Veterans Service Officer

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!

This job announcement is intended to fill a Veterans Service Officer position. This position works for the Division of Veterans Affairs and will be assigned to a region in the state of Colorado that includes the following counties: MoffatRio BlancoGarfieldEagleRouttJacksonGrandSummitParkClear CreekGilpinBoulderLarimerJeffersonBroomfieldWeldAdamsDenverArapahoeDouglasElbertTellerEl Paso. This position will be located at an office within one of the regions and will be determined at the time of hire.

While its not required for the Regional VSOs to reside within the region it is required for the Regional VSOs to maintain an office within the assigned region which includes any of the counties listed above. This could include being in the office up to five (5) days a week Monday through Friday. Ability to travel throughout the assigned region is expected. The division is a small team of professionals where teamwork and the ability to work independently are crucial. These positions facilitate outreach programs to veterans and their families as well as providing training and development to the County Veterans Service Officers within their assigned region. These positions advise Colorado veterans and their dependents on state and federal entitlements that include pensions compensation military law employment and reemployment insurance health care education provisions of laws relating to veterans rights and privileges and medical and vocational rehabilitation services and facilities. Specific duties include but are not limited to:

• preparing claims on behalf of veterans;
• assisting and advising County Veteran Service Officers in the preparation and submittal of federal claims;
• interviewing and consulting with prospective clients either face-to-face or virtual some with severe mental or physical disabilities on the subject of veteran benefits;
• completing appropriate claim forms in accordance with 38 Code of Federal Regulations and Title 28 Part 7 of the Colorado Revised Statutes;
• evaluating evidence and requesting evidence in support of contentions advanced by the claimant;
• using judgment and resources to interpreting regulations and precedents so they can be applied to a particular situation that is favorable to the client;
• acknowledging and responding to electronic Power Of Attorney requests from federal Veterans Affairs;
• completing the Veterans Administration decision review development paperwork for supplemental claims and higher level reviews;
• providing onsite and virtual training to newly hired County Veterans Service Officers within the region and continuing support until the newly hired individual is established and able to perform duties on their own;
• assisting with accreditation and access to Veterans Affairs systems;
• assisting County Veterans Service Officers in all aspects of Veterans assistance and outreach as needed or requested;
• coordinating and conducting training to promote teamwork and high-quality customer service; and
• assisting with Service Officer training as requested.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

This position requires each of the following:

• Must be a Colorado resident at the time of application (future plans to move to Colorado cannot be accepted).
• Six 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.

• Graduated from an accredited college or university with a bachelors degree in Social Services Behavioral Science Counseling Social Work Education Business Administration or very closely related field;

• Two years of professional experience working with veterans in a social or human service capacity as described in the fourth bullet item under requirements.

• Possess a valid Veterans Affairs Office of General Council Accreditation as a Veterans Service Officer (please attach your certificate to your on-line application).
• Be an honorably discharged veteran with a DD214 (please attach your official DD214 to your on-line application).

• 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 Drivers 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.
• Have excellent verbal and written communication skills.

• 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 (if using education to meet minimum qualifications).
• Current drivers license number and State in which the license is issued must be completed on application form (do not leave this section blank).

• Must be willing to pass a background check at initial employment and every few years thereafter.
• Must possess and maintain a valid Colorado Drivers license with proof of insurance.
• This position is required to travel as needed to various locations across the state of Colorado.

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 () 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 departments action.

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

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 ourADAAA Coordinator at .