National Service Officer (NSO)

JOB TITLE: National Service Officer (NSO)

CLASSIFICATION: Exempt / Full-Time

REPORTS TO: Deputy National Service Director (DNSD)

GENERAL STATEMENT OF JOB

Acting under the general supervision of the DNSD, the NSO provides claims and appeals assistance as an accredited attorney-in-fact to blind and visually impaired veterans and their dependents with particular regard to claims for VA disability compensation, pension, ancillary, and death benefits. The NSO will encourage and counsel veterans to seek blind rehabilitation training, and to obtain employment for maximum independence and self esteem.

SPECIFIC DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Advises and provides technical assistance for the filing of claims under Title 38 United States Code and 38 Code of Federal Regulations. Interviews, counsels, and assists in obtaining benefits for blind and vision-impaired veterans, and their dependents, widows and orphans. Has a thorough knowledge of federal and state laws, statutes, rules and regulations.
• Develops working relationships with applicable federal, state and county departments and agencies. Performs research and investigation of prior claim decisions made by the agency and reviews the findings and decisions for possible appeal.
• Maintains a working relationship with organizational members, staff, and volunteers, and news media.
• Possesses considerable public speaking ability to address veterans advocate groups and the media concerning current rules, regulations, changes and trends in the veterans’ benefit domain.
• Prepares Veterans Affairs related articles for the organization’s publications and outside news and advertising mediums.
• Maintains the confidentiality and maintenance of all client records.
• Maintains additional training as required to acquire an advanced knowledge of veteran benefits laws, regulations, programs, and services.
• Must be able to obtain and maintain accreditation through VA’s Office of General Counsel, which may include passing a national background check.
• Must take and pass the written exam given by the National Veterans Legal Services Program within one month of hire.
• Performs other related work as required.

ADDITIONAL JOB FUNCTIONS Performs other related work as required.

This job description is not intended to be and should not be construed as an all-inclusive list of all the responsibilities, skills, or working conditions associated with the position. While it is intended to accurately reflect the position activities and requirements, management reserves the right to modify, add, or remove duties and assign other duties as necessary that are a logical assignment to the position.

MINIMUM TRAINING AND EXPERIENCE

Bachelor’s Degree from an accredited four-year college or university with a degree in human services or business-related field and a minimum of two (2) years’ experience in Veteran Service work. An equivalent combination of training & experience may be considered. The ideal candidate is a blind or visually impaired, honorably-discharged, military veteran with extensive knowledge of veteran benefits and military culture.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS OR STANDARDS REQUIRED TO PERFORM ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS

• Physical Requirements: Must be physically able to operate a variety of machinery and equipment, including computers, keyboards, calculators, copiers, facsimile machines, camera, projector, smartphones, etc. Must be able to exert up to 20 pounds of force occasionally, and/or up to ten pounds of force frequently, and/or a negligible amount of force constantly to move objects. Physical demand requirements are for those for light work.
• Data Conception: Requires the ability to compare and/or judge the readily observable, functional, structural, or compositional characteristics (whether similar to or divergent from obvious standards) of data, people, or things).
• Interpersonal Communication: Requires the ability of speaking and/or signaling people to convey or exchange information. Includes giving instructions, assignments, or directions to clients, peers, subordinates or assistants.
• Language Ability: Requires the ability to read a variety of technical reports, correspondence, specifications, contracts, manuals, etc. Requires the ability to prepare correspondence, technical reports, etc., using prescribed formats and conforming to all rules of punctuation, grammar, diction, and style. Requires the ability to speak before groups of people with poise, voice control, and confidence.
• Intelligence: Requires the ability to apply principles of logical or scientific thinking to define problems, collect data, establish facts, and draw valid conclusions; to interpret an extensive variety of technical instructions in mathematical or diagrammatic form; and to deal with several abstract and concrete variables.
• Verbal Aptitude: Requires the ability to record and deliver information, to explain procedures, to follow oral and written instructions. Must be able to communicate effectively and efficiently in a variety of technical or professional languages.
• Numerical Aptitude: Requires the ability to utilize mathematical formulas; to add and subtract; multiply and divide; utilize decimals and percentages; understand and apply the theories of statistics and statistical inference.
• Manual Dexterity: Requires the ability to handle a variety of items such as office equipment. Must have minimal levels of hand/foot coordination.
• Color Discrimination: Does not require the ability to differentiate between colors.
• Interpersonal Temperament: Requires the ability to deal with people beyond giving and receiving instructions. Must be adaptable to performing under stress and when confronted with persons acting under stress.
• Physical Communication: Requires the ability to talk and hear: (Talking: expressing or exchanging ideas by means of spoken words. Hearing: perceiving nature of sounds by ear). Must be able to communicate via a telephone with or without adaptive technologies.

