DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS' SERVICES

Address:

Must reside within a 50 mile radius of Cottonwood, Arizona

Salary: Up To $21.22/Hour (DOE) 

Grade: 18

Closing Date: May 26, 2024

Are you looking for an exciting career that helps to empower veterans by providing access to benefits and resources? Then The Arizona Department of Veterans' Services is looking for you!

The Arizona Department of Veterans Services aims to empower our nation's heroes by ensuring they can access the benefits and services they deserve. Suppose you have a heart for service and a passion for making a difference in the lives of veterans and their families. In that case, we invite you to consider the Veterans' Benefit Counselor (VBC) role in our Central Region. This position is an exceptional opportunity to serve those who have served, providing vital support and counseling to members, veterans, their dependents, and survivors.

As a Veterans' Benefit Counselor, you will be at the forefront of our efforts to connect veterans and their families with federal and state veteran-related benefits. This unique role combines the satisfaction of helping others with the opportunity to navigate complex systems, making a tangible difference in the lives of those who have served. Through in-person and virtual counseling, you'll guide individuals through the application processes for compensation, pensions, education benefits, medical benefits, and more, ensuring they receive the support and recognition they deserve.

Your Impact:

• Comprehensive Counseling: Offer detailed counseling services to ensure veterans and their families know and can access their entitled benefits.
• Benefit Application Assistance: Help members and their families navigate the complexities of applying for various federal and state benefits, including compensation, pension, burial benefits, and home loan guarantees.
• Outreach and Education: Participate in outreach events and presentations to educate the veteran community about available benefits and services.
• Continuous Improvement: Engage with the Arizona Management System (AMS) to implement and monitor effective methods for continuous improvement and efficiency in your work processes.
• Accreditation and Training: Achieve certification by the Department of Veterans Affairs, with on-the-job training provided to prepare you for this crucial credentialing.

Why Join Us?

• Meaningful Work: As a Veterans' Benefit Counselor, you'll play a direct role in changing veterans' lives for the better by connecting them with the benefits they've earned. Your work will have a profound impact on the veteran community, ensuring they receive the support and recognition they deserve.
• Professional Development: Embark on a journey of continuous learning and growth within a role that offers AMS training and VA accreditation, igniting your passion for veterans' advocacy.
• Community Impact: Become an integral part of a team dedicated to serving the veteran community through advocacy, support, and education, fostering a sense of belonging and shared purpose.

Who We're Looking For:

• Passionate Advocates: Individuals with a strong desire to assist veterans and their families in accessing their entitled benefits.
• Skilled Communicators: Candidates who can effectively convey information in one-on-one counseling sessions and larger outreach events.
• Dedicated Learners: Professionals eager to engage with continuous learning and improvement methodologies.
• Flexible Team Players: Those willing to participate in outreach activities, including travel and occasional overnight stays.

This position is available for remote work on a full-time basis within Arizona (including virtual office arrangements).

The State of Arizona strives for a work culture that affords employees flexibility, autonomy, and trust. Across our many agencies, boards, and commissions, many State employees participate in the State’s Remote Work Program and are able to work remotely in their homes, in offices, and in hoteling spaces. All work, including remote work, should be performed within Arizona unless an exception is properly authorized in advance.

As a Veterans’ Benefit Counselor you will:

