Veterans Services Leader: Benefits & Claims Specialist

Waukesha County; Waukesha (WI); On-site; USD 51,000 - 71,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health/dental/vision insurance

Life insurance

Generous paid time off

Job summary

Waukesha County is seeking a Veterans Services Officer to oversee staff, coordinate claims, and counsel clients on benefits and resources. The role emphasizes privacy protection, trauma-informed service, and inter-department collaboration.

The position is in-person with a standard 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. schedule, with occasional after-hours events and a Civil Service exam. A Bachelor's degree is preferred but not required.

Qualifications

• Graduation from a recognized college or university with a bachelor's degree preferably with a major in business administration or the social sciences.
• Two years of work experience providing social or financial guidance and counseling to clients, or a closely related field.
• Obtain Veterans Affairs General Counsel Accreditation within eighteen (18) months of hire.
• Any special requirements as set forth in the Wisconsin State Statutes.
• Valid Driver's License.

Responsibilities

• Establish work priorities, service standards, workload expectations, and cross-training plans for division staff.
• Participates in staff recruitment, onboarding, coaching, professional development, performance management, and corrective action in accordance with County policy.
• Promotes a professional, respectful, trauma-informed, and customer-focused work environment.
• Protects confidential client and County information, including personally identifiable information, military records, benefit claims, financial information, and protected health information when applicable.
• Complies with applicable privacy, information-security, records-retention, and public-records requirements.
• Uses and accesses confidential information only as necessary to perform assigned duties.
• Maintains secure and accurate electronic and paper client records in accordance with County policy and applicable law.
• Coordinates preparation of claims, applications, decision-review requests, and appeals within the scope of Veterans Affairs accreditation and applicable law.
• Provides non-clinical benefits counseling, advocacy, service navigation, and referral assistance.
• Refers matters requiring legal representation, clinical treatment, or specialized services to qualified attorneys, accredited representatives, VA providers, County departments, or community partners.
• Assists clients in accessing resources related to behavioral health, substance use, housing, financial stability, employment, transportation, caregiver support, legal needs, and crisis services.
• Identifies and administers eligible grants and funding opportunities supporting veterans' programs and services.
• Develops and tracks performance measures, including claims activity, benefits awarded, client contacts, outreach activity, appointment access, referrals, grant compliance, and customer-service results.
• Maintains procedures to support consistent, timely, and equitable delivery of veterans' services.
• Coordinates with Finance, Human Resources, Information Technology, Communications, Corporation Counsel, Emergency Management, and other County departments as needed.
• Maintains continuity-of-operations procedures for critical services, client records, claims assistance, staff communications, and public information during emergencies or service disruptions.
• Ensures staff are cross-trained and prepared to maintain essential services during absences, emergencies, or operational disruptions.
• Uses secure County-approved case-management, records-management, VA and Wisconsin Department of Veterans Affairs systems, databases, productivity applications, and virtual-meeting tools.
• Maintains current knowledge of veterans' benefits, claims procedures, federal and state law, privacy requirements, ethics, trauma-informed service practices, and County policies.
• Completes required County training and relevant continuing education.

Skills

Social/financial guidance experience

Education

Bachelor's degree

Job description

Waukesha County is seeking a Veterans Services Officer to oversee staff, coordinate claims, and counsel clients on benefits and resources. The role emphasizes privacy protection, trauma-informed service, and inter-department collaboration.

The position is in-person with a standard 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. schedule, with occasional after-hours events and a Civil Service exam. A Bachelor's degree is preferred but not required.