Philadelphia City Council is seeking candidates for the position of Director of the Philadelphia Office of Veterans Affairs.
Department: Philadelphia Office of Veterans Affairs
Open Dates: June 21, 2022 – August 31, 2022
Description
Philadelphia City Council is seeking candidates for the position of Director of Philadelphia’s Veterans Affairs Office. The overall objective of this position is to educate, advise, assist, empower, counsel, and refer veterans and/or their families regarding a wide range of veterans’ benefits, entitlements, and services. Advocate for veterans, both individually and collectively, assuring that all benefits and entitlements due them are received in accordance with federal, state, and county laws, policies, and regulations. Seek and assist veterans in obtaining services outside the Veterans Administration. Coordinate veteran access to such programming. Manage Philadelphia county Veteran’s Affairs office by providing high-quality customer service to veterans and maintaining records as well as reporting activities.
Essential Functions of Job
- Manage, from initiation to completion, all actions through the Department of Veterans Affairs and Commonwealth’s Department of Military & Veterans Affairs.
- Manage and preform the tasks legislated in the County Code, PA Consolidated statutes, and any other pertinent legislation.
- Act as Power of Attorney for veterans presenting case for services, benefits, and entitlements.
- Advocate for the veteran and/or families at hearings, appeal boards, and courts during the adjudication processing of their claims. Assist with processing appeals of denied claims and files appeals forms, notices of disagreement, new-material evidence, support statements, or related documentation to appropriate federal agencies.
- Ensuring the appropriate recording of veteran grave registration data and keeping it updated.
- Provide counseling to veterans and/or families while assessing their individual or collective need and eligibility.
- Research, establish, and maintain all available resources essential to assisting veterans with their claims through government and private-sector networking.
- Assist veterans or survivors by managing appropriate documents related to their case including timely retrieval and recovery of records, documents, and information to be used as evidence in substantiating the claim.
- Assure all paperwork concerning the claim is complete prior to submission.
- Make referrals on the veteran’s behalf to other agencies to assure that all benefits and entitlements are received as provided by law.
- Coordinate eligibility, care, and placement of veterans into the VA Health Care System to include but not limited to application, referral, and transport; as well as assuring quality of care is provided within the limits of policies, regulations; to include such veterans residing in local contracted hospitals, domiciliary, and nursing homes.
- Interact with federal, state, and county agencies, veterans, their families, and general public regarding matters pertaining to Veterans Affairs.
- Serve as liaison to federal, state, and county legislators proposing and recommending changes in legislation concerning veterans to serve their needs more effectively, efficiently, and adequately.
- Assist veterans with various issues involving health care benefits, which may include processing enrollment for use of VA health care facilities, coordinating outpatient clinic appointments, interacting with physicians and group therapy program staff, and processing intake casework for homeless veterans’ program. Provides transportation to disabled veterans to regional offices or health care facilities as deemed appropriate by the Director.
- Verify military service records and documents for legitimacy, accuracy, and eligibility and authorizes the issuance of the same.
- Authorize County burial benefits for war-time veterans, survivors, and the care of their graves.
- Manage and direct the daily operation of the Office of Veterans Affairs to maintain standards and quality assurance.
- Speak to a wide variety of social organizations and veterans’ groups to educate and inform them on issues relating to veterans.
- Develop and implements education and outreach activities to veterans, survivors, and their families.
- Maintain community awareness of VA benefits via news releases, seminars, and public speaking engagements.
- Develop a working knowledge of other agencies’ benefits such as the Pennsylvania Adjutant General’s office, Social Security, County Assessors, Social Security Insurance Disability, CareerLink, etc.
- Ensure county compliance with all federal, state, and veterans’ statutes. Research and prepare necessary policies to ensure compliance.
- Supervise the maintenance of records and files of veterans’ records; applications and petitions; orders supplies and coordinates Memorial and Veterans Days’ ceremonies.
Oher Duties of Job
- Working with the City’s nine member Veterans Advisory Commission in setting and effectuating an advocacy agenda for Philadelphia’s Veteran Community.