PERFORMANCE INDICATORS

• Knowledge of Job: Is skilled in the collection, analysis, and presentation of technical data and recommendations. Is able to establish and maintain effective working relationships with clients, coworkers, managers, members, volunteers, public officials, community leaders, and professional groups. Is able to express ideas effectively orally and in writing. Is able to exercise considerable tact and courtesy in frequent contacts with clients, members, volunteers, municipal, state, and federal officials and private citizens. Is able to establish and maintain effective working relationships as necessitated by work assignments, including the ability to work with other staff or other agencies to facilitate project development within the organizational framework.
• Quality of Work: Maintains high standards of accuracy in exercising duties and responsibilities. Exercises immediate remedial action to correct any quality deficiencies that occur in areas of responsibility. Maintains high-quality communication and interacts with all departments, coworkers, members, and the public.
• Quantity of Work: Maintains effective and efficient output of all duties and responsibilities as described under "Specific Duties and Responsibilities."
• Dependability: Assumes responsibility for doing assigned work and meeting deadlines. Completes assigned work on or before deadlines in accordance with directives, policy, standards, and prescribed procedures. Accepts accountability for meeting assigned responsibilities in the technical, human and conceptual areas.
• Attendance: Attends work regularly and adheres to policies and procedures regarding absences and tardiness. Attends meetings and events on weekends and evenings as needed. Provides adequate notice to higher management with respect to vacation time and time-off requests.
• Initiative and Enthusiasm: Maintains an enthusiastic, self-reliant, and self-starting approach to meet job responsibilities and accountability. Strives to anticipate work to be done and initiates proper and acceptable direction for completion of work with a minimum of supervision and instruction.
• Judgment: Exercises analytical judgment in areas of responsibility. Identifies problems or situations as they occur and specifies decision objectives. Identifies or assists in identifying alternative solutions to problems or situations. Implements decisions in accordance with prescribed and effective policies and procedures and with a minimum of errors. Seeks expert or experienced advice, and conducts the necessary research relating to problems, situations, and alternatives before exercising judgment.
• Cooperation: Accepts supervisory instruction and direction and strives to meet the goals and objectives of same. Questions such instruction and direction when clarification of results or consequences are justified, i.e., poor communication, variance with organizational policy or procedures, etc. Offers suggestions and recommendations to encourage and improve cooperation between all staff and departments within the organization.
• Relationships with Others: Shares knowledge with supervisors, staff, and members for mutual and organizational benefit. Contributes to maintaining high morale among all employees. Develops and maintains cooperative and courteous relationships with members, staff, and managers in other departments, representatives from organizations, and the general public so as to maintain goodwill toward the organization and project a good image. Tactfully and effectively handles requests, suggestions, and complaints from other departments and persons in order to maintain goodwill within the organization. Interacts effectively with fellow employees, clients, members, supervisors, professionals, and the general public.
• Coordination of Work: Plans and organizes daily work routine. Establishes priorities for the completion of work in accordance with sound time management methodology. Avoids duplication of effort. Estimates expected time of completion of elements of work and establishes a personal schedule accordingly. Attends meetings, planning sessions, and discussions on time. Implements work activity in accordance with priorities and estimated schedules. Maintains a calendar for meetings, deadlines, and events.
• Safety and Housekeeping: Adheres to all safety and housekeeping standards established by the organization and various regulatory agencies. Sees that the standards are not violated. Maintains a clean and orderly workplace.

WORK STATION LOCATION

The NSO is located at Alexandria, Virginia, BVA National Headquarters and may be relocated remotely. Local and national travel is required.

ADMINISTRATIVE NOTES

This job description does not list all duties of the job. You may be asked to perform other instructions and duties. You will be evaluated in part based upon your performance of the tasks listed in this job description. Management has the right to revise this job description at any time. The job description is not a contract for employment. This position is at-will. Either you or BVA may terminate employment at any time, for any reason.

To be considered for this position, please submit resume, cover letter and 1-page writing sample in Microsoft Word format no later than July 13, 2026, via email to:

Duayne Driscoll

National Service Director

Email: ddriscoll@bva.org

Subject: National Service Officer

The Blinded Veterans Association Is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

401k, Vision & Dental Insurance, Life Insurance, Flexible Spending Accounts, Employee Assistance Program, Paid Time Off