Veteran Specialist - Queens

About DVS

The mission of the Department of Veterans’ Services is to connect, mobilize, and empower New York City’s Veteran Community in order to foster purpose-driven lives for New York City Service Members – past and present – in addition to their caregivers, survivors, and families. DVS fulfills this mission by providing New York City’s approximately 200,000 Veterans with essential services and programs focused on pivotal areas such as economic empowerment, housing security, benefits, health and wellness, and culture.

DVS’s Veteran Specialists are primarily responsible for determining the eligibility of veterans and their family members for federal, State, and local veterans’ benefits. Veteran Specialists assist clients in assembling claims that are submitted to the United States Department of Veterans Affairs (VA).

Veteran Specialists engage with the veteran and military communities in the City of New York, including key veteran stakeholders and organizations to increase access to veteran resources, services and opportunities including, but not limited to VA disability compensation, VA pension, VA health care, and VA survivor’s benefits.

Reporting to the Senior Executive Director of Veteran Support Services, the Veterans Specialist for Queens will:

- Serve as a direct link between the veteran and military family community in Queens and DVS. The selected candidate will represent DVS in Queens.
- Communicate the concerns of veteran’s community to DVS leadership, manage and maintain a presence at the DVS Queens Veteran Resource Center to connect service members, veterans and families to City, state and federal public and private resources.
- On an as needed basis, conduct outreach at community events either identified, assigned, or through
invitation. Proactively engage constituents at events by means of materials, dialogue, and providing
briefings.
- Obtain and maintain accreditation with the VA as a Veteran Service Officer (VSO) via the New York State Department of Veterans Services. VSO accreditation is necessary to file claims with the VA.

COMMUNITY COORDINATOR - 56058

1. A baccalaureate degree from an accredited college and two years of experience in community work or community centered activities in an area related to the duties described above; or
2. High school graduation or equivalent and six years of experience in community work or community centered activities in an area related to the duties as described above; or
3. Education and/or experience which is equivalent to "1" or "2" above. However, all candidates must have at least one year of experience as described in "1" above.

The City of New York is an inclusive equal opportunity employer committed to recruiting and retaining a diverse workforce and providing a work environment that is free from discrimination and harassment based upon any legally protected status or protected characteristic, including but not limited to an individual's sex, race, color, ethnicity, national origin, age, religion, disability, sexual orientation, veteran status, gender identity, or pregnancy.