Veteran Services Outreach Specialist

Manatee County Government; Bradenton (FL); On-site; Full time

Job summary

The Manatee County Government seeks an Outreach Specialist to connect with the community on behalf of Veteran Services. This role involves organizing outreach events, managing partnerships, and upholding the quality of services provided to veterans. Ideal candidates will have a background in social services, public relations, and be able to engage with community organizations effectively. Veterans with relevant experience are encouraged to apply.

Qualifications

• Requires 3+ years public relations, events management or outreach experience.
• Must be a veteran with honorable service, knowledge of Veteran benefits desired.
• Florida Department of Veterans Affairs Certification required within 6 months.

Responsibilities

• Connect Veteran Services with the community through partnerships and events.
• Maintain calendar and schedule personnel for outreach activities.
• Assist in preparing annual budget for community outreach.

Skills

Communication skills

Time management

Administrative skills

Presentation skills

Education

Associate’s degree focusing on social services or communications

Job description

Work Location: 1401 3rd Avenue West, Bradenton, Florida 34205

Work Hours: Monday - Friday 8:00 am - 5:00 pm

Expected Starting Hourly Range:$18.40 - $23.00

The essential job duties of an outreach specialist are varied and often complex, these duties will include but not be limited to connecting Manatee County Veteran Services with the surrounding community. This includes brainstorming potential partnerships or methods for engagement with the local community, maintaining a calendar and scheduling personnel for outreach events, working with the media to ensure publicity for events is well advertised and working closely with community partners to plan and execute various outreach events. Maintaining Veteran Services Calendar/Website and updating events for Veterans Services and the Veteran Community. Assist in the preparation of an annual budget for community outreach activities. The incumbent reports directly to the CVSO.

Working Conditions
Typical indoor office environment. Sitting for long periods, working on the computer. Lifting equipment or supplies up to 25 pounds alone and up to 50 pounds with assistance. Travel within the County and outside of the County as needed for community engagement, presentations and organization. Presentations can be both indoors and out and will be required to set up venues to best suite the presentation setting. May be required to attend functions during evenings, weekends, and holidays.

Essential Functions
These are intended only as illustrations of the various types of work performed. The omission of specific duties does not exclude them from the position.

Maintains files and records. Compiles data for management and operating reports and other public documents.

Communication skills: both verbal and in writing to inform and persuade agencies, businesses, media, and organizations in the community of the purpose of Veteran Services and the necessity of veterans to seek out information about benefits, and how we can assist the Veteran Community with these benefits.

Time management, scheduling and coordination skills are critical to organize events and engagements to ensure that they are well advertised and well attended.

Administrative skills are essential because there are many issues and paperwork in coordination events, budgets and people. Ability to multitask with several project details at once as events, people and members of the media need to be contacted and managed for effective publicity for the organization.

Requires the ability to use discretion and tact when assisting veterans with their private medical information and their personal finances.

Requires independent decision-making ability and the ability to work with little supervision while enforcing HIPAA and all VA-required policies at all times.

Passing annual tests for HIPAA compliance, TRIP and TRIM from the VA to access confidential access to Veterans records through the VA Systems.

Performs other related work (including weather or other extreme emergency duties within the County) as required.

Associate’s degree focusing on social services, communications or similar courses.

Three (3) or more years of public relations, events management or outreach experience.

Florida Department of Veterans Affairs Certification class, passed within 6 months of hire.

Valid Florida driver’s license required within 30 days of hire.

Prior experience working with Veteran benefits desired.

Must be a veteran who served as a member of the Armed Forces of the United States who served at least 18 months’ active duty in the Armed Forces; and who was separated from such service under honorable conditions, or the surviving spouse of any such veteran, as required Veteran Service Officer eligibility requirements in accordance with Florida statute 292.11.

Applicants for this position must furnish proof of claim (DD 214) for consideration prior to closing date of the position (member 4 copy showing character discharge).

Additional Duties: In the event of an emergency, all employees are considered essential personnel and may be required to perform alternate duties.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

Knowledge of agency vision, mission, and services.

Knowledge of social media and other basic marketing platforms.

Strong presentation, verbal, and organizational skills is a must.

Able to prioritize tasks, deal effectively with competing and changing priorities, and meet deadlines. Accurate, detail-oriented, and organized. Able to resolve routine situations and problems.

Knowledge of clerical practices and procedures.

Able to learn technical body of knowledge relevant to assigned department or division.

Ability to be flexible and adapt to changing needs and time pressures. Ability to disseminate information clearly and concisely.

Ability to communicate professionally and build relationships with coworkers, customers, and community partners.

Basic knowledge and understanding of regulatory compliance necessary to successfully perform job responsibilities.

General knowledge and understanding of computer systems and software applications required to perform job duties.

Good verbal and written communication skills and interpersonal skills in order to interact professionally and effectively with staff, management, vendors, the general public, and other stakeholders.

Able to explain facts, policies, and practices. Ability to track, analyze, and adjust programs and processes as necessary.

Proven relationship-building skills to support collaboration and partnership activities. Outstanding written communication and presentation skills.

Work is closely supervised.