• Train and become accredited by the VA within six months of hire
• Conduct in person or virtual interviews and counsels clients regarding a variety of veteran related benefit entitlements under current federal and state law
• Assist clients with accurately completing benefit forms, gathering supporting documents and submitting to the VA in a timely manner; monitors the claim through the VA process utilizing VA and other computer databases.
• Review claim files after a VA rating action to determine VA's compliance with current laws, rules and regulations as outlined in U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims (CAVC) decisions, Title 38 Code of Federal Regulations and other federal resources (M-21, etc.)
• Examine medical information including, but not limited to service medical records (SMR's), physical examinations, hospital reports, and post-operative reports, and compares the degree of residual disability with VA assignment for accuracy; initiates formal appellant proceedings and/or otherwise advises claimants to take specific action to obtain a proper rating, as necessary.
• Create and maintains electronic client records and uploads documents into client files
• Prepare reports as requested by supervisor
• Attend all required education and training to obtain and maintain accreditation
• Attend meetings with various VA and State personnel to keep abreast of policy changes and to offer input for process improvements
• Participate in the Arizona Management System (AMS) to ensure continuous improvement in agency processes.
• Participate in community outreach activities to engage service members, veterans, their family members and citizens to disseminate information and offer agency services and referrals. This may include but is not limited to Stand Downs, Stand Ups, Veterans' Courts, Pow Wows, Veteran organization meetings, Expos, Assisted Living facilities, Nursing Homes and other assigned outreach activities. Driving on state business with occasional over night or longer stays may be required.
  

Knowledge of:

• Interviewing/counseling techniques
• Community resources for veteran referrals
• Needs and problems of disabled and disadvantaged veterans
• Judicial matters (appeals, hearings) as they relate to the VA
• Business English, including proper use of spelling and grammar
• General administrative/office procedures and practices

Skills in:

• Effective written and verbal communications
• Planning, organizing and time management
• Using a laptop computer and associated software( e.g. Google Suites, email, etc.)
• Composing general correspondence, including proper formatting

Ability to:

• Learn and apply Title 38 U.S.C. and Veterans Administration regulations and manuals, policies and procedures to claims
• Learn and apply other federal, state and local programs, as well as military specific programs to claims
• Learn and apply rules, regulations, policies and procedures of the agency
• Train and become accredited with the VA within six months of hire
• Provide high-quality customer service
• Establish and maintain interpersonal relationships with internal and external contacts
• Be patient and compassionate when interacting with clients and staff
• Learn proprietary database programs pertinent to assignment
• Speak professionally in the community regarding agency services and promote public interest
• Maintain confidentiality
• Learn the Arizona Management System
• Follow chain of command
• Work independently with minimal supervision
  

Due to the nature of the position, preference will be given to veterans of the U.S. Armed Forces who have a military discharge under honorable conditions.

• This position requires the ability to obtain accreditation by the VA and certified proficient by the Arizona Department of Veterans Services within six (6) months from the date of hire, and thereafter obtain accreditation with the American Legion. Accreditation must be maintained through continuing education classes and conferences. Recertification is required every five (5) years.
• The position requires possession of and ability to retain a current, valid state-issued driver's license. Employees who drive on state business are subject to driver's license record checks, must maintain an acceptable driving record and must complete any required driver training (see Arizona Administrative Code R2-10-207.11.)
• This position requires the ability to pass an extensive background investigation by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) and the ability to obtain a Personal Identity Verification (PIV) card through the VA.
  

All newly hired State employees are subject to and must successfully complete the Electronic Employment Eligibility Verification Program (E-Verify).

The Arizona Department of Veterans' Services offers a comprehensive benefits package to include:

• Sick leave
• Vacation with 10 paid holidays per year
• Paid Parental Leave-Up to 12 weeks per year paid leave for newborn or newly-placed foster/adopted child (pilot program).
• Health and dental insurance
• Retirement plan
• Life insurance and long-term disability insurance
• Referral Incentives available for qualifying positions
• Optional employee benefits include short-term disability insurance, deferred compensation plans, and supplemental life insurance
  

By providing the option of a full-time or part-time remote work schedule, employees enjoy improved work/life balance, report higher job satisfaction, and are more productive. Remote work is a management option and not an employee entitlement or right. An agency may terminate a remote work agreement at its discretion.

Learn more about the Paid Parental Leave pilot program here. For a complete list of benefits provided by The State of Arizona, please visit our benefits page

• Positions in this classification participate in the Arizona State Retirement System (ASRS)
• Please note, enrollment eligibility will become effective after 27 weeks of employment
  

If you have any questions please feel free to contact Human Resources at recruiting@azdvs.gov and 602.781.7032 for assistance. The State of Arizona is an Equal Opportunity/Reasonable Accommodation Employer.