Job description

Overview

Calling all veteran leaders!

Come expand your career with an organization that values and supports you to learn, grow, and develop. Join our collaborative, supportive, and results-driven team. This role provides the opportunity to bring your whole self to work, engage, lead, and drive your own learning and growth within the organization. La Crosse County leaders are committed to provide a supportive and inclusive work environment. We are also dedicated to your learning and development to grow in an organization that is deep in talent.

County Veterans Service Officer (CVSO) oversees the daily operations of an office which assists veterans and their families in applying for local, state and federal benefits while adhering to state and federal rules and regulations. The position works closely with federal, state and local representatives, various private organizations and non-profits, higher education schools and government organizations to ensure understanding of multi-agency benefits for veteran(s) and their family. The Veterans Service Office works to inform veterans of legislative changes to benefits, to advocate on behalf of veterans regarding issues and concerns of La Crosse County, provide necessary outreach and make appropriate referrals. This is a full-time position working primarily in-person, Monday-Friday 8:00am-4:30pm. Salary range: $62,670 - $80,579

Associate Experience – What’s In It For You?
Supportive, collaborative, inclusive, and diverse workforce.
Career learning, development, and growth opportunities.
Culture of respect and dignity, teamwork, honesty, and integrity.
Serving your community in a purposeful and meaningful way.
Flexibility with generous paid time-off benefits.
Excellent benefits:

• * Wisconsin Retirement System - Very stable and strong
• * Health Insurance with options for free care
• * Dental Insurance with many services covered at 100%
• * Life Insurance with short and long-term disability

We will be accepting applications until the right person is hired.

La Crosse County Respects Diversity

Essential Job Functions

Acts with integrity and builds trust through demonstrated respect, humility, and honesty. Treats others with dignity.

Encourages open communication. Actively listens and demonstrates open-minded thinking and willingness to accept other’s points of view. Engages stakeholders and effectively collaborates. Demonstrates the courage to speak out appropriately with leaders and peers even when your point of view is unpopular.

Employs vision and strategy to drive positive results by leading with clear goals, objectives, and desired outcomes. Seeks out new opportunities to drive results through new processes and initiatives. Evaluates and monitors to hold self and others accountable for results.

Demonstrates ability to be flexible while informally influencing others through coaching, motivation, and team-minded thinking to arrive at solutions that provide positive outcomes for all stakeholders. Seeks feedback and listens to learn despite personal setbacks.

Demonstrates agile thinking while understanding the dynamics of the organization and public influence and perception. Uses analytical skills, experience, and input from others to make critical decisions.

Takes intelligent risks and leads the organization through change. Demonstrates perseverance by pushing through difficult and challenging situations.

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS

Leads the activities of the Veterans Service Department. Hires, supervises, trains, motivates, evaluates, disciplines, schedules and lays out work for employees assigned to the department. Establishes short and long-term priorities and objectives to promote an efficient and effective department and to evaluate the overall department performance in relation to these goals and objectives. Exercises innovative management techniques in supervision of staff and carrying out assigned programs.

Prepares annual department budget and report for the Veterans Service Office and Veterans Service Commission. Approves expenditures for the department operations, issues financial assistance to veterans by direction of the Veterans Service Commission and also monitors expenditures care of veterans' graves per WI §45.85.

Oversees benefits for veterans' as to how it affects a variety of issues and problems including, but not limited to: financial assistance, medical needs, alcohol and other drug abuse, homelessness, unemployment, relocation, vocational adjustment, mental illness, physical disabilities, and marital status. Knowledge of community resources is helpful. Refers veterans / families to appropriate agencies as necessary.

Interprets Code of Federal Regulations 38 CFR and Wisconsin Statutes Chapter 45 regulations regarding veterans' benefits. Investigates eligibility and assists in preparation of applications for the veterans and dependents with various benefits to include, but not limited to: compensation, pensions, insurance, education, healthcare, grants, loans, survivor benefits, burial benefits military record correction.

Ensures that staff receive appropriate level of training necessary to obtain and maintain their accreditation through The Office of General Counsel of the Department of Veterans Affairs to operate as a local representation for organizations such as, but not limited to: Wisconsin Department of Veterans Affairs, Veterans of Foreign Wars, The American Legion, and the National Association of County Veterans Service Officers.

Oversees appropriate filing of claims, through: completeness of necessary forms, review of medical records/conditions/diagnoses, interpretation of state and federal law as applicable, historical facts using multiple avenues such as verbal history, books, computer, etc. Participates in ongoing in-service training and keeps abreast of changes in federal and state veterans' legislation. Provides ongoing training to ensure staff understand legislative changes that may affect the claims process.

Provides information and makes presentations regarding veteran benefits.

Serves as liaison between the veteran and various government agencies and advocates for the veteran, where needed, to include, but not limited to: Wisconsin Department of Veterans Affairs (WDVA), Veterans Administration Regional Office (VARO), Veterans Administration Medical Center (VAMC), Department of Defense (DoD), Social Security, Congressional Representative or Liaison (state and federal), Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development (DWD). Works closely with these organizations to maintain a positive working relationship to ensure a strong advocacy position for representing veterans.

Oversees appropriate record is being maintained in compliance with WI §45.62(2) for veteran grave identification.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Ability to supervise and direct the work of subordinate staff
• Ability to assess staff workloads and establish priorities.
• Ability to conduct marketing and public relations efforts, including the ability to give public speeches and publish a reports.
• Ability to satisfy certification and accreditation standards required to represent veterans' cases before the United States Department of Veterans Affairs, including a variety of background checks, within one year of appointment.
• Knowledge of the various benefits and services available to veterans and of Federal and State laws and regulations governing their administration; knowledge of federal and state entitlements provided to veterans, spouses and dependents (claimants) including eligibility criteria and application procedures.
• Ability to comprehend and interpret a variety of documents including DoD discharge and other military records, administrative codes, VA manuals and similar materials
• Knowledge of, or ability to acquire, positive techniques and principles of counseling for problem resolution.
• Knowledge of budgetary development/administration techniques.
• Considerable skill in interviewing techniques to elicit necessary information to develop claim and/or services to the individual.
• Considerable knowledge of office procedures, methods and practices, and of the laws and regulations relating to appropriations and expenditures.
• Ability to understand and interpret laws and regulations relating to veterans.
• Ability to understand and interpret medical diagnosis and medical conditions as they may relate to a veterans benefit.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills to include listening and interpreting skills.
• Ability to procure data and prepare claims relative to the applicable laws under which veterans and their dependents may be beneficiaries.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with other employees, County officials and the general public.
• Ability to understand moderately complex financial, accounting and statistical concepts and materials.

Training, Experience and Other Requirements

• Employees in this class must be a Wisconsin resident who served on active duty under honorable conditions in the U.S. armed forces or in forces incorporated as part of the U.S. armed forces and who meets at least one of the conditions listed in s. 45.01 (12) (a) to (d) [which defines a veteran] and at least one of the conditions listed in s. 45.02 (2) [which defines eligibility for benefits].
• Applicants must be honorably discharged veterans of the United States Armed Forces, proven with a Form DD214.
• Must qualify for and maintain accreditation through The Office of General Counsel of the Department of Veterans Affairs. Accreditation includes annual training, which will require overnight travel, and may also include passing of background checks conducted by the various organizations.
• Graduation from an accredited high school, or GED equivalency certification.
• Preference for Bachelor's Degree in business, social work, humanities, or other related field.
• Five years of responsible experience in an administrative capacity in private, public or military employment.
• Up to four years of post-high school training (as stated above) may be substituted for the required years of experience.
• May consider other relevant combination of experience and training.
• Demonstrated skills in effective written and oral communications including public speaking.
• Familiarity with local community resources and agencies and institutions providing benefits and services to veterans.

Job Type: Full-time

Pay: $62,670.00 - $80,579.00 per year

Benefits:

• Dental insurance
• Employee assistance program
• Flexible spending account
• Health insurance
• Life insurance
• Paid time off
• Retirement plan
• Vision insurance

Schedule:

• 8 hour shift

Work Location: One location

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