Veterans Service Officer

THIS IS A NEW ASSEMBLED EXAMINATION. The eligible list resulting from this examination will cancel any existing list and may last approximately one year, but can be extended.

The County of Alameda Social Services Agency invites you to apply for the position of Veterans Services Officer.

Applications must be in the possession of the Human Resource Services Department by 5:00 p.m. on the Last Day for Filing. Applications will only be accepted on-line.

Supplemental Questionnaire: A properly completed Supplemental Questionnaire must be submitted with each application. Applications and Supplemental Questionnaires must be in the possession of the Human Resource Services Department by 5:00 p.m. on the Last Day for Filing. Applications will only be accepted on-line. Postmarks are not accepted. Failure to submit the Application or Supplemental Questionnaire will result in disqualification.

THE AGENCY

The Alameda County Social Services Agency (SSA) is comprised of 2,400 men and women working collectively and in partnership with community-based organizations, neighborhood groups and policy makers to serve the needs of the community.   Services are provided through four departments: Agency Administration, Adult and Aging Services, Children and Family Services, and Workforce and Benefit Administration.   

The Agency assists approximately 11.3 percent of Alameda County's residents. Benefits programs contribute over $278 million to the local economy through cash assistance and CalFresh (formerly known as Food Stamps).  Every month, more than 52,000 people receive CalWORKs (assistance for families with children), CalFresh and General Assistance.  Health insurance is made available monthly to more than 78,000 people through the Medi-Cal program.  More than 11,000 frail, elderly and disabled individuals receive in-home care, adult protection and support managing their affairs monthly and throughout the year, 16,000 seniors will receive services through the Area Agency on Aging.  3,700 children are in foster care.  More than 1,600 reports of child abuse or neglect are filed with SSA each month. Emergency shelter is made available to 415 people nightly. 

THE POSITION

Under general direction to plan, organize and direct the operations of the Social Service Agency’s Veterans Service Office to provide aid and assistance to Veterans and their dependents in obtaining the rights and entitlements provided by Federal, State and local legislation; and perform other duties as required.

This recruitment is specifically to fill a vacancy within the Social Services Agency, Department of Adult & Aging Services, Area on Aging.

The Alameda County Social Services Agency is searching for a Veteran Service Officer to plan, organize and direct the operations of the Social Services Agency’s Veterans Service Office, while coordinating services and resources to assistance to Veterans and their dependents in obtaining the rights and entitlements provided by Federal, State and local legislation. The Veterans Service Officer provides valuable information about available services and is responsible for promoting positive relationships while representing the Agency in a professional manner.

IDEAL CANDIDATE

The Ideal Candidate for this position has:

· Exceptional communication skills, both written and oral, and the ability to communicate effectively with diverse groups.

· Strong knowledge of Federal, State, and local rules and regulations applicable to veteran’s rights and benefits programs; as well as knowledge regarding interviewing and counseling techniques.

· Ability to establish and maintain cooperative working relationships with diverse groups and with Federal, State, and County/local organizations and individuals.

· Outstanding planning and analytical skills for handling a comprehensive Veterans Service program. Integrity and social responsibility, ensuring that veterans receive the benefits and services to which they are entitled.

· Ability to work well under pressure and maintain a professional performance while working under time constraints.

Veteran Status:

Must be a veteran in accordance with Section 980 of the California Military and Veterans Code

AND

Education:

Possession of a Bachelor’s Degree in Public Administration, Business Administration, Social Welfare, or a related field from an accredited college or university,

AND Either I

Experience:

The equivalent of one year of full-time experience as a Supervising Eligibility Technician with the Alameda County Social Services Agency or in an equivalent or higher-level supervisory classification in the Alameda County classified service.

Or II

Experience:

The equivalent of three years of full-time experience providing guidance and/or counseling services to clients in a recognized Veterans Service Office of a Federal, State, or County government, or a federally recognized public or private veterans service organization.

Special Requirements:

• Must have a valid California Driver’s License.
• Within one year of employment, must be accredited by the California Department of Veterans Affairs (Title 38, Code of Federal Regulations 14.629).

NOTE: The Civil Service Commission may modify the above Minimum Qualifications in the announcement of an examination.

NOTE: The level and scope of the following knowledge and abilities are related to duties listed under the “Examples of Duties” section of this specification.

Knowledge of:

• Provisions of Federal, State, and local legislation, rules or regulations relating to all veterans entitlement programs.
• Principles of administration, supervision and training.
• Interviewing and counseling techniques.
• Community resources.
• Veterans Administration claims and special practices and procedures.
• Outreach techniques and community development skills.


Ability to:

• Plan, develop and administer a comprehensive Veterans Service program.
• Train, supervise, and evaluate the work of subordinate staff.
• Interpret laws and regulations concerning the rights and entitlements of veterans and their dependents.
• Prepare or assist veterans in the preparation of appropriate forms and correspondence.
• Assemble, organize, and present in written and/or oral form, comprehensive studies and reports.
• Establish and maintain cooperative working relationships with diverse groups or populations and with Federal, State, or County/local organizations and individuals.
• Learn computer applications related to performing the job.

