Veterans Service Officer I

Buncombe County is a caring community in harmony with its environment where citizens succeed, thrive, and realize their potential. Our mission is to promote a healthy, safe, well-educated, and thriving community with a sustainable quality of life; to provide effective and efficient government our citizens can trust; and to deliver needed service through a responsive work force committed to excellence, integrity, and teamwork.

Job Title:  Veterans Service Officer I

Purpose of the position:

The primary purpose of this position is to assist veterans seeking NC Department of Veterans Affairs specific benefits and services and to perform a wide range of support services for the Veterans Services Office to include reception, programmatic and administrative support duties.

Minimum Education, Training and/or Experience: Graduation from a four-year college or university or equivalent years of experience in related veterans service work.

Additional Training and Experience: VSO I classification does not require applicant to be an honorably discharged veteran who served on active duty in the armed forces during the period specified in Section 101, Title 38, U. S. C., and as required for membership in certain veterans organizations, but applicants with such status may be given preference.

License or Certification Required by Statute or Regulation: Maintain NCDVA VSO accreditation or its Veterans Service Technician certification equivalent.

Essential Functions of the position:

• Process applications for NC Department of Veterans Affairs benefits and services, including serving as lead for State specific benefits.
• Complete initial Veterans Services intake interviews, process applications for eligible services and manage cases to monitor and report any changes.
• Maintain case management system to track, update and monitor status of claims to facilitate office workflow and organize so supervisors, co-workers and other agency personnel may retrieve cases needed for review.
• Provide administrative and clerical support to the Veteran’s Services Program Administrator and staff.
• Provide direct customer service to veteran community by providing referrals to appropriate services and resources.
• Performs other related duties as assigned.

Knowledge, Skills, Abilities:

• Thorough knowledge and understanding of current veterans’ laws, eligibility criteria, regulations, policy and guidelines as well as agency policy, regulations, and procedures.
• Ability to interpret and apply the various laws, regulations and directives relating to veterans benefits, and to explain these in simple terms to others.
• Ability to elicit information and explain complex programs and policies in easily understandable terms to individuals of varied educational, social and economic backgrounds.
• Ability to communicate in a tactful and courteous manner to establish a rapport with clients and their dependents, exercise sound judgment, and effectively de-escalate individuals.
• General knowledge of all agency and community programs and services which could affect the client/applicant.
• Ability to identify areas in which the client experience could be improved upon and make the appropriate recommendations for improvement.
• Ability to analyze and comprehend a variety of technical and administrative regulation, records, reports, and complex data.
• Ability to effectively multitask in a busy environment, prioritize responsibilities, implement changes, organize and adjust work flow strategies to ensure timely customer service.

In order to uphold internal pay parity and equity, salaries are non-negotiable for new and current Buncombe County employes. All new employees are paid according to their years of relevant education and experience above minimum requirements for the position and employees have the opportunity to obtain pay increases via Cost of Living increases and promotions.

Department:Health and Human Services

Location: Asheville, NC

Job Posting End Date: August 31, 2022

Salary Range: $23.32 – $27.22

Buncombe County Government realizes the importance of a diverse professional workforce and the need to foster a responsive and innovative organizational culture, one that fully engages all of our employees, honoring and building on each employee’s unique experiences, opinions, and perspective.

It is the policy of Buncombe County to provide equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all persons regardless of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, political affiliation, physical or mental disability, age, veteran status, genetic information, sexual orientation, gender identity or any other legally protected class under federal or NC State law. In addition the Agency expressly prohibits any form of workplace harassment or discrimination.

Applicants for employment are invited to participate in the affirmative action program by reporting their status as a protected veteran or other minority. In extending this invitation, we advise you that: (a) workers (applicants) are under no obligation to respond but may do so in the future if they choose; (b) responses will remain confidential within the human resource department; and (c) responses will be used only for the necessary information to include in our affirmative action program. We are a company that values diversity. We actively encourage women, minorities, veterans and disabled employees to apply. Refusal to provide this information will have no bearing on your application and will not subject you to any adverse treatment.