period of conflict, as defined in Section 504, Title 37B, MRSA.
Knowledge of interviewing techniques, VA and community programs, veterans’ benefit and claims procedures, department rules and procedures, disability and illness terminology relevant to veterans’ claims, State Veterans Assistance programs, supervisory techniques, office management, eligibility and application criteria, assistance agencies, the VA appeals process, and the principles and objectives of veterans benefit programs.
Ability to deal effectively and compassionately with people affected by trauma and with hostile, distraught, or depressed clients.
Ability to prepare well-grounded briefs; prepare and present case facts, evidence, and testimony; and examine witnesses.
Ability to establish and maintain community partnerships, use applicable computer programs, and work effectively on a multidisciplinary team.
Effective oral and written communication skills.
Ability to interview applicants, obtain pertinent information, and prepare and maintain records and case files.
Before attaining permanent status, must complete State of Maine and U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs TRIP training, National Veterans Legal Services Program training, fingerprinting, and a federal background check.

Responsibilities

Initiate or update client-management software and monitor cases to identify problems, determine case status, and ensure timely review of claims.
Interview and advise veterans and dependents, provide information, and determine eligibility for federal and state veterans programs and services.
Develop, assess, and evaluate testimony and documents for formal hearing proceedings.
Prepare well-grounded appeal briefs for contested cases.
Represent veterans or dependents at appeal hearings and present claimants’ arguments.
Evaluate VA claim determinations for compliance with federal and state rulings, improve submission detail, and negotiate claims where appropriate.
Administer assigned field-office and itinerant-office operations, ensuring consistent application of laws, policies, and procedures.
Advise and advocate for applicants on income, housing, health, education, and family matters.
Identify resources and prepare claims to help veterans and dependents apply for and obtain benefits and services.
Gather and analyze information, document case histories, and prepare reports supporting and authorizing grants for aid.
Establish and maintain partnerships with agencies and community organizations to develop resources and promote the agency’s mission.
Represent the agency before veterans groups, on committees, and in public forums to share information and promote veterans programs, benefits, and services.
Research laws, regulations, policies, and precedent-setting decisions and prepare documentation for complex and sensitive claims.
Implement and comply with human-resource laws, policies, procedures, and practices, including equal opportunity, recruitment, classification, appraisals, training, discipline, contract administration, communications, and employee safety.
Supervise staff and apply supervisory techniques and office-management practices.

Benefits

13 paid holidays, 12 days of sick leave, and at least three weeks of annual vacation leave; vacation accrual increases with years of service, and overtime-exempt employees receive personal leave.
State-paid 85%–100% of employee-only health insurance premiums, depending on salary; premium credit may further reduce employee-only premiums by 5%.
State-paid 100% of employee-only dental insurance premiums.
Maine Public Employees Retirement System retirement contribution equal to 14.06% of pay.
Gym membership reimbursement of up to $40 per month.
Health and dependent-care flexible spending accounts.
Eligibility for Public Service Student Loan Forgiveness.
Employee assistance program through the Living Resources Program.
42 consecutive calendar days of fully paid parental leave for employees welcoming a child; additional unpaid leave may be available under the Family and Medical Leave Act.
Voluntary deferred compensation through a MaineSaves 457(b) account.
Additional wellness benefits and a competitive state employee benefits package.