Occ. Code 8445200

STATE VETERANS COUNSELOR, GRADE 18	8445200
SENIOR STATE VETERANS COUNSELOR, GRADE 21	8445550

New York State Department of Civil Service

Classification Standard

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF CLASS SERIES

State Veterans Counselors provide a full range of counseling and social casework services to veterans, their dependents, and families.  Positions ensure veterans, their families, and dependents are aware of available benefits and services provided under federal, State, and local law. These positions are found only at the Division of Veterans Affairs.

DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERISTICS

STATE VETERANS COUNSELOR:  performance level; independently works in one or more Veterans Affairs offices under general supervision of a Senior State Veterans Counselor; may supervise administrative support staff at one or more veterans counseling offices.

SENIOR STATE VETERANS COUNSELOR: supervisory level; supervises multiple veterans counseling offices in an assigned region; ensures offices follow established processes, procedures, and rules; and informs offices of changes in law or policy that affect benefits to veterans and their dependents.

RELATED CLASSES

Vocational Rehabilitation Counselors plan and coordinate the vocational rehabilitation of persons with disabling physical and/or mental handicaps with the primary goal being to help vocationally handicapped individuals retain optimum employment.

Employment Counselors (Veterans) provide vocational counseling and career development information to veterans looking for employment; conduct extensive outreach activities; and provide training, information, and other community resources to veterans.

ILLUSTRATIVE DUTIES

STATE VETERANS COUNSELOR

Provides counseling and support services.

• Applies social casework techniques to counsel, advise, and assist veterans, active duty military, Military Reserve and National Guard members, and their dependents and survivors.

• Resolves health, pension, and readjustment issues connected to military service. 

Provides information on benefits and advocates on behalf of veterans and their dependents.

• Through personal interview, correspondence, community meetings, and outreach programs, provides veterans and their dependents with information and assistance on programs and services to which they may be entitled.

• Advises clients on the use of benefits, services, and programs.

• Prepares, presents, and aids in processing veterans service and benefit claims.

• Advocates on behalf of veterans for benefits and services.

• Prepares and conducts community outreach programs on veteran issues to residents in the community.

Manages a Veterans Affairs Office.

• Establishes case files and maintains records and reports on services performed.

• Supervises support staff assigned to the field office.

• Implements policy changes for assigned field office.

• Represents the Division before veterans organizations and community groups.

• Responds to media inquiries on veterans services and benefits; and distributes agency news releases, brochures, pamphlets and publications which provide information on veterans benefits, services, and programs.

• May administer more than one Veterans Affairs field office.

SENIOR STATE VETERANS COUNSELOR

Administers veterans affairs service and benefit programs in an assigned region, evaluates veterans affairs office operations, and advises staff on new policy or changes in existing policy.

Provides direction to State Veterans Counselors on difficult service and benefit determination questions from veterans and their dependents.

Produces reports, compiles statistics, and reports on trends in benefits administration for veterans and their dependents in an assigned region.

Tracks and coordinates responses to media inquiries with central office in accordance with Division procedures. 

Recommends procedural and policy changes to higher level staff regarding veterans service and benefit programs.

Conducts training courses on veterans benefit programs.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

STATE VETERANS COUNSELOR

Open-competitive:  One year of active military duty in the Armed Forces of the United States; and four years of satisfactory experience in employment counseling, military career counseling, military recruiting, guidance counseling, psychological counseling, employment interviewing, personnel administration, teaching, social work, labor relations; or as a Veterans Organization Service Officer; or in a governmental position responsible for:  the explanation of benefit program and entitlement criteria to veterans and/or their families; the analysis of claims for veteran benefits; the preparation of rating decisions; and/or the direction and conduct of post-decisional hearings and processes appeals for veterans and/or their families; and 30 semester credit hours of college study.

SENIOR STATE VETERANS COUNSELOR

Promotion: one year of competitive service as a State Veterans Counselor.

Revised:  8/07

NOTE:   Classification Standards illustrate the nature, extent and scope of duties and responsibilities of the classes they describe.  Standards cannot and do not include all the work that might be appropriately performed by a class.  The minimum qualifications above are those which were required for appointment at the time the Classification Standard was written.  Please contact the Division of Staffing Services for current information on minimum qualification requirements for appointment or examination.