VETERANS SERVICE OFFICER 1
Career Family: VETERANS SERVICE OFFICER
New Jersey treats Veterans Service Officer 1 as a competitive-class job, so the gate is an examination and the ranked list it produces rather than a direct offer.
This is the senior rung of the Veterans Service Officer series, the level you reach after Veterans Service Officer 2. The spec names a master's degree, but it leaves the door open to substitute experience for the degree. The FY2027 range lands between $79,844 and $117,228, and state payroll lists a single employee in the title, at Unknown.
How to apply
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Exam
This is an application to sit an exam and be placed on an eligible list for this title, not an application for a specific job. A $35 application fee applies to Non-Public-Safety announcements issued on or after 2026-02-01. There may be no current vacancy behind it, and the list it produces may not be certified for months or years.
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Exam
Open to permanent employees in the competitive division who hold a qualifying lower title in the same unit. A $35 application fee applies to Non-Public-Safety announcements issued on or after 2026-02-01. Like the open competitive exam, this places you on a list; it is not itself a job offer.
Pay ladder: Veterans Service Officer series
- Veterans Service Officer 3 — $60,876 – $88,743
- Veterans Service Officer 2 — $69,668 – $101,951
- Veterans Service Officer 1 — $79,844 – $117,228 (this title)
Its top salary lands around the 65th percentile of all NJ civil service titles that publish a range.
Rungs are ordered by FY2027 pay. NJ level numbers are not always sequential, so ordering follows salary rather than the title number.
Who employs this title
State payroll records show 1 person working under this title. The median actual salary is $113,264. The agencies employing the most are:
- Unknown (1)
Counts from NJ YourMoney agency payroll. See statewide workforce analytics.
Official job specification
The text below is the official specification published by the New Jersey Civil Service Commission. The plain-language summary and analysis above are derived from it by NJ Civil Service Navigator.
Definition
Under direction of a supervisory official in the Division of Veterans' Loans, Grants, and Services, Department of Veterans Affairs, supervises the work programs and staff of a regional office or coordinates statewide outreach activities for the Bureau of Veterans' Services; does related work as required.
Examples of work
Oversees the development of veterans programs, policies, and procedures; evaluates existing programs, policies, and procedures, and recommends changes where necessary. Supervises the implementation of approved policies, regulations, procedures, and directives by the office staff. Supervises staff in the assessment of client needs; evaluates reports regarding local service administration, operations, and procedures. Establishes goals for the office; assists the director in the establishment of division goals. Meets with regional staff to discuss their observations of client population. Provides technical assistance to community organizations in order to achieve a wider variety of services to meet the socioeconomic needs of the veteran population. Oversees statewide expansion of the veterans' resource and referral network. Supervises the claims adjudication process; reviews and evaluates the work performance of subordinate staff assigned to the Newark Liaison Office. Ensures that claimant appeals are updated according to the VA Target System Computer maintained by the U.S. Department of Veterans' Affairs Regional Office Newark. Supervises case management of entitlement claims and oversees the appeal of adverse adjudications; directs the preparation of official correspondence and the maintenance of essential records/files. Responsible for coordinating the development of outreach activities based upon client needs, conducts research regarding veteran populations and service providers, and submits proposals to include recommendations for implementation procedures; develops the New Jersey Administrative Code for veterans' state entitlements through the study and application of state and federal laws affecting veterans' rights and entitlements. Develops staff training plans regarding Division standards, strategies, methods, and techniques for case management applications. Oversees public relations activities; coordinates community/veterans' organization contacts to expand a region-wide resource and referral network and makes presentations to civic and community organizations in order to promote interest in veterans' programs. Coordinates and supervises the implementation of Case Management Plans (CMP) by regional staff in all phases of evaluating, analyzing, and finalizing the data obtained and monitors individual plans according to department policy and procedures. Supervises members of the regional staff in developing program ideas, assessing client needs and goals, discussing client observations, documenting and recommending program and residential changes. Implements rules, regulations, policies, and directives for staff in order to provide accurate and uniform dissemination of information to appropriate agencies. Provides assistance in the development of recommendations for the formulation of policies and procedures. Prepares and supervises the preparation of detailed and technical field services, other reports, and official correspondence relating to social service programs and activities; maintains effective working relationships through liaison with officials and representatives of public and private agencies. Reviews field, social, and financial background investigations of military service veterans to determine eligibility for admission to the state Veterans' Memorial Homes. Interprets and applies federal and state laws and regulations pertaining to veterans' rights and entitlements; disseminates this information to area office staff and the staff in the subarea offices on a region wide basis. Acts as liaison with the federal Department of Veterans Affairs, regional office and other national and state agencies in the administration of veterans' benefits; supervises regional wide case management of entitlement claims and oversees the appeal of adverse adjudications. Will be required to learn how to utilize various types of electronic and/or manual recording and information systems used by the agency, office, or related units.
License
Appointees will be required to possess a driver's license valid in New Jersey only if the operation of a vehicle, rather than employee mobility, is necessary to perform the essential duties of the position.
Knowledge, skills and abilities
Knowledge of techniques of interviewing persons of varied ages and ethnic backgrounds in order to obtain information needed to process claims for benefits and services. Knowledge of the techniques and procedures useful in gathering, assembling, and arranging data reference and in developing cases. Knowledge of investigative case management procedures required to substantiate claims for veterans' benefits and services. Knowledge of the methods and processes involved in assessing client needs, goals, program, and residential changes. Knowledge of program evaluation systems. Knowledge of the techniques of interpersonal relations. Knowledge of interviewing and counseling techniques. Knowledge of public relations principles and techniques. Ability to interact with people who are in differing situations. Ability to read, understand, and apply the policies, procedures, rules, regulations, directives, goals, and objectives of the Department of Veterans Affairs. Ability to read, understand, and apply federal rules and regulations which pertain to the provision of services to Veterans' Services clients. Ability to promote public relations efforts on behalf of veterans to public officials and community organizations. Ability to apply the theory, principles, methods, and modern techniques of social services to Veterans' Services clients. Ability to supervise the work operations and functional programs and to recommend the hiring, firing, promoting, demoting and/or disciplining of employees. Ability to assess and provide recommendations for client needs and programs. Ability to plan and coordinate appropriate staff training. Ability to analyze individual and general programmatic needs and to make recommendations based upon this analysis. Ability to work effectively with staff, other state agencies, and the public. Ability to prepare complex correspondence, reports, studies, and make appropriate recommendations. Ability to establish and supervise the maintenance of essential records and files. Ability to learn how to utilize various types of electronic and/or manual recording and information systems used by the agency, office, or related units. Ability to read, write, speak, understand, and communicate in English sufficiently to perform the duties of this position. American Sign Language or Braille may also be considered as acceptable forms of communication. Persons with mental or physical disabilities are eligible if they can perform the essential functions of the job with or without reasonable accommodation. If the accommodation cannot be made because it would cause the employer undue hardship, such persons may not be eligible.
Note
The examples of work for this title are for illustrative purposes only. A position using this title may not perform all duties listed in this job specification. Conversely, all duties performed on the job may not be listed. Applicants must meet one of the following or a combination of both experience and education. Thirty (30) semester hour credits are equal to one (1) year of relevant experience. Seven (7) years of professional program delivery experience in providing social services assistance for the disabled or other client population which may include the investigation, analysis, and evaluation of socio-economic situations. OR Possession of a bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university; and three (3) years of the above-mentioned professional experience. OR Possession of a master's degree in Social Work, Public or Business Administration, Education, Psychology, Nursing, or other related areas; and two (2) years of the above-mentioned professional experience. "Professional experience" refers to work that is creative, analytical, evaluative, and interpretive; requires a range and depth of specialized knowledge of the profession's principles, concepts, theories, and practices; and is performed with the authority to act according to one's own judgment and make accurate and informed decisions.