State of Maryland

A Veterans Service Officer II is the intermediate level of work providing services to veterans and their families who seek information or assistance in securing benefits as provided by State and federal laws.  Employees in this classification may independently operate a small Veterans Service Center or may be assigned to a large center.  Employees in this classification direct efforts toward achieving the maximum benefits to which veterans are or may become entitled by preparing and presenting their claims to the proper agencies.  Employees in this classification work closely with the federal Veterans Administration and other agencies to verify the status of claims and to affect prompt action.  Employees in this classification conduct interviews and investigations to ensure that neither veterans nor their dependents are neglected and also serve as representatives on behalf of the veterans in administrative hearings before various rating and appeal boards of the Veterans Administration.  Employees in this classification do not supervise other positions.

Employees in this classification receive moderate close supervision from a Veterans Service Program Area Supervisor and responsibility and authority will be extended by the supervisor commensurate with the worker’s expanding capabilities. Work effectiveness is evaluated in terms of the speed, accuracy, and thoroughness with which skills, knowledge, and abilities are acquired through field visits and review of processed claims and other reports.

Positions in this classification are evaluated by using the classification job evaluation methodology.  The use of this method involves comparing the assigned duties and responsibilities of a position to the job criteria found in the Nature of Work and Examples of Work sections of the class specification.

The Veterans Service Officer I, Veterans Service Officer II and Veterans Service Officer III are differentiated on the basis of the degree of supervisory control exercised by the supervisor over these employees.  The Veterans Service Officer I performs the duties under close supervision.  The Veterans Service Officer II performs duties under close supervision at times and under general supervision at other times depending on the complexity of the specific duty being performed.  The Veterans Service Officer III performs the full range of duties and responsibilities under general supervision.

Interviews veterans and their dependents concerning their benefits and privileges and provides assistance in securing same;

Initiates and presents claims for compensation, insurance, pensions and other benefits to the Veterans Administration and other agencies on behalf of veterans;

Maintains close liaison with the federal Veterans Administration to follow up on the status of claims, and expedites action whenever possible;

Prepares news releases on veterans’ benefits and changes to the laws which may affect existing or future entitlement or the level of the benefits;

Appears before the Board of Veterans Appeals on behalf of veterans;

Prepares and processes applications for tax relief, automobile registration, scholarships and other benefits offered by the State;

May operate a small Veterans Service Center;

Performs other related duties.

Knowledge of State and federal laws concerning the benefits, privileges, and obligations to veterans and their families;

Ability to interpret laws as they apply to the rights and benefits of veterans and their dependents;

Ability to conduct interviews and extract pertinent information;

Ability to prepare claims and reports;

Ability to maintain effective working relationships with others;

Ability to communicate effectively.

Education:   Graduation from an accredited high school or possession of a high school equivalency certificate.

Experience: One year of experience rendering advice and service to veterans and their families.

Class specifications are broad descriptions covering groups of positions used by various State departments and agencies. Position descriptions maintained by the using department or agency specifically address the essential job functions of each position.

This is a Skilled Service classification in the State Personnel Management System.  All positions in this classification are Skilled Service positions.  Some positions in Skilled Service classifications may be designated Special Appointment in accordance with the State Personnel and Pensions Article, Section 6-405, Annotated Code of Maryland.

This classification is assigned to Bargaining Unit G- Engineering, Scientific and Administrative Professionals classes.  As provided by State Personnel and Pensions Article, Section 3-102, special appointment, temporary, contractual, supervisory, managerial and confidential employees are excluded from collective bargaining.  Additionally, certain executive branch agencies are exempt from collective bargaining and all positions in those agencies are excluded from collective bargaining.

Employees in this classification are eligible to receive overtime compensation.  An employee who works more than the normal workweek is entitled to be compensated for that overtime as provided by State Personnel and Pensions Article, Section 8-305.

This classification is one level in a Non-Competitive Promotion (NCP) series.  NCP promotions are promotions by which employees may advance in grade and class level from trainee to full performance levels in a classification series.  In order to be non-competitively promoted to the next level in a NCP series an employee must: 1) perform the main purpose of the class as defined in the Nature of Work section of the class specification; 2) receive the type of supervision defined in the class specification, and 3) meet the minimum qualifications of the classification.