State of Maryland

A Veterans Service Program Area Supervisor is a supervisory level of work providing services to veterans and their families seeking information in securing benefits as provided by State and federal laws and involving the management of Veterans Service Centers within a specified region of Maryland.  Employees in this classification perform the dual functions of providing administrative and technical supervision over the work of lower-level Veterans Service Officers in a geographical region, which typically consists of several Veterans Service Centers and functioning as working supervisors, responsible for assisting veterans in securing benefits.

Employees in this classification receive general supervision from a Veterans Service Program Manager.  Work effectiveness is evaluated through conferences, review of reports, and overall program effectiveness.

Positions in this classification are evaluated by using the classification job evaluation methodology.  The use of this method involves comparing the assigned duties and responsibilities of a position to the job criteria found in the Nature of Work and Examples of Work sections of the class specification.

The Veterans Service Program Area Supervisor is differentiated from the Veterans Service Program Appeals Supervisor in that the Veterans Service Program Areas Supervisor has supervisory responsibility for lower-level Veterans Service Officers while the Veterans Service Program Appeals Supervisor  provides assistance to Veterans Services Officers in developing evidence in their representation of veteran personal appeals before the Veterans Administration or the Board of Veterans Appeals.  The Veterans Service Program Area Supervisor is differentiated from the Veterans Service Program Manager in that the Veteran Service Program Manager has supervisory responsibility for Veterans Service Program Area Supervisors and Veteran Service Program Appeals Supervisors. 

Supervises the activities of lower-level Veterans Service Officers within a specified geographical area;

Interviews veterans and their dependents concerning their benefits and privileges and provides assistance in securing same;

Initiates and presents claims for compensation, insurance, pensions, and other benefits to the federal Veterans Administration and other agencies on behalf of veterans;

Maintains close liaison with the Veterans Administration to follow up on the status of claims, and expedites action whenever possible;

Prepares news releases on veterans’ benefits and changes to the laws which may affect existing or future entitlement or the level of the benefits;

Appears before the Board of Veterans Appeals on behalf of veterans;

Prepares and processes applications for tax relief, automobile registration, scholarships and other benefits offered by the State;

May operate a Veterans Service Center;

Performs other related duties.

Knowledge, at the expert level of proficiency, of State and federal laws concerning the benefits, privileges, and obligations to veterans and their families;

Ability to interpret laws as they apply to the rights and benefits of veterans and their dependents;

Ability to conduct interviews and extract pertinent information;

Ability to prepare claims and reports;

Ability to maintain effective working relationships;

Ability to communicate effectively.

Education:   Graduation from an accredited high school or possession of a high school equivalency certificate.

Experience: Four years of experience rendering advice and service to veterans and their families.

Class specifications are broad descriptions covering groups of positions used by various State departments and agencies. Position descriptions maintained by the using department or agency specifically address the essential job functions of each position.

This is a Skilled Service classification in the State Personnel Management System.  All positions in this classification are Skilled Service positions.  Some positions in Skilled Service classifications may be designated Special Appointment in accordance with the State Personnel and Pensions Article, Section 6-405, Annotated Code of Maryland.

This classification is not assigned to a bargaining unit, as indicated by the designation of S (Supervisor), M (Manager), T (Agency Head), U (Board or Commission Member), W (Student), X (Used by Agency or Excluded by Executive Order), or Z (Confidential).  As provided by State Personnel and Pensions Article, Section 3-102, special appointment, temporary, contractual, supervisory, managerial and confidential employees are excluded collective bargaining.  Additionally, certain executive branch agencies are exempt from collective bargaining and all positions in those agencies are excluded from collective bargaining.