Director Veteran Affairs
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- Managerial & Professional
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- 220010M Requisition #
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- Aug 05, 2022 Post Date
The Organization
Houston Community College (HCC) is an open-admission, public institution of higher education offering a high-quality, affordable education for academic advancement, workforce training, career development and lifelong learning to prepare individuals in our diverse communities for life and work in a global and technological society. We’re proud to say that 98 percent of our graduates step into a job in their field of study immediately upon graduation. One of the largest community colleges in the nation, HCC has served the Greater Houston area for over four decades. Accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, and the Schools Commission on Colleges, we offer 300+ associate degree and certificate programs to 75,000+ students across 13 Centers of Excellence and online each semester. We are proud to be No.1 among all community colleges in the nation in providing associate degrees to minorities and No.1 in educating international students, with 10.4 percent of our student population from outside the USA. Our vision is to become the Employer of Choice in support of our mission for Student Success by attracting, retaining and motivating the best employees.
The Team
Be a part of a dynamic community dedicated to providing the resources, guidance and inspiration needed to create the ultimate student experience: from registration and financial aid applications to the first time they arrive at one of our Centers of Excellence or log in to their first class, from academic success planning to providing a safe environment, and from connecting them with community networks to launching them into the career of their dreams. Make their student experience exceptional.
We are currently seeking a Veterans Affairs Director who will advance the institution’s proud tradition of excellence in academics, student life and community service.
The Opportunity
You: You thrive on helping students achieve their educational and career aspirations, and you’re looking for an opportunity where you can contribute as the college’s official representative for veteran affairs administration with local, state, and national agencies.
Your mission: In this role, you’ll provide system-wide leadership and direction for Veteran Affair students at HCC. This responsibility includes Applicable Federal, State, and local laws, rules, regulations, policies, and procedures regarding VA students. Maintain VA-ONCE, present reports and serve as the custodian of records for compliance audits and reviews for HCC and the federal and state agencies. Identify strategies for increasing enrollment, retention, persistence, degree attainment, and transfer of HCC VA students.
Your work: Highlights
You’ll provide direct student assistance; ensuring consistency and compliance with policies, procedures, and applicable regulations or guidelines; coordinate services with other departments and outside agencies; develop and evaluate programs and services; coordinate and facilitate special events; and, develop marketing and promotion strategies. You will serve as principal support to the AVC for Student Services in the overall design, development, planning and coordination of new and existing student success initiatives in the Veteran Affairs. In this role you will maintain state and federal policies and procedures for admission, competency, and exit testing services and provide training to testing services and other academic and student affairs staff as well as provide leadership, direction, and supervision for veteran affairs staff college-wide.
Professional Development Opportunities
At HCC, we support job-related professional growth that will enable you to advance your career goals, increase institutional effectiveness and improve the quality of our programs and services. You’ll discuss with executive leadership the development programs, conferences, courses and/or other relevant professional development activities you could participate in throughout the year.
Next steps: If you always have the student experience in the forefront of your planning and execution, you stay abreast of Student Services “best practices” and strategies, are an innovative leader, and a person who gets things done, apply today!
- Third-largest city in the U.S. and home to 54 Fortune 500 companies, second only to New York City’s 55.
- 145 languages are spoken here.
- Overall after-taxes living costs are 5.6 percent below the average for all 308 urban areas recently surveyed.
- Houston is a major-league sports town, and don’t forget the annual Houston Livestock Show & Rodeo.
- The weather is great! Mild winters ensure that outdoor activities can be enjoyed year-round.
- World-renowned medical care. The Houston metro area has long been known for its first-rate health care system, with many Houston area hospitals consistently ranking among the nation’s top institutions.
- With over 150 museums and cultural institutions in the Greater Houston area, museums are a large part of Houston’s cultural scene.
- Houston is the Culture & Culinary Capital of Texas with more than 7,500 restaurants and eating establishments covering 60+ cuisines.
If this sounds like the role for you and you’re ready to join an amazing team, please apply right away.
It is the policy of the Houston Community College System to provide equal employment opportunities without regard to race, color, religion, sex, gender identity and expression, national origin, age, disability, sexual orientation or veteran’s status. Individuals with disabilities, who require special accommodations to interview, should contact the Employment Services Office at (713) 718-8565.
HCC values its employees and their contributions, promotes opportunities for their professional growth and development, and provides a positive working and learning environment that encourages diversity, innovation and creativity, and inclusion.
SUMMARY
Provide system-wide leadership and direction for Veteran Affair students at HCC. This responsibility includes Applicable Federal, State, and local laws, rules, regulations, policies, and procedures regarding VA students. Maintain VA-ONCE, present reports and serve as the custodian of records for compliance audits and reviews for HCC and the federal and state agencies. Identify strategies for increasing enrollment, retention, persistence, degree attainment, and transfer of HCC VA students.
ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES include the following. Other duties may be assigned.
Provide direct student assistance; ensuring consistency and compliance with policies, procedures, and applicable regulations or guidelines; coordinate services with other departments and outside agencies; develop and evaluate programs and services; coordinate and facilitate special events; and, develop marketing and promotion strategies.
Plan, organize and direct activities relating to providing support services for students who are veterans.
Provide leadership in certifying students for VA benefits and other services for veterans designed to enhance student success.
Perform and work closely with the Business Affairs Office to code veteran students with Anticipated Aid and Disbursement regarding tuition and fees.
Perform work as a compliance officer to evaluate critical issues affecting the organization by reconciling Veteran Administration student system data to HCC’s Student Financials accounts.
Serve as the college’s official representative for veteran affairs administration with local, state, and national agencies.
Provide leadership, direction, and supervision for veteran affairs staff college-wide.
Prepare and manage the department budget for veteran services.
Chair the Veteran Affairs Advisory Board to enhance accountability and develop effective services and programs for veterans
Maintain state and federal policies and procedures for admission, competency, and exit testing services.
Provide training to testing services and other academic and student affairs staff accordingly.
Maintain and foster articulation activities with the VA, the community, colleges and universities, and academic programs regarding veteran affairs and student success.
Coordinate communication with veterans and develop veteran services website to enhance awareness of available services.
Maintain cooperation and work collaboratively with academic and student affairs leaders to coordinate services and troubleshoot problems for veteran students.
Coordinate with the disabilities department on behalf of students who need accommodations and assist staff to effectively serve veteran students.
Serve as principal support to the AVC for Student Services in the overall design, development, planning and coordination of new and existing student success initiatives in the Veteran Affairs.
Assist with the development of marketing plans for the recruitment and retention of students, coordination of institutional efforts in admissions, financial aid, records and registration, and advising.
Incumbent will maintain close partnership with the college’s student services departments (i.e., Counseling, Admissions and Records, Financial Aid, and all other college departments and divisions).
Provide comprehensive and effective leadership to Veteran Affairs Office.
Initiate and facilitate college team relationships in developing strategies to effectively enroll, retain and graduate Veteran students.
Stay abreast of Student Services “best practices” and strategies that can be aligned with the college’s strategic initiatives in an effort to stay on the cutting edge of current.
Monitor compliance with specified guidelines and requirements in assigned area; investigate and resolve problematic issues.
QUALIFICATIONS
To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform the essential duties and responsibilities listed above. The qualifications listed below are representative of the education, experience, knowledge, skills, and/or abilities required.
EDUCATION
Master’s Degree in Counseