Position Description

Veterans Services Officer
Location MC - Wausau
MC Department Veterans Services
Application Deadline Date 1/3/20
Apply Now
 

WHO WE ARE:

Marathon County in Northcentral Wisconsin is a great place to live, work, visit and conduct business. Our county government is highly regarded and contributes to a high quality of life by:

  • ensuring public safety;
  • protecting natural resources;
  • preparing for emergency and disaster responses;
  • protecting vulnerable populations;
  • creating and maintaining a high quality infrastructure for transportation; and
  • providing education and fostering economic development

Marathon County full and part-time employees enjoy competitive salaries, flexible schedules, and a range of excellent benefits,  including:

  • Pay for performance system
  • Health insurance
  • Dental insurance
  • Wisconsin Retirement System defined benefit plan
  • Post employment health plan
  • Income continuation insurance
  • Paid Time Off (PTO) and holiday time off
  • 457 deferred compensation plans
  • Flexible spending account to set aside pre-tax dollars for childcare and medical expenses
  • Life insurance
  • Educational reimbursement program
  • Employee recognition programs and a positive workplace culture
 

POSITION SUMMARY:

The purpose of this position is to direct the operations of the County Veterans Department in coordinating and administering federal, state, and county benefits and services for veterans and their dependents.  The work is performed under the direction of the County Administrator.

 

QUALIFICATIONS:

Bachelor’s Degree from an approved college/university in Public Administration, Business Management, Healthcare, or a related field with two years’ experience with veterans issues and benefits, or any combination of education and experience that provides equivalent knowledge, skills and abilities. Must be a veteran as defined by Wisconsin Statute 45.01. Must obtain U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs General Counsel Accreditation within 18 months of hire.

 

EXAMPLES OF WORK PERFORMED:

The following duties are typical for this position. These are not to be construed as exclusive or all-inclusive.  Other duties may be required and assigned.

  • Serves as advocate and liaison for veterans to the Veterans Administration and Wisconsin Departments of Veterans Affairs and other agencies; conducts public presentations regarding veterans issues to local veterans and other groups; conducts and provides County-wide public information program through print and electronic media.

  • Interviews and counsels veterans, spouses, and dependents regarding eligibility for benefits and services; assists veterans and dependents in developing and completing federal and state benefits claims.

  • Directs the operations and personnel of the Veterans Department; directs the preparation of the department annual budget for submission; approves and monitors expenditures.

  • Supervises support and clerical staff; interviews and selects new employees; provides training and instruction; plans, coordinates, assigns and reviews work; acts on problems and concerns and maintains standards; approves leave; evaluates performance and recommends or approves transfers, promotions, discharge and disciplinary action.

  • Researches current and pending laws that affect the benefits of veterans.

  • Investigates entitlement and provides aid to needy veterans as the Executive Secretary of County Veterans Service Commission.

  • Schedules interview appointments, training conferences, employee vacation, workload goals and required meetings; attends required meetings.

  • Prepares a variety of reports, applications, and correspondence related to administration and obtaining veterans benefits including veterans benefit applications, state annual grant application, veterans’ press releases, training charts, budget reports and quarterly Service Commission reports.

Additional Tasks and Responsibilities:

While the following tasks are necessary for the work of the unit, they are not an essential part of the purpose of this position and may also be performed by other unit members.

  • Meets veterans and veteran families visiting the department and helps them understand the types of benefits that may be available to them.

  • Answers phones and responds to inquiries regarding veteran benefits.

  • Performs other related functions as required.
 

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS & ABILITIES:

Physical and Mental Abilities Required to Perform Essential Job Functions

  • Language Ability and Interpersonal Communication
    • Requires the ability to utilize a variety of advisory data and information such as financial statements, USDVA manuals and rating decisions, medical records, budget reports, time sheets, client tax forms, veteran benefit training materials, Court of Veterans Appeals decisions, Code of Federal Regulations, veterans information management system, veteran office files and veterans related websites, medical books and dictionaries, state statutes, procedures, guidelines and non-routine correspondence.
    • Requires the ability to communicate orally and in writing with County Administrator, Veterans office personnel, USDVA personnel, Wisconsin DVA personnel, veterans’ organizations and clients and families.
    • Requires the ability to perform mid to upper-level data analysis including the ability to coordinate, strategize, systemize and correlate, using discretion in determining time, place and/or sequence of operations within an organizational framework. Requires the ability to implement decisions based on such data, and overseeing the execution of these decisions.
    • Ability to manage and direct a group of workers, including the ability to provide counseling and mediation. Ability to persuade, convince and train others. Ability to advise and interpret regarding the application of policies, procedures and standards to specific situations.
  • Mathematical Ability
    • Requires the ability to perform addition, subtraction, multiplication and division, calculate percentages, and decimals.
  • Judgment and Situational Reasoning Ability
    • Requires the ability to apply principles of influence systems such as supervision, managing, leading, teaching, directing, planning, coordinating and controlling. Ability to exercise independent judgment to apply facts and principles for developing approaches and techniques to problem resolution.
    • Requires the ability to exercise the judgment, decisiveness and creativity required in situations involving the direction, control and planning of an entire program or multiple programs.
  • Physical Requirements
    • Requires the ability to operate, maneuver and/or provide simple but continuous adjustment on equipment, machinery and tools such as a computer and other office machines, and/or materials used in performing essential functions.
    • Requires the ability to coordinate eyes, hands, feet and limbs in performing coordinated movements such as typing.
    • Tasks involve the ability to exert light physical effort in sedentary to light work, but which may involve some lifting, carrying, pushing and pulling of objects weighing five to ten pounds. Tasks may involve extended periods of time at a keyboard or workstation.
    • Requires the ability to recognize and identify similarities or differences between characteristics of colors, shapes and sounds associated with job-related objects, materials and tasks.

  • Environmental Adaptability

    • Ability to work under generally safe and comfortable conditions where exposure to environmental factors such as violence may cause discomfort and poses a limited risk of injury.

 

COMPENSATION:

Salary Range (D61):  Minimum $32.09 - Mid Point $40.11 - Maximum $48.13

 

SELECTION PROCEDURE:

Selection of the successful candidate may be made by assessment of experience and education, background check, oral interview; review of references, written management assessment, and other appropriate job-related selection procedures.  All applicants will be notified as to the status of their application.

 

SPECIAL ACCOMMODATIONS:

Marathon County will make arrangements to furnish appropriate auxiliary aids and services where necessary and reasonable to afford an individual with a disability the opportunity to participate in the recruitment process. Please notify the Employee Resources Department office or phone (715) 261-1451 to request special accommodations prior to the application deadline

 

NOTICE TO APPLICANTS:

Wisconsin Statutes, Sections 19.36 (7), 64.09 (5), and 64.11 (7) require public employers to treat the following items as a public record: Each applicant’s application, records, recommendations and qualifications except as provided in Section 19.36 (7), Wis. Stats. that allows the identity of an applicant to remain confidential if the applicant requests in writing that the County not provide access to this information.
If you choose not to have this information become a public record, you must make such a request in writing to the Employee Resources Department. If you become a finalist for the position, your identity may be disclosed as required by law.

APPLICATION DEADLINE:  Friday, January 3, 2020, 11:59pm

Back Apply Now