Veterans Benefits Advisor & School Certifying Official

Samuelmerritt; Oakland (CA); On-site; USD 80,000 - 95,000; Full time

Job summary

Samuel Merritt University seeks an experienced Veterans Resource Center Advisor and School Certifying Official (SCO) to manage VA education benefits and oversee compliance across the campus. You will certify enrollments, coordinate with the VA and SAA, and ensure audit readiness.

You will advise veteran and military-connected students, collaborate with Registrar, Financial Aid, and Academic Affairs, and lead veteran programming to promote success and belonging on the Oakland campus.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in a related field is required.
• Two years’ experience as a designated School Certifying Official (SCO) within the past five years is required.
• Three years of professional experience in student services, enrollment/registrar operations, financial aid, veteran services, or compliance in higher education.

Responsibilities

• Serve as the institution’s designated SCO for VA education benefits and certify enrollment and status changes accurately.
• Coordinate academic program approvals with the State Approving Agency (SAA) and ensure program data aligns with catalog requirements.
• Lead audits and compliance surveys; prepare documentation and respond to inquiries.
• Act as the liaison between the institution and the VA, collaborating with Registrar, Financial Aid, and Academic Programs for data accuracy.
• Advise veteran and military-connected students on benefits, eligibility, and campus resources; manage a caseload and monitor progress.
• Develop and implement veteran-focused programming to support retention and inclusion; engage with campus partners to integrate veteran needs.
• Provide operational leadership for VA certification workflows and train backups as needed.

Skills

VA benefits knowledge

Regulatory interpretation

Audit readiness

Attention to deadlines

Communication

Independent judgment

Cross-functional collaboration

Analytical skills

Education

Bachelor’s degree

VA SCO training completion

Tools

Student Information Systems (SIS)

VA compliance platforms

Job description

Samuel Merritt University seeks an experienced Veterans Resource Center Advisor and School Certifying Official (SCO) to manage VA education benefits and oversee compliance across the campus. You will certify enrollments, coordinate with the VA and SAA, and ensure audit readiness.

You will advise veteran and military-connected students, collaborate with Registrar, Financial Aid, and Academic Affairs, and lead veteran programming to promote success and belonging on the Oakland campus.