SALARY
$45,280.08 - $77,512.46 Annually, plus Benefits

CLOSING DATE
9/27/2024 5:00 PM Pacific

Be part of an agency that recognizes the courageous service of Ventura County veterans and join a team of professionals that works hard to help veterans, and their families gain access to benefits they have earned.

The Human Services Agency (HSA) is seeking Veterans Claims Officers for the County Veteran Services Office. There are currently three (3) vacancies; office location is Oxnard and may require travel throughout Ventura County and California.

WHAT WE OFFER
The County of Ventura offers an attractive compensation and benefits package that includes:
• Educational Incentive - An educational incentive of 2.5% for completion of an associate's degree, 3.5% for completion of a bachelor's degree, OR 5% for completion of a graduate's degree.
• Bilingual Incentive - Proficiency levels by exam are $.69 per hour (Level I), $1.00 per hour (Level II), or $1.32 per hour (Level III).
• Vacation Accrual – New regular, full-time employees shall accrue approximately 14 days of vacation a year for the first 10,400 hours or 5 years of service; vacation accruals increase at 5, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15 and 20 years of service topping out at 26 days a year and 400 hours of vacation hours banked.
• Annual Leave Redemption – After 14,560 hours of continuous County service an employee may elect to "cash in" or redeem up to 80 hours of vacation accrued in the same year after using 80 hours of vacation in the preceding 12 months.
• Sick Leave - Full time regular employees accrue 3.08 hours of sick leave per pay period with an advance at hire of 40.04 hours which will be balanced at the completion of 13 bi-weekly pay periods.
• Deferred Compensation - Eligible to participate in the County's 401(k) Shared Savings Plan and/or the Section 457 Plan. This position is eligible for up to a 3.00% match on your 401(k) contributions.
• Health Plans – Full time employees are afforded a flexible credit allowance for purchasing medical, dental, and/or vision insurance from a group of authorized plans: Tier one for employee only is $502 per biweekly pay period, tier two for employee plus one is $730 per biweekly pay period and tier three for employee plus family is $905 per biweekly pay period.
• Flexible Spending Accounts - Choice of participation in the Flexible Spending Accounts which increase spending power through reimbursement of pre-tax dollars for IRS approved dependent care and health care expenses.
• Pension Plan - Both the County and employees contribute to the County's Retirement Plan and to Social Security. If eligible, reciprocity may be established with other public retirement systems, such as PERS.
• Holidays - 12 paid days per year which includes a scheduled floating holiday.

OUR COUNTY AND COMMUNITY
Ventura County is located on California's "Gold Coast," approximately 35 miles northwest of Los Angeles and 20 miles southeast of Santa Barbara. The County includes 42 miles of coastline as well as national protected areas such as parts of the Angeles National Forest, Channel Islands National Park, and the Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area. Residents enjoy rolling hills and sweeping ocean views in a nearly perfect Mediterranean climate with an average annual temperature of 74 degrees. The beauty and weather combined with a wonderful quality of life are among the many reasons our residents choose to call Ventura County "home."

The County of Ventura strives to actively promote diversity and inclusion to reflect and engage our community. It focuses on serving its residents by promoting engagement, strategy, execution and accountability to include diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives to ensure that all employees are treated with respect and without discrimination, and to improve culturally appropriate outcomes for community members.

THE AGENCY
The Human Services Agency (HSA) provides public services to more than one-quarter of the county's residents. The agency strives to value and respect each person's unique experiences through compassionate, healing-centered care and equitable services that build trust, safety, and empowerment, provide for voice and choice, and leverage the strengths of individuals and families. We recognize that our approximate 1,500 staff members are our most valuable resource and we are proud of the diverse perspectives and experiences our employees bring to work as we strive to meet the unique needs of our clients within our multicultural environment. Visit our Agency website at www.vchsa.org.

THE POSITION
Veterans Claims Officers assist eligible veterans and their dependents/survivors in obtaining benefits under federal and state laws pertaining to Veterans affairs.

APPROXIMATE SALARIES
HS Veterans Claims Officer I: $21.77 to $29.03 per hour
HS Veterans Claims Officer II: $24.23 to $32.31 per hour
HS Veterans Claims Officer III: $27.95 to $37.27 per hour

HS Veterans Claims Officer I is the entry level classification in the series. Under immediate supervision, incumbents receive close supervision and training in benefit eligibility determination. Trainees are expected to progress to the HS Veterans Claims Officer II level upon successful completion of a one-year training program and the successful completion of accreditation by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.

HS Veterans Claims Officer II is the journey level classification in the series. Under general supervision, incumbents provide a full range of services to veterans and their families. HS Veterans Claims Officer II may be advanced to HS Veterans Claims Officer III upon successful completion of cross accreditation with all available Veteran Services Organizations and one year of increased case load management to include complex cases.

HS Veterans Claims Officer III is the advanced-journey level classification in the series. Under general supervision, incumbents handle a complex caseload and provide technical guidance and mentorship.

IDEAL CANDIDATE
We are seeking applicants who respect our military community, both past and present, for the sacrifices they've made. The ideal candidate is a military veteran who shares the core values of the VA: integrity, commitment, advocacy, respect, and excellence. The ideal candidate has a strong understanding of military culture and is able to engage veterans and their dependents/survivors from diverse backgrounds and cultures with empathy and consistency. The ideal candidate is solution-focused and committed to providing superior customer service, demonstrating exceptional interpersonal skills and the ability to build trusting relationships with others. Additionally, the ideal candidate has a Bachelor's degree and strong oral and written communication skills, including experience giving group presentations, as well as computer skills in Word, Excel, and case management systems.