1) A review of candidates' applications and supplemental questionnaires to verify possession of minimum requirements. Those candidates who possess the minimum requirements for the class will move on to the next step in the examination process.

2) An oral interview which will be weighted as 100% of the candidate's final examination score. The oral interview may contain situational exercises. CANDIDATES MUST ATTAIN A QUALIFYING RATING ON EACH PORTION OF THIS EXAMINATION.

We reserve the right to make changes to the announced examination components. Alameda County utilizes a Civil Service Selection System founded on merit. Such a system is competitive and based on broad recruitment efforts and equal opportunity for qualified applicants to test in an examination process designed to determine the qualifications, fitness and ability of competitors to perform duties of the vacant position. Many of our recruitments are targeted and specific to the needs of a current vacant position, in which case, the eligible list may be exclusively used for that current vacant position. Other recruitments may be more broadly used for both current and future vacancies, or for other alternate jobs with comparable scopes of work. To learn more about our recruitment and selection process, please visit the “What You Need to Know” section of our website, www.acgov.org/hrs.

Applicants will be informed via email with reasonable notice in advance of any examination process which will require their attendance. The following dates are tentative and subject to change based on the needs of the Agency.

TENTATIVE SELECTION PLAN

Alameda County offers a comprehensive and competitive benefits package that affords wide-ranging health care options to meet the different needs of a diverse workforce and their families. We also sponsor many different employee discount, fitness and health screening programs focused on overall well being.  These benefits include but are not limited to*:

For your Health & Well-Being

• Medical – HMO & PPO Plans
• Dental – HMO & PPO Plans
• Vision or Vision Reimbursement
• Share the Savings
• Basic Life Insurance 
• Supplemental Life Insurance (with optional dependent coverage for eligible employees)
• Accidental Death and Dismemberment Insurance 
• County Allowance Credit
• Flexible Spending Accounts - Health FSA, Dependent Care and Adoption Assistance
• Short-Term Disability Insurance
• Long-Term Disability Insurance
• Voluntary Benefits - Accident Insurance, Critical Illness, Hospital Indemnity and Legal Services
• Employee Assistance Program

For your Financial Future

• Retirement Plan - (Defined Benefit Pension Plan)
• Deferred Compensation Plan (457 Plan or Roth Plan)

For your Work/Life Balance

• 11 paid holidays
• Floating Holidays
• Vacation and sick leave accrual
• Vacation purchase program
• Management Paid Leave**
• Catastrophic Sick Leave
• Group Auto/Home Insurance
• Pet Insurance
• Commuter Benefits Program
• Guaranteed Ride Home
• Employee Wellness Program (e.g. At Work Fitness, Incentive Based Programs, Gym Membership Discounts)
• Employee Discount Program (e.g. theme parks, cell phone, etc.)
• Child Care Resources
• 1^st United Services Credit Union 

*Eligibility is determined by Alameda County and offerings may vary by collective bargaining agreement.  This provides a brief summary of the benefits offered and can be subject to change.

** Non-exempt management employees are entitled to up to three days of management paid leave. Exempt management employees are entitled to up to seven days of management paid leave.

All notices related to County recruitments for which you have applied will be sent/delivered via email. Notices will be sent from Noreply@jobaps.com. Please add @jobaps.com and Noreply@jobaps.com as accepted addresses to any email blocking or spam filtering program you may use. If you do not do this, your email blocking or spam filtering program may block receipt of the notices regarding your application for recruitments. You are also strongly advised to regularly log into your County of Alameda online application account to check for notices that may have been sent to you. All email notices that will be sent to you will also be kept in your personal online application account. You will be able to view all of your notices in your online application account by clicking on the 'My applications' button on the Current Job Openings page.

Please take the steps recommended above to ensure you do not miss any notices about a recruitment for which you have applied. The County of Alameda is not responsible for notices that are not read, received or accessed by any applicant for a County recruitment.

NOTE: All notices are generated through an automated email notification system. Replies to the email box alamedacountyHR@acgov.org are routed to an unmonitored mailbox. If you have questions, please go to our website at www.acgov.org/hrs. You may also contact the Human Resources Analyst listed on the bulletin for the recruitment for which you have applied.

Ione Bell Human Resources Analyst
Human Resource Services Division, County of Alameda
510-272-6456; Email: ione.bell@acgov.org

www.acgov.org/hrs

DISASTER SERVICE WORKER

All Alameda County employees are designated Disaster Service Workers through state and local law. Employment with the County requires the affirmation of a loyalty oath to this effect. Employees are required to report to work as ordered in the event of an emergency.

EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY

Alameda County has a diverse workforce, that is representative of the communities we serve and is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. All aspects of employment are based on merit, competence, performance and business need. Alameda County does not discriminate in employment on the basis of, race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy and gender identity), national origin, political affiliation, sexual orientation, marital status, disability, genetic information, age, membership in an employee organization, retaliation, parental status, military service, or other non-merit factors protected under federal, state and local law. Alameda County celebrates diversity and is committed to creating an inclusive, and welcoming workplace environment.