The Louisiana Department of Veterans Affairs is an Equal Opportunity Employer and State as a Model Employer (SAME) to promote diversity and inclusion in the workplace.

The Veterans Assistance Counselor (VAC) 1/2 will serve the veterans of their assigned parish. The incumbent will conduct personal interviews and counsel veterans as well as their dependents regarding entitlement under state and federal laws. The VAC will assist veterans and their dependents in completing a variety of forms, gathering supporting documentary information, and monitor the processing of claims to a justifiable conclusion.

This is a posting for the East Baton Rouge parish. The starting pay for this position is $16.42/hr.

PREMIUM PAY (per HOUR physically worked):
$2.00 work incentive pay upon completion of TRIPS Certification

To qualify for this position, you must be an honorably discharged veteran of the United States Armed Forces. Please attach a copy of your DD 214 Member 4 copy to this job posting.

A Resume will not be accepted in lieu of work experience. An application may be considered incomplete if the work experience and education sections are not completed. There is no guarantee that all applicants will be interviewed. Applications can only be submitted once every 90 days during the duration of this continuous posting. Should you be selected for an interview, you will be notified by the contact information listed on your application.

As part of a Career Progression Group, vacancies may be filled from this recruitment as a Veterans Assistance Counselor 1 or 2 depending on the level of experience of the selected applicant(s). Please refer to the 'Job Specifications' tab located at the top of the LA Careers 'Current Job Opportunities' page of the Civil Service website for specific information on salary ranges, minimum qualifications and job concepts for each level.

Testing Information
Applicants must have Civil Service test scores for 8100-Professional Level Exam in order to be considered for this vacancy unless exempted by Civil Service rule or policy. If you do not have a score prior to applying to this posting, it may result in your application not being considered.

Applicants without current test scores can apply to take the test here.

To apply for this vacancy, click on the “Apply” link above and complete an electronic application, which can be used for this vacancy as well as future job opportunities. Applicants are responsible for checking the status of their application to determine where they are in the recruitment process. Further status message information is located under the Information section of the Current Job Opportunities page.

Disqualification
While we encourage all interested applicants to apply, please be aware that there are various reasons that your application may be disqualified from consideration including, but not limited, to:

• Failure to fully complete the education and work experience sections of the application; (Please note for the education section that the semester area refers to the # of credit HOURS and not the # of semesters you completed)
• Submission of a resume and/or SF-10 application in lieu of the online application. Information on the resume will not substitute and must also be included on the actual job application in order to be considered.
• Failure to list complete license information (if applicable to the job position).
• Failure to submit an equivalency evaluation statement for an international degree by the closing of this announcement.

Function of Work:
To counsel veterans and their dependents in obtaining health, employment, educational, and fiscal benefits.

Level of Work:
Entry.

Supervision Received:
Close from a Veterans Assistance Counselor Supervisor, or Veterans Assistance Regional Manager.

Supervision Exercised:
May have direct-line supervision over clerical employees.

Location of Work:
Department of Veterans Affairs, parish offices.

Job Distinctions:
Differs from Veterans Assistance Counselor 2 by the level of work performed and by the supervision received.

Serves as an office manager trainee in a parish office counseling veterans concerning their legal benefits under state and federal laws. May assist higher ranking officers in conducting programs.

Functions in a public relations capacity in a parish for the Department of Veterans Affairs.

Assists veterans and their dependents in completing a variety of forms to actuate their benefits.

Reviews benefit claims when processed to ensure compliance with rules and regulations.

Provides assistance to veterans such as admissions to U. S. Department of Veterans Affairs Hospitals, correction of military records, or securing proper care for physically or mentally disabled veterans.

Operates itinerant office in other parishes as required.