Senior Executive Director of Veterans’ Support Services

Job Description

About DVS

The mission of the Department of Veterans’ Services is to connect, mobilize, and empower New York City’s Veteran Community in order to foster purpose-driven lives for New York City Service Members – past and present – in addition to their caregivers, survivors, and families. DVS fulfills this mission by providing New York City’s approximately 200,000 Veterans with essential services and programs focused on pivotal areas such as economic empowerment, housing security, benefits, health and wellness, and culture.


About the Role

The Client Services Unit is responsible for the agency’s benefits and support services, this includes
ongoing resource development, policy and programmatic improvements and continuous coordination with city, state, federal and private sector partners that provide resources to Veterans.

DVS seeks a highly qualified candidate to join the Client Services team as a Senior Executive Director. The Senior Executive Director will
be responsible for managing the day-to-day operations of a team responsible for client intakes and
referrals through a multi-provider network of service providers. In addition, the Senior Executive Director will also be a
subject matter expert in processing VA claims for Veteran benefits and supervising staff on how to
process VA claims. Accreditation to process claims will be provided by New York State Department of
Veterans Services.

Duties include, but are not limited to, the following:

VetConnectNYC: Supervise Care Coordinators and Specialists who perform intakes and make referrals
within a coordinated service of network providers and perform comprehensive benefits counseling.
Assess Veteran’s unmet needs, identify point of contacts with trusted service providers, determine
eligibility criteria for programs and services, and/or assist Veterans to navigate resources through
VetConnectNYC. Confirm that the appropriate forms are accurately and efficiently completed and
submitted. Ensure Veterans who have been identified as high-risk through DVS health screeners are
connected to mental health resources.

Process VA Claims, Provide Veteran Benefits Counseling: Possess high-level knowledge of processing
claims for Veteran benefits from the VA. Trainings and Accreditation from New York State Department of
Veterans Services (NYS DVS) will be provided and is required to maintain this role. Assist Veterans seeking disability compensation, Non-Service-Connected Pension, Dependency and Indemnity
Compensation, and other claimed benefits from the VA. Counsel Clients on VA benefits and ensure staff
is trained and competently able to perform intake, advise on earned VA benefits, request and gather
necessary military records and personal statements, to effectively and efficiently process claims through
the NYS DVS VetOps system. Ensure veteran community are counseled concerning their rights and
entitlements and are treated in a courteous, caring and highly professional manner. Perform as a case
manager, conduct follow-ups, and take necessary action to ensure satisfactory veteran progression.

Funeral Honors: Ensure Veterans who have died unclaimed and deemed indigent receive military burials
with honors, through coordination with OCME, VA eligibility determination, funeral home assignments,
and DVS Fiscal Operations for payments and reimbursements.

Supervision: Responsible for direct supervision of a team of coordinators, which will include managing
work schedules, time, leave, job training, job performance appraisals, case management, and client issue resolution. Monitor claim progression, reviewing decisions to determine appropriate courses of action to resolve unfavorable decisions. Oversee the service office activities and functions.

Veteran Resource Centers: Manage compliance with Local Law 215 to maintain minimum hours at
Veteran Resource Centers in each of the five boroughs.
Reporting: Responsible for meeting agency reporting requirements for client services and related veteran data.

Support Outreach and Engagement efforts: Maintain key relationships in the greater New York City area,
New York State Department of Veterans’ Services, VA; On occasion, may be asked to attend Veteran
Advisory Board meetings, relevant civic and community boards/meetings, precincts, veteran service
organizations, and represent DVS at community and ceremonial events. Conducts programs in
accordance with polices adopted by the Department Veterans Service Committee which involve planning, maintaining standards, and coordinating activities.

EXECUTIVE PROGRAM SPECIALIST - 95844

Qualifications

1. A baccalaureate degree from an accredited college and four years of satisfactory professional experience related to the projects and