Ideal candidates will possess the following competencies:
• Critical Thinking & Problem Solving – Analyzing and evaluating information, problems, and options with logic and good judgment.
• Customer Service - Ensuring consistent, responsive, and superior delivery of services to internal and external stakeholders.
• Attention to Detail - Accomplishing tasks thoroughly with concern for all elements involved, however small.
• Industry & Regulatory Awareness - Knowing the contours of the legal and regulatory environment and understanding the broader political, economic, and social factors affecting the County and its Agencies.
• Reading Comprehension - Understanding, analyzing, and applying written information.
• Conflict Management – Preventing, mitigating, and resolving disputes and other interpersonal tensions.
• Decision Making – Exercising discretion and good judgement in evaluating and choosing optimal courses of action.
• Information Gathering – Proactively obtaining facts and data needed to effectively answer questions, solve problems, or complete projects.
• Self-Management – Exemplifying personal organization, dependability, and self-discipline.
• Professional Integrity & Ethics – Demonstrating high standards of conduct and consistently adhering to sound moral principles.
• Communication – Respectfully delivering pertinent, truthful, and timely information and comprehending information delivered by others.
• Business/Technical Expertise - Skillfully applying specialized job-related knowledge.

EDUCATION, TRAINING, and EXPERIENCE

HS Veterans Claims Officer I
Military Service: Possession of a DD form 214 or equivalent which indicates honorable service in the United States Armed Forces;
OR
two (2) years' experience which involved interviewing and gathering information from individuals in a military environment;
OR
Possession of a Bachelor's Degree from an accredited college or university.

Substitution: Experience interviewing and gathering information from individuals in a non-military environment may be substituted for the education requirement on a year-for-year basis.

HS Veterans Claims Officer II
Bachelor's degree or possession of DD form 214 or equivalent which indicates honorable service in the United States Armed Forces AND one (1) year experience comparable to a HS Veterans Claims Officer I AND successful completion of accreditation recognized by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.

HS Veterans Claims Officer III
Bachelor's degree or possession of DD form 214 or equivalent which indicates honorable service in the United States Armed Forces AND one (1) year experience comparable to a HS Veterans Claims Officer II AND successful completion of accreditation recognized by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs AND cross-accreditation with other Veterans Services Organizations.

Work schedules may be subject to change. Worksite reassignments may occur due to changes in facilities or other operational requirements within the business.

Work is primarily performed in an office environment but may require visits to other organizations, agencies and departments, private businesses, client homes or work locations, some locations may be unsanitary or unsafe; and will require direct meetings with the public, co-located and external program partners, and other community groups. May be exposed to sick, disabled, hostile, uncooperative, or mentally unstable clients/relatives. May be required to perform after hours work as needed.

OTHER REQUIREMENTS
• Must possess or obtain and maintain a valid California driver license.
• Proof of accreditation recognized by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs is required for HS Veterans Claims Officer II/III.
• Proof of cross-accreditation with other recognized Veterans Services Organizations is required for HS Veterans Claims Officer III.

DESIRED
• Military veteran who served honorably in the United States Armed Forces.
• Military medical unit expertise/knowledge.
• Bachelor's or higher-level degree.
• Work experience interviewing and gathering information in a military environment.
• Work experience with community resources available to veterans and their dependents.
• Work experience researching, interpreting, and evaluating federal, state and local laws and regulations regarding military and veterans' rights, benefits, programs and services.

HOW TO APPLY
To apply online, please refer to our web site at www.ventura.org/jobs. If you prefer to fill out a paper application form, please call (805) 654-5129 for application materials and submit them to County of Ventura Human Resources, 800 South Victoria Avenue, L-1970, Ventura, CA 93009.

NOTE TO APPLICANT
Sufficient information must be provided under the Education/Work Experience portion of the application and supplemental questionnaire to thoroughly and accurately demonstrate your qualifications in order to determine eligibility. A resume may be attached to supplement your responses in the above-referenced sections; however, it may not be substituted in lieu of the application.

NOTE
The selection process will likely consist of an Oral Exam, which may be preceded or replaced with the score from a Training and Experience (T&E), contingent upon the size and quality of the candidate pool. In a typical T&E, your training and experience are evaluated in relation to the background, experience and factors identified for successful job performance during a job analysis. For this reason, it is recommended that your application materials clearly show your relevant background and specialized knowledge, skills, and abilities. It is also highly recommended that the supplemental questions within the application are completed with care and diligence. Responses such as "See Resume" or "Refer to Resume" are not acceptable and may disqualify an applicant from further evaluation.

EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY
The County of Ventura is an equal opportunity employer to all, regardless of age, ancestry, color, disability (mental and physical), exercising the right to family care and medical leave, gender, gender expression, gender identity, genetic information, marital status, medical condition, military or veteran status, national origin, political affiliation, race, religious creed, sex (includes pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding and related medical conditions), and sexual orientation.

CONTACT INFORMATION

For further information about this recruitment, please contact Patty Booker by telephone at (805) 477-5114.

County of Ventura

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Veterans Claims Officer I/II/III