National Service Officer (Entry-Level)

Acting under the general supervision of the DNSD, the National Service Officer (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 the prior claim decisions made by the agency or primary 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.
• Performs other related work as required.

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
• Minimum of two (2) years’ experience in Veteran Service work.
• An equivalent combination of training & experience may be considered.
• 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.
• The ideal candidate is a blind or visually impaired, honorably-discharged, military veteran with extensive knowledge of veteran benefits and military culture.

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 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.

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

Application Instructions: To be considered for this position, please submit resume, cover letter and 1-page writing sample via email to resumes@hri-online.com.

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.

The Blinded Veterans Association Is an Equal Opportunity Employer.