JOB TITLE: SPECIAL ASSISTANT TO THE DEPUTY ADJUTANT GENERAL VETERANS AFFAIRS

JOB CODE: 76174

DEFINITION: This is highly responsible and specialized work serving as the special assistant to the Deputy Adjutant General for Veterans Affairs at the Department of Military and Veterans Affairs.

The employee in this job serves as the principal advisor and assistant to the Deputy Adjutant General for Veterans Affairs in the performance of specialized and strategic work in the creation and integration of the agency’s veterans’ programs in conjunction with the Bureau of Veterans Programs, Initiatives, Reintegration, and Outreach, the Bureau of Veterans Homes, and other agencies and organizations to provide veterans with comprehensive agency services and to meet emergent needs. Work involves assisting and advising the Deputy Adjutant General for Veterans Affairs regarding the establishment and attainment of agency goals and objectives pertaining to veterans and their families; identifying and resolving veterans’ issues across military, federal, state, and local program areas; recommending and drafting veterans-specific legislation; investigating and taking action on highly sensitive veterans’ matters; identifying and establishing governmental and community veterans’ organization partnerships; and acting on behalf of the Deputy Adjutant General for Veterans Affairs at meetings and public events. Supervision may be exercised over subordinate administrative staff. Work is performed under the general direction of the Deputy Adjutant General and is reviewed through conferences and evaluation of results.

EXAMPLES OF WORK: (NOTE: The examples of work are representative of the work, but every position classified to this job may not perform all examples of work listed. Conversely, this is not an all-inclusive list of work examples.):

• Advises the Deputy Adjutant General for Veterans Affairs, The Adjutant General, and other senior level agency decision makers concerning federal and state veterans’ policy issues, veterans’ benefits and services provision, and highly sensitive or substantive legislative, policy, and programmatic changes.

• Facilitates the planning, development, and management of comprehensive veterans’ programs across internal and external organizations to raise awareness and to provide benefits where emergent needs are identified.

• Integrates veterans’ benefits programs and processes between the Bureau of Veterans Programs, Initiatives, Reintegration, and Outreach and the Bureau of Veterans Homes to create a seamless and comprehensive agency system for accommodating individual veterans’ needs.

• Advances and promotes the agency and the Office of the Deputy Adjutant General for Veterans Affairs as proponents for all Pennsylvania veterans.

• Develops and oversees the implementation of policies and procedures for internal and interagency operations.

• Evaluates actions taken on politically sensitive, cross-governmental, and confidential issues related to veterans’ benefits programs and initiatives, and briefs the Deputy Adjutant General for Veterans Affairs, The Adjutant General, and program managers on actions taken.

• Facilitates the development of new and innovative techniques, programs, performance measures, and initiatives to address veterans’ needs through the use of studies, research, needs assessments, surveys, and evaluation of results.

• Strategically pursues and establishes partnerships with communities, veterans’ organizations, and private entities to engender support for and participation in the agency’s veterans’ initiatives.

• Serves as liaison with federal, state, and local organizations such as the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs regarding matters that are highly publicly conspicuous or sensitive in nature.

• Advocates for the revision and creation of legislation and policies affecting veterans’ benefits, services, programs, and initiatives.

• Represents the Deputy Adjutant General for Veterans Affairs at meetings and conferences with federal, state, and local officials, and at media events.

• Monitors expenditures through program metrics, performance analysis, and fiscal reports, and collaborates with budget staff regarding future expenditure projections to formulate Office budget recommendations to the Deputy Adjutant General for Veterans Affairs.

• Performs the full range of supervisory duties.

• The employee in this job may participate in the performance of subordinates’ work consistent with operational or organizational requirements.

• Performs related work as required.

ENTRY LEVEL KNOWLEDGES, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES:

• Knowledge of the laws, standards, and regulations governing the administration of veterans’ benefits and services.

• Knowledge of the principles and methods of policy and program planning, development, and evaluation.

• Knowledge of veterans’ benefits and services claims and appeals processes.

• Knowledge of the functions and resources of veterans’ organizations and programs.

• Knowledge of the principles and practices of advocacy in public and administrative settings.

• Knowledge of the challenges experienced by veterans in civilian life.

• Knowledge of reintegration principles applicable to military personnel returning to civilian life.

• Knowledge of the basic principles of financial monitoring, analysis, and planning.

• Knowledge of the general principles and practices of public administration.

• Knowledge of the methods and techniques used in conducting program analysis, research, planning, and management.

• Ability to analyze and interpret laws, regulations, policies, and objectives.

• Ability to maintain effective working relationships.

• Ability to communicate effectively orally.

• Ability to communicate effectively in writing.

MINIMUM EXPERIENCE AND TRAINING: (NOTE: Based on the Entry Level Knowledges, Skills, and Abilities):

• Five years of professional administrative or consultative experience which includes one year in veterans’ services or benefits advocacy or administration, and a bachelor’s degree;

or

• An equivalent combination of experience and training.

SPECIAL REQUIREMENT:

• Service in a branch of the United States Armed Forces and separation under honorable conditions.