District Veterans Service Officer - Mayor's Office of Veteran's Affairs

OPEN:  Thursday, January 11, 2024

SALARY AND GRADE:    Excepted Service, Grade 5 ($79,186)

Current District of Columbia residents will receive priority and advanced preference for screening and interviews.

The Mayor’s Office of Veterans Affairs (MOVA) is dedicated to serving the District’s veteran community, their families, survivors, and military caregivers. MOVA seeks to address the broad range of social, economic, and healthcare needs of the District’s veteran community by building strategic partnerships with public and private organizations, creating veteran-centered policy initiatives, and developing strong relationships with the veteran community. Building on these relationships, MOVA acts as a liaison between the District’s veteran community and the Mayor, District agencies, Federal agencies, and non-profit organizations in order to ensure that the District’s veteran community has access to the full range of available resources.  For more information on MOVA, please visit here.

The Veterans Service Officer directs, determines, prepares, coordinates, and supervises the filing of claims for Federal and State Veteran benefits and services for District veterans and their qualified dependents. Act as an advocate on their behalf or direct them to other authorized agencies as their needs dictate.   Maintains confidentiality of all information and provides compassionate encouragement to clients in securing counseling or treatments.  The Veteran Service Officer also maintains an outreach program to ensure veterans and eligible family members are aware of and able to submit claims for benefits they have earned as a result of their service to our country. 

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

• Directs, determines and prepares submission of claims for veterans and/or family to the appropriate Federal or State Office.
• Develops and prepares supportive evidence for claims to substantiate eligibility and need.
• Initiates, develops and presents appeals for claims that are of merit and were denied. Maintains working knowledge of the Board of Veterans Appeals, as well as the Court of Veterans Appeals and the case decisions that are made each year.
• Establishes and maintains new department related software for development of claims and database of eligible veterans.
• Advises, consults and counsels veterans and/or families in benefits and other personal situations as required.
•  Initiates and maintains veteran files for claim processing.
• Assists survivors and/or dependents of military casualties (i.e. burial benefits, funeral arrangements, pension, and survivor benefits).
• Works with and coordinates with non-profit Veterans organizations;
• Performs regular outreach to the Veteran Community
• Assists Veteran and/or family with any other needs that may be appropriate or needed. Advises, recommends other sources available that may be able to assist.
• Manages and directs all Veteran information in the strictest of confidentiality.
• Performs other work-related duties as required.

REQUIRED EXPERIENCE

• Accredited and cleared by the US Dept of Veterans Affairs to submit benefit claims on behalf of veterans and their families. Familiar with the Veteran Benefit Management System (VBMS)
• Demonstrated knowledge of the District of Columbia veteran community and services/resources available.
• Ability to plan, organize, direct and coordinate Veteran’s Services activities.
• Ability to maintain a proper working relationship with clients, many who have complex physical and mental health issues and come from diverse economic backgrounds.
• Knowledge of Federal rules, regulations, and statutes of the Veterans Administration.
• Knowledge of modern office practices and procedures..
• Ability to operate general office equipment including department related applications on a computer.
• Ability to establish and maintain strong working relationships with others and to present ideas effectively, orally and in writing.

HIRING PREFERENCE

• Veterans and Veteran spouses will receive prioritized screened. 
• District of Columbia residents will receive preferential screening.

DOMICILE REQUIREMENT:

There is a legal requirement that each new appointee to the Excepted and Executive Service either: (1) be domiciled in the District of Columbia at the time of appointment; or (2) establish District domicile within one hundred eighty (180) days of appointment.  The law also requires that Excepted and Executive Service employees maintain District domicile during the period of the appointment.  Failure to maintain District domicile during the period of the appointment will result in forfeiture of employment.

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