Director, Veteran Services (Finance)

Department: Veterans Services

Salary: $65,866 - $72,453 (Commensurate with Experience/Education)

Description:
Job Summary

The Director of Veterans Services directs, plans, and organizes all veterans' services initiatives. The Director of Veterans Services sets and leads the department vision, goals, and objectives for the department. The Director of Veterans Services reports to the Dean of Students.

Duties

• Develops and leads the departmental vision, mission, goals, programs, services, and budget
• Assists with certifying students and submitting tuition/fees in accordance to institutional policies and procedures
• Leads and collaboratively partners with other units on campus to promote a veteran-friendly campus
• Ensures that eligible and prospective students are informed about their benefits, new and existing laws, and services available to them through the department
• Coordinates the outreach to and recruitment of veterans and military-affiliated students
• Serves as the primary resource and advocate for veterans regarding their academic concerns
• Provides accurate information to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs regarding certification of students eligible for VA benefits
• Serves as an audit liaison by conducting internal audits to ensure compliance with the Texas Veteran Commission (TVC) standard
• Collaborates with staff in other campus offices to ensure student issues are resolved, and process changes are implemented to increase effectiveness and student success
• Develops and administers programs and services at the university to raise awareness and understanding of the unique needs of veteran and active military students to remove barriers to their success
• Facilitates and ensures compliance with federal, state, and other agencies by developing policies, procedures, and forms to meet the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs laws governing veterans' educational benefits
• Creates an active veterans network/support group
• Directs, evaluates, and reviews the job performance of staff and student workers and oversees their professional development and training
• Designs comprehensive marketing to promote the University as a veteran-friendly institution to prospective and enrolled veterans and their families
• Directly measures the efficiency of the department through assessment planning and coordination
• Remains knowledgeable about proposed and enacted federal legislation which affects veterans' education programs by maintaining membership in professional organizations and participating in national and regional conferences
• Serves as a liaison and representative of the University at state, regional, and national organizations, boards, councils, and committees
• Serves on university committees as appointed
• Assists and supports programming hosted by departments within Student Success and Student Life

Marginal Duties

• Performs other duties as assigned

Supervisory Responsibilities

Direct Reports:

• Supervises full-time and part-time staff

Delegation of Work:

• Occasionally assigns work to subordinate(s)

Supervision Given:

• Makes final decision on evaluating employee performance; scheduling work hours of other employees; on coaching and counseling; training; handling employee grievances and complaints; granting time off
• Provides recommendations on promotions; salary increases; hiring new employees; discharging employees; and disciplinary actions

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

Knowledge:

• Knowledge of trends, issues, and accepted practices relevant to veterans and higher education

Skills:

• Proficiency with MS Word, PowerPoint, Excel, and Outlook
• Excellent diplomacy and interpersonal skills
• Excellent customer service skills
• Strong planning and organizational skills, accompanied by strong attention to detail
• Skilled in developing and delivering reports and presentations

Abilities:

• Ability to deliver excellent written and oral communication in a manner appropriate to the audience
• Ability to work through processes quickly and prioritize responsibilities

Work Location and Physical Demands

Primary Work Location:

• Works in an office environment

Physical Demands:

• Work is normally performed in a typical interior work environment, which does not subject the employee to any unpleasant elements
• The position is physically comfortable; the individual has discretion about sitting (80%), walking (10%), standing, etc. Occasional lifting, pushing, climbing, and pulling may be required
• The work environment involves minimal exposure to physical risks
• Occasional evening and/or weekend work may be required

Qualifications

Required Education:

• Bachelor's degree - Experience in lieu of education (5 required years of experience plus an additional 8 years of experience;
  13 years of experience working within the U.S. military, Veteran's Affairs, or military assistance programs)

Required Experience:

• Minimum of five (5) years' experience working within the U.S. military, Veteran's Affairs, or military assistance programs
• Minimum of three (3) years' experience with VA benefits, military chapters, and certification for educational benefits
• Minimum of three (3) years' experience with supervising others

License/Certification:

• Must have a valid driver's license

Preferred Qualifications

• Master's degree
• Experience with assisting veterans with issues within higher education
• Knowledge of the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA)
• Experience working with an urban/diverse student population
• Experience with managing business social media accounts
• Demonstrated experience with commonly used higher education software and applications (PeopleSoft, Zoom)
• Demonstrated experience with VA-Once
• Experience with budget management

All positions at the University of Houston-System are security sensitive and will require a criminal history check.

The University of Houston System and its universities are an Equal Opportunity Institution.