- Preparing the Veterans Advisory Commission’s meeting agendas and minutes.
- Collecting data, keeping records, and preparing reports for the Veterans Advisory Commission and City Council.
- Serve on various county, state, and federal committees concerning veterans and their entitlements.
- Attend meetings, in services, and training as required.
- Perform speaking engagements, to include ceremonies and parades, for the public sector as well as veteran service organizations.
- Establish and maintain effective working relationships with officials, associates, and the general public.
- Perform other job-related duties as required.
Physical Requirements
- Must be able to sit for long periods throughout the workday, with intermittent periods of standing, walking, bending, twisting, reaching, and driving (as necessary to carry out essential duties of job).
- Dexterity requirements range from simple to coordinated movements of fingers/hands; feet/legs; torso necessary to carry out duties of job.
- Sedentary work, with occasional lifting/carrying of objects with a maximum weight of 25 pounds.
- Must possess vision abilities sufficient to perform job functions which include computer processing, driving, and attending to details.
Qualifications
- Must be a veteran.
- Education/Training Bachelor’s degree in human services, or related field, AND at least (5) years of experience in veterans counseling or an equivalent combination of education, training, and experience which provides the essential knowledge, skills, and abilities for this position. Must be trained in management and benefit administration. Some knowledge of veteran benefits preferred.
- Accreditation. Must be able to receive and maintain veterans’ service officer accreditation authorized by the Department of Veterans Affairs through the sponsorship of the state or veteran service organizations.
- Must attend training and attain national accreditation and continuing education and certification as required by the Title 51 PA C.S. Chapter 17 Subchapter D within (1) year of employment.
- Work Experience. Five (5) years working experience in a management position involving counseling and case management.
Knowledge, Skills and Abilities Required
- Must be able to speak and understand the English language in order to carry out essential functions of the job.
- Must possess effective communication and interpersonal skills.
- Must be computer literate, able to learn and utilize all V.A. computer systems.
- Must be self-motivated and possess initiative and problem-solving skills.
- Must have abilities to function independently, be flexible, and work effectively with veterans, their families, and inter-governmental agencies.
- Must possess ability to acquire and maintain the trust, confidence, and respect of those individuals being served and be able to maintain strict confidentiality in regard to veterans’ information and records.
- Must possess ability to make independent decisions when circumstances warrant such actions.
- Must possess some knowledge of federal, state, and county resources and programs available to veterans and their dependents.
- Must possess some knowledge and procedures of veterans’ benefits and entitlements eligibility.
- Must possess ability to evaluate and determine eligibility qualifications for appropriate benefits and entitlements.
- Must possess sound judgment.
- Must possess ability to interpret, analyze, and define the applicable rules, policies, regulations, and laws and to explain same to others in a clear and logical manner.
- Must possess excellent interpersonal and communication skills.
- Must maintain a valid drivers’ license and possess the ability to travel with flexibility whenever and wherever as needed to perform essential job duties.
Salary and Benefits
- Salary depending on the candidate’s experience.
- This is an Exempt position, not a part of the civil service system. Staff works at the discretion of the City Council President.
- We are a Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program qualified employer.
- Employees are eligible for a 25% tuition discount program (and sometimes spouses and dependents as well) in partnership with area colleges and universities.
- We offer comprehensive health coverage for employees and their eligible dependents.
- Our wellness program offers eligibility into the discounted medical plan.
- Employees receive paid vacation, sick leave, and holidays.
- Generous retirement savings options are available.
As a condition of employment with the City of Philadelphia, employees starting employment on or after September 1, 2021 must be vaccinated.
The City of Philadelphia is an Equal Opportunity employer and does not permit discrimination based on race, ethnicity, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, national origin, ancestry, age, disability, marital status, source of income, familial status, genetic information or domestic or sexual violence victim status. If you believe you were discriminated against, call the Philadelphia Commission on Human Relations at 215-686-4670 or send an email to [email protected]. For more information, please visit the Human Relations website.
Submissions
Candidates must submit a resume and 2 letters of recommendation to Director of Human Resources, Virginia Folino at [email protected].
Deadline: August 31, 2022
