Veterans Service Officer Work Lead - Social Services Specialist IV

Department Information

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The Department of Military and Veterans Affairs (DMVA) has three major operational divisions: Colorado National Guard (Army and Air), Civil Air Patrol, and Veterans Affairs. These divisions utilize state and federal resources to provide our communities, State and nation with a ready military force for national defense and State emergency response as well as providing assistance to our Colorado Veterans.

DMVA offers a comprehensive benefit program to its classified work force that includes paid holidays, annual leave, sick leave, medical, dental, life, disability, flexible spending accounts, and public retirement options. DMVA also strives to assist employees in achieving a healthy work/life balance by offering some flex scheduling, on-site fitness facilities, free parking, and a variety of training opportunities!

Description of Job

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The Division of Veterans Affairs assists any resident of the State of Colorado who is a veteran, or a family member, caregiver, or suvivor of any said veteran by filing claims for disability compensation, pensions, survivor benefits, or any other benefits which such person may be or have been entitled to received under the laws of the United States or the State of Colorado. This position works for the Division of Veterans Affairs and exists to provide regional leadership to two regional Veterans Service Officers located in the State of Colorado. In addition to serving as the work lead, this position will also serve as a VSO and perform their own case management and veteran engagement. Formal supervisory duties will continue to reside with the VSO Supervisor; however, these positions were developed to provide for another level of oversight to provide for unique challenges and act as the primary point-of-contact within their individual regions.

Specific duties include, but are not limited to the following:

• serving as a work-leader for two FTE within a specific region located in Colorado by setting VSO work schedules, approving time off, and training new hires into the requirements of the position;
  
• distributing work received from the VSO Supervisor and checking work completion and accuracy;
  
• settling informal disputes, having input into performance evaluations, and reporting to the VSO supervisor any unique requirements of their specific region that may require changes in staffing, work product, and/or needs of clients;
  
• conducting individualized reviews of assigned region services, benefits, and programs available to veterans and their families and determining the best methods for connecting them to resources in their communities;
  
• identifying and meeting with a variety of providers of services to promote resources for veterans by targeting specific communities and demographics, generating informational materials, and scheduling attendance at public events;
  
• serving as a resource for county leadership;
  
• performing case load as a Veterans Service Officer who manages and maintains a caseload of claims;
  
• evaluating individual circumstances of veterans, identifying their needs, planning, and coordinating sequential services between service providers for veterans with multiple needs, including financial, education, employment, housing, and counseling services; and
  
• performing additional duties as assigned.
  

Minimum Qualifications, Substitutions, Conditions of Employment & Appeal Rights

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MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

This position requires each of the following:

• be a Colorado resident at the time of application (future plans to move to Colorado cannot be accepted);
  
• have seven (7) years of professional experience working directly with military and/or veterans in a social or human service capacity. Examples would include working with veterans in a professional capacity with Social Security (SSI); Veterans Home Loans; County Assessor (tax exemptions); SDI (Job Disability); Employment Development (jobs for veterans); SBA (business loans); or Educational Loans (Vocational Rehabilitation, VEAP, Montgomery and Post 9-11 GI Bills);
  
• This experience must include the following:
  

+ six months' experience working in a professional capacity with Freedom of Information and the Health Insurance Portability, Privacy, and Accountability acts which included providing information assistance while protecting the interests of the claimant and their privacy; and

+ six months' experience working in a professional capacity with U.S. Codes, Federal regulations, State statutes, court decisions, or legal research.

Substitutions* Graduated from an accredited college or university with a bachelor's degree in Social Services, Behavioral Science, Counseling, Social Work, Education, Business Administration, or very closely related field;

AND

• Three years of professional experience working with veterans in a social or human service capacity, as described in the fourth bullet item under requirements, will substitute for the required education on a year-for-year basis.
  

Preferred Qualifications* Possess a valid Veterans Affairs Office of General Council Accreditation as a Veterans Service Officer;

• Be an honorably discharged veteran with a DD214 documentation attached to the application.
  

(Documentation of VSO accreditation or veteran status must be attached to the application to be considered.)

Required Skills and Competencies* be willing to undergo and successfully pass a comprehensive background check that allows access to federal Veterans Affairs files;

• possess and maintain a valid Colorado Driver's license with proof of insurance;
  
• must have outstanding public presentation capabilities and presence;
  
• be willing to occasionally have contact with and work with unpredictable, potentially disruptive clients;
  
• be computer literate;
  
• be able to make oral presentations before a large group;
  
• be able to travel within the state and occasionally outside the state;
  
• be able to work independently AND as part of a team;
  
• have the ability to change and adapt behavior and work methods in response to changing conditions or unexpected obstacles; and
  
• have excellent verbal and written communication skills.
  

Application Requirements

All candidates must submit the following with their applications:* complete and official on-line State of Colorado Application form (resumes in lieu of official on-line applications will not be considered at time of qualification review)

• unofficial transcripts
  
• driver's license number and State in which the license is issued must be completed on application form (do not leave this section blank)
  

Conditions of Employment* Must be willing to pass a background check at initial employment and every few years thereafter.

• Must possess and maintain a valid Colorado Driver's license with proof of insurance.
  
• This position is required to travel as needed to various locations across the state of Colorado.
  

Supplemental Information

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Appeal Rights:

If you receive notice that you have been eliminated from consideration for this position, you may file an appeal with the State Personnel Board or request a review by the State Personnel Director.

An appeal or review must be submitted on the official appeal form, signed by you or your representative. This form must be delivered to the State Personnel Board by email (dpa_state.personnelboard@state.co.us), postmarked in US Mail or hand delivered (1525 Sherman Street, 4th Floor, Denver CO 80203), or faxed (303.866.5038) within ten (10) calendar days from your receipt of notice or acknowledgement of the department’s action.

For more information about the appeals process, the official appeal form, and how to deliver it to the State Personnel Board; go to spb.colorado.gov; contact the State Personnel Board for assistance at (303) 866-3300; or refer to 4 Colorado Code of Regulations (CCR) 801-1, State Personnel Board Rules and Personnel Director's Administrative Procedures, Chapter 8, Resolution of Appeals and Disputes, at spb.colorado.gov under Rules.

Colorado for All Philosophy: Colorado for All means working toward a Colorado where everyone has the opportunity to succeed. It means we support the basic human rights of our neighbors regardless of gender, race, ethnicity, religion, national origin, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, citizenship status, education level, disability, socio-economic status, or any other visible or invisible identity.

Employment Philosophy: The State of Colorado strives to build and maintain workplaces that value and respect all Coloradans. We are building a Colorado for All through a commitment to equal opportunity and hiring based on merit and fitness. The State is committed to non-discriminatory practices in hiring, employment, and advancement opportunities. Accommodations:

The Department of Military and Veterans Affairs is committed to the full inclusion of all qualified individuals. As part of this commitment, our agency will assist individuals who have a disability with any reasonable accommodation requests related to employment, including completing the application process, interviewing, completing any pre-employment testing, participating in the employee selection process, and/or to perform essential job functions where the requested accommodation does not impose an undue hardship. If you have a disability and require reasonable accommodation to ensure you have a positive experience applying or interviewing for this position, please direct your inquiries to our ADAAA Coordinator at 720-250-1538.