Veterans Services Officer

Wisconsin Counties; Wisconsin; On-site; USD 55,000 - 75,000; Full time

Job summary

Wisconsin Counties is seeking a County Veterans Service Officer to direct the Veterans Service Office, supervise staff, and act as secretary to the County Veterans Service Commission. The CVSO counsels veterans and dependents to secure federal, state, and county benefits, and coordinates outreach with WDVA and federal partners.

Qualifications include veteran status, civil service appointment, VA accreditation, and a bachelor’s or associate degree, plus 4–6 years in customer service or case

Qualifications

• Regulatory knowledge of federal/state veteran entitlements.
• Strong knowledge of community care resources at federal, state, and county levels.
• Ability to work independently, run public meetings, and collaborate with diverse groups.
• Excellent written, verbal, and interpersonal communication skills.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office and data-management/web research tools.
• Strong client interviewing, counseling, and active listening skills.
• Strict data privacy and HIPAA compliance.
• Inter-Agency coordination with county departments.
• Strong math skills for budgetary or statistical interpretation.

Responsibilities

• Directs the Veterans Service Office and supervises staff.
• Counsels veterans and dependents to obtain entitlements.
• Advocates for disability compensation, pensions, healthcare, education benefits.
• Maintains office budget and prepares reports.
• Coordinates outreach and public information.
• Ensures compliance with laws and liaises with WDVA and federal partners.

Skills

Regulatory Knowledge

Community Resource Knowledge

Independent Operation

Communication Skills

Information Technology

Client Relations

Discretion

Inter-Agency Coordination

Mathematical Competency

Education

Bachelor’s or Associate’s degree in Counseling, Human Services, Business Administration, or related

Tools

Microsoft Office Suite

Data-management platforms

Web-based research tools

Job description

WAUSHARA COUNTY POSITION DESCRIPTION

• TITLE: County Veterans Service Officer (CVSO)
• LEVEL: H
• DEPARTMENT: Veterans Service Office
• DATE: UPDATED 2026

FUNCTION

Directs the County Veterans Service Office, supervises department employees, and acts as the Secretary of the County Veterans Service Commission. Counsels and assists military veterans, their dependents, and survivors in securing federal, state, and county entitlements. Provides accredited representation and advocacy services during the veteran benefits claims process. Offers targeted assistance, coordinates agency functions, and manages referrals to external organizations to address veteran-specific concerns and promote comprehensive veteran services. Works under the supervision of the County Administrator, with the general direction of the Veterans Service Committee.

MAJOR RESPONSIBILITIES

1. 1. Benefit Claims & Advocacy: Investigates eligibility and assists veterans, dependents, and survivors in applying for disability compensation, pensions, healthcare benefits, educational assistance, loans, grants, veteran nursing home placement, burial allowances, life insurance, and death benefits.
2. 2. Needs Evaluation & Referrals: Interviews clients to evaluate their unique financial, medical, substance abuse (AODA), mental health, housing, educational, and legal needs; connects clients to appropriate local, state, or federal service providers.
3. 3. Loan Administration: Counsels and advises clients on government benefits and external agency resources. Evaluates, completes, and signs off on applications for consumer, economic assistance, and home improvement loans from the state-funded veteran loan pool.
4. 4. Commission Administration: Serves as Secretary to the County Veterans Service Commission. Prepares and maintains the Veterans Service Commission emergency relief fund budget. Authorizes immediate emergency financial assistance for county veterans and families, utilizing executive discretion for small expenditures and securing Commission approval for larger amounts.
5. 5. Professional Proficiency: Maintains comprehensive, up-to-date knowledge of evolving veteran issues, resources, programs, benefits, and entitlements by attending mandatory conferences, seminars, and training workshops.
6. 6. Community Outreach: Promotes county veteran services by organizing public forums and workshops. Prepares timely website updates, press releases, and informational media. Delivers public presentations and provides regular updates to County Veterans Service Organizations (VSOs) by attending local meetings.
7. 7. Regulatory Compliance: Ensures absolute compliance with all federal, state, and local laws, codes, and regulations. Acts as the primary county liaison to the Wisconsin Department of Veterans Affairs (WDVA) and federal partners.
8. 8. Legislative Relations: Establishes and maintains positive, professional working relationships with the Veterans Service Committee, State Legislators, and members of the Wisconsin Congressional delegation.
9. 9. Strategic Networking: Cultivates highly collaborative partnerships with the WDVA, the VA Regional Office, and VA Medical Center staff to secure a powerful advocacy position for county-represented veterans.
10. 10. Departmental Planning: Establishes clear departmental goals and objectives to optimize workplace efficiency. Evaluates overall office performance regularly against these established benchmarks.
11. 11. Policy Development: Develops, implements, and maintains internal departmental standard operating procedures relating to grant funding, operational workflows, and benefit program delivery.
12. 12. Reporting: Prepares and delivers comprehensive verbal and written performance reports as requested by the Administrative Coordinator or the County Board of Supervisors.
13. 13. Workplace Attendance: Maintains regular, predictable, and punctual workplace attendance.
14. 14. Interpersonal Collaboration: Promotes and maintains positive, harmonious, and professional working relationships with outside agencies, county departments, colleagues, and the public.
15. 15. Independent Execution: Executes all core duties, applies organizational policies, and adheres to structural procedures independently with minimal direct supervision.
16. 16. General Support: Performs all other duties as assigned by governing authorities.

A. Education, Training, and Experience

• Statutory Requirement: Must be a veteran as prescribed in Chapter 45.80(1)(a) of the Wisconsin Statutes.
• Appointment Requirement: Must be appointed under a valid, competitive civil service process as outlined in Chapter 59.52(8) or Chapter 63 of the Wisconsin Statutes.
• VA Accreditation: Must possess or have the ability to gain and maintain accreditation by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Office of the General Counsel (OGC) in accordance with 38 CFR Part 14.
• Background Check: Must successfully pass a comprehensive National Agency Check (NAC) background investigation and screening process.
• Formal Education: Bachelor’s or Associate’s degree in Counseling, Human Services, Business Administration, or a closely related discipline.
• Professional Experience: Four (4) to six (6) years of progressive experience in professional customer service, case management, and/or personnel supervision; or any equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Interpersonal Approach: Must possess a highly compassionate, empathetic, and open-minded approach to client advocacy and collaborative problem-solving.
• Licensure: Possesses and maintains a valid Wisconsin motor vehicle operator’s license, maintains required automobile liability insurance, and maintains an acceptable driving record.
• Flexibility: Willingness to work flexible hours outside of standard office windows to maintain state/federal proficiency and manage emergency outreach programs.

B. Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSAs)

• Regulatory Knowledge: Deep understanding of federal and state statutes, administrative codes, and regulations governing veteran entitlements, eligibility criteria, and application protocols.
• Community Resource Knowledge: Comprehensive knowledge of federal, state, and county community care resources, along with the specific laws regulating their administration.
• Independent Operation: Ability to work completely independently, run public meetings, and collaborate with diverse community groups to deliver public services.
• Communication Skills: Exceptional written, verbal, and interpersonal communication skills. Ability to distill highly complex legal/medical jargon into simple, accessible instructions for clients.
• Information Technology: Familiarity with common office software applications, including high proficiency in the Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, Outlook, PowerPoint), data-management platforms, and web-based research tools.
• Client Relations: Demonstrated skill in interview techniques, holistic counseling, and active listening. Ability to build immediate rapport, trust, and confidence with vulnerable populations.
• Discretion: Strict adherence to data privacy protocols and the ability to maintain absolute client confidentiality (including HIPAA and protected military records).
• Inter-Agency Coordination: Skill in interfacing with other county departments to ensure veteran services are fully integrated with general county social services.
• Mathematical Competency: Ability to accurately perform mathematical calculations (such as percentages) and interpret basic budgetary or statistical reports.

C. Responsibility and Authority

• County Oversight: Directly responsible for coordinating all public services delivered to military veterans within Waushara County.
• Fiscal Accountability: Retains functional authority and responsibility for the local office budget, physical equipment, files, and asset inventories.
• Committee Service: Serves as an active member of the Coordinated Transportation Committee.

D. Working Conditions

• Physical Environment: Work is primarily performed within a climate-controlled office environment and is mostly sedentary. Occasional walking, standing, stooping, kneeling, crouching, light lifting, carrying, pushing, and pulling are required.
• Travel Requirements: Requires occasional local or regional travel for home visits, outreach events, and legislative meetings.
• Sensory Demands: Requires normal functional vision, hearing, clear verbal communication, and fine motor coordination to operate standard office equipment (computers, printers, scanners, copiers, calculators, and fax machines).
• Psychological Demands: Duties involve frequent interactions with individuals experiencing high stress, emotional distress, or crisis. Contact includes individuals navigating Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), moral injury, substance abuse, economic instability, or recent incarceration. Must maintain professional composure when interacting with uncooperative or irate clients.

Waushara County is an Equal Opportunity Employer. In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, the County will provide reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities and encourage both prospective and current employees to discuss potential accommodations with the employer.