VETERANS' SERVICES OFFICER TRAINEE
Because Veterans' Services Officer Trainee is non-competitive, hiring leans on your background rather than a test score: meet the requirements and apply to the agency directly.
The spec names a bachelor's degree, but it leaves the door open to substitute experience for the degree. The FY2027 range lands between $55,691 and $58,222, and state payroll currently lists 2 people in the title, most of them at Unknown.
How to apply
This title is not filled by examination — agencies appoint directly.
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How to apply for this title →Who employs this title
State payroll records show 2 people working under this title. The median actual salary is $56,253. The agencies employing the most are:
- Unknown (2)
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 the close supervision of a supervisory official in the Department of Veterans Affairs, as a trainee and productive worker, learns to function as a veterans' advocate and the process involved in developing, implementing, and evaluating entitlements programs, living arrangements, and related social services for clients and the veterans' community; does other related duties as required.
Examples of work
Under close supervision, as a trainee and productive worker: Learns to provide advice and assistance to veterans and their families and assists them to obtain evidence, documents, and other information required to prepare claims. Learns to assist veterans when applications have been disapproved in supplementing their applications for benefits. Learns to coordinate activities between healthcare centers and the department. Learns to assist in the selection of clients to be placed in programs. Learns to advise veterans or their families of state and federal entitlements including benefits. Develops the skills to appear before local government entities on behalf of those claiming veterans' entitlement and learns to assist in the appeal of adverse adjudication. Develops and maintains effective relationships with individuals, groups, and public and private agencies to cooperate with veterans' programs. Learns federal and state laws and regulations regarding veterans' rights. Learns to develop and maintain a community resource network to provide health care, counseling, and transportation support services to veterans. Learns to conduct field visits to explain state and federal entitlements. Learns to determine eligibility for and how to authorize state pensions, state educational entitlements, and POW (Prisoner of War)/Disabled Veterans license plates according to statutes and procedures. Learns to obtain and evaluate the required documents for state programs. Learns to advise and counsel veterans to secure employment, reemployment, and training then refers veterans to federal, state, and local job services, and to private employers. Learns to advise and counsel veterans applying for state Civil Service positions under veterans' preference regulations and may represent veterans during appeals of veterans' preference decisions. Learns to determine eligibility and authorize entitlement for state veterans transportation program. Learns about Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and develops skills to assist veterans who may be suffering from PTSD then refers veterans to various counseling programs that are available. Prepares correspondence. Prepares reports on veteran matters and specific veteran claim cases. Maintains essential records and files. 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.
Requirements
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. Four (4) years of professional program delivery experience in providing education, rehabilitation, and/or social services assistance for the disabled or other client population which may include the investigation, analysis, and evaluation of socioeconomic situations. OR Possession of a bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university. "Professional experience" refers to work that is analytical, evaluative, and interpretive; requires a range of basic knowledge of the profession's concepts and practices; and is performed with the authority to act and make accurate and informed decisions.
License
Appointee 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
Ability to learn basic interviewing and counseling techniques. Ability to learn public relations principles and techniques. Ability to interact with people who are from different socioeconomic situations. Ability to learn to apply federal and state laws, regulations, policies, standards, and procedures established for providing various types of benefits and services. Ability to learn how to analyze veterans' claims and related problems. Ability to learn to review and investigate claims for veterans' benefits and services. Ability to read and interpret relevant laws and regulations. Ability to learn to provide varied types of benefits and services to veterans and apply them to specific situations. Ability to learn to work effectively with associates and other interested parties concerned with the rights of benefits for veterans. Ability to learn to establish and maintain cooperative working relationships with public officials and others relating to the welfare of veterans. Ability to learn to prepare correspondence. Ability to learn to prepare reports for veteran claims and benefits matters. Ability to learn to maintain 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 may cause the employer undue hardship, such persons may not be eligible. ADVANCEMENT: Appointees who successfully complete the twelve (12) month training period will be eligible for advancement to the Veterans' Services Officer 3 () title in accordance with the New Jersey Civil Service Commission procedures. The inability of an employee in this trainee title to attain a level of performance warranting advancement to Veterans' Services Officer 3 () shall be considered as cause for separation.
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.