Alameda County District Attorney’s Office Hiring for Veterans Service Officer at Oakland, CA Full Time

Introduction

THIS IS A NEW ASSEMBLED EXAMINATION. The eligible list resulting from this examination will cancel any existing list and may last approximately one year, but can be extended.

The County of Alameda Social Services Agency invites you to apply for the position of Veterans Services Officer.

Applications must be in the possession of the Human Resource Services Department by 5:00 p.m. on the Last Day for Filing. Applications will only be accepted on-line.

Supplemental Questionnaire: A properly completed Supplemental Questionnaire must be submitted with each application. Applications and Supplemental Questionnaires must be in the possession of the Human Resource Services Department by 5:00 p.m. on the Last Day for Filing. Applications will only be accepted on-line. Postmarks are not accepted. Failure to submit the Application or Supplemental Questionnaire will result in disqualification.

DESCRIPTION

THE AGENCY

The Alameda County Social Services Agency (SSA) is comprised of 2,400 men and women working collectively and in partnership with community-based organizations, neighborhood groups and policy makers to serve the needs of the community. Services are provided through four departments: Agency Administration, Adult and Aging Services, Children and Family Services, and Workforce and Benefit Administration.

The Agency assists approximately 11.3 percent of Alameda County’s residents. Benefits programs contribute over $278 million to the local economy through cash assistance and CalFresh (formerly known as Food Stamps). Every month, more than 52,000 people receive CalWORKs (assistance for families with children), CalFresh and General Assistance. Health insurance is made available monthly to more than 78,000 people through the Medi-Cal program. More than 11,000 frail, elderly and disabled individuals receive in-home care, adult protection and support managing their affairs monthly and throughout the year, 16,000 seniors will receive services through the Area Agency on Aging. 3,700 children are in foster care. More than 1,600 reports of child abuse or neglect are filed with SSA each month. Emergency shelter is made available to 415 people nightly.

THE POSITION

Under general direction to plan, organize and direct the operations of the Social Service Agency’s Veterans Service Office to provide aid and assistance to Veterans and their dependents in obtaining the rights and entitlements provided by Federal, State and local legislation; and perform other duties as required.

This recruitment is specifically to fill a vacancy within the Social Services Agency, Department of Adult & Aging Services, Area on Aging.

The Alameda County Social Services Agency is searching for a Veteran Service Officer to plan, organize and direct the operations of the Social Services Agency’s Veterans Service Office, while coordinating services and resources to assistance to Veterans and their dependents in obtaining the rights and entitlements provided by Federal, State and local legislation. The Veterans Service Officer provides valuable information about available services and is responsible for promoting positive relationships while representing the Agency in a professional manner.

IDEAL CANDIDATE

The Ideal Candidate For This Position Has:

• Exceptional communication skills, both written and oral, and the ability to communicate effectively with diverse groups.
• Strong knowledge of Federal, State, and local rules and regulations applicable to veteran’s rights and benefits programs; as well as knowledge regarding interviewing and counseling techniques.
• Ability to establish and maintain cooperative working relationships with diverse groups and with Federal, State, and County/local organizations and individuals.
• Outstanding planning and analytical skills for handling a comprehensive Veterans Service program. Integrity and social responsibility, ensuring that veterans receive the benefits and services to which they are entitled.
• Ability to work well under pressure and maintain a professional performance while working under time constraints.

For more detailed information about the job classification, visit: Veterans Service Officer – Job Code #1474

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

Veteran Status:

Must be a veteran in accordance with Section 980 of the California Military and Veterans Code

AND

Education:

Possession of a Bachelor’s Degree in Public Administration, Business Administration, Social Welfare, or a related field from an accredited college or university,

AND Either I

Experience:

The equivalent of one year of full-time experience as a Supervising Eligibility Technician with the Alameda County Social Services Agency or in an equivalent or higher-level supervisory classification in the Alameda County classified service.

Or II

Experience:

The equivalent of three years of full-time experience providing guidance and/or counseling services to clients in a recognized Veterans Service Office of a Federal, State, or County government, or a federally recognized public or private veterans service organization.

Special Requirements:

• Must have a valid California Driver’s License.
• Within one year of employment, must be accredited by the California Department of Veterans Affairs (Title 38, Code of Federal Regulations 14.629).

NOTE: The Civil Service Commission may modify the above Minimum Qualifications in the announcement of an examination.

KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS

The most suitably qualified candidates will possess the following competencies:

Knowledge Of:

• Provisions of Federal, State, and local legislation, rules or regulations relating to all veterans entitlement programs.
• Principles of administration, supervision and training.
• Interviewing and counseling techniques.
• Community resources.
• Veterans Administration claims and special practices and procedures.
• Outreach techniques and community development skills.

Ability To:

• Plan, develop and administer a comprehensive Veterans Service program.
• Train, supervise, and evaluate the work of subordinate staff.
• Interpret laws and regulations concerning the rights and entitlements of veterans and their dependents.
• Prepare or assist veterans in the preparation of appropriate forms and correspondence.
• Assemble, organize, and present in written and/or oral form, comprehensive studies and reports.
• Establish and maintain cooperative working relationships with diverse groups or populations and with Federal, State, or County/local organizations and individuals.
• Learn computer applications related to performing the job.

EXAMINATION COMPONENTS

The Examination Will Consist Of The Following Steps:

• A review of applicants’ applications to verify possession of minimum requirements. Those candidates who possess the minimum requirements for the class will move on to the next step in the examination process.
• An oral interview which will be weighted as 100% of the candidate’s final examination score. The oral interview may contain situational exercises.

CANDIDATES MUST ATTAIN A QUALIFYING RATING ON EACH PORTION OF THIS EXAMINATION.

We reserve the right to make changes to the announced examination components .

Alameda County utilizes a Civil Service Selection System founded on merit. Such a system is competitive and based on broad recruitment efforts and equal opportunity for qualified applicants to test in an examination process designed to determine the qualifications, fitness and ability of competitors to perform duties of the vacant position. Many of our recruitments are targeted and specific to the needs of a current vacant position, in which case, the eligible list may be exclusively used for that current vacant position. Other recruitments may be more broadly used for both current and future vacancies, or for other alternate jobs with comparable scopes of work.

To learn more about our recruitment and selection process, please visit the “What You Need to Know” section of our website, www.acgov.org/hrs .

RECRUITMENT AND SELECTION PLAN

Applicants will be informed via email with reasonable notice in advance of any examination process which will require their attendance. The following dates are tentative and subject to change based on the needs of the Agency.

TENTATIVE RECRUITMENT PLAN:

Deadline for Filing:

5:00:00 PM, Tuesday, March 12, 2024

Review Of Minimum Qualifications:

Friday, March 22, 2024

Civil Service Oral Examination:

Week of April 8, 2024

Notification Of Results:

Week of April 29, 2024

WE RESERVE THE RIGHT TO MAKE CHANGES TO THE ANNOUNCED RECRUITMENT & SELECTION PLAN

Alameda County and the Human Resource Services Department will make reasonable efforts in the examination and/or selection process to accommodate qualified individuals with disabilities and/or medical conditions in accordance/compliance with the State Fair Employment and Housing Act (FEHA), Federal Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Alameda County’s Reasonable Accommodation Policy and applicable statutes. To request an accommodation due to a disability/medical condition during this or other phases of the examination/selection process, please contact the assigned Human Resources Representative listed on the job announcement before the last date of filing. Alameda County requires applicants to provide supporting documentation to substantiate a request for reasonable accommodation. In order to qualify for a reasonable accommodation, applicants must have a disability/medical condition pursuant to the ADA, FEHA and applicable statutes.

For more information regarding our Reasonable Accommodation procedures, please visit our website: www.acgov.org/hrs .

BENEFITS

Alameda County offers a comprehensive and competitive benefits package that affords wide-ranging health care options to meet the different needs of a diverse workforce and their families. We also sponsor many different employee discount, fitness and health screening programs focused on overall well being. These benefits include but are not limited to*:

For your Health & Well-Being

• Medical – HMO & PPO Plans
• Dental – HMO & PPO Plans
• Vision or Vision Reimbursement
• Share the Savings
• Basic Life Insurance
• Supplemental Life Insurance (with optional dependent coverage for eligible employees)
• Accidental Death and Dismemberment Insurance
• County Allowance Credit
• Flexible Spending Accounts – Health FSA, Dependent Care and Adoption Assistance
• Short-Term Disability Insurance
• Long-Term Disability Insurance
• Voluntary Benefits – Accident Insurance, Critical Illness, Hospital Indemnity and Legal Services
• Employee Assistance Program

For your Financial Future

• Retirement Plan – (Defined Benefit Pension Plan)
• Deferred Compensation Plan (457 Plan or Roth Plan)

For your Work/Life Balance

• 12 paid holidays
• Floating Holidays
• Vacation and sick leave accrual
• Vacation purchase program
• Management Paid Leave**
• Catastrophic Sick Leave
• Group Auto/Home Insurance
• Pet Insurance
• Commuter Benefits Program
• Guaranteed Ride Home
• Employee Wellness Program (e.g. At Work Fitness, Incentive Based Programs, Gym Membership Discounts)
• Employee Discount Program (e.g. theme parks, cell phone, etc.)
• Child Care Resources
• 1 st United Services Credit Union
• Eligibility is determined by Alameda County and offerings may vary by collective bargaining agreement. This provides a brief summary of the benefits offered and can be subject to change.
• Non-exempt management employees are entitled to up to three days of management paid leave. Exempt management employees are entitled to up to seven days of management paid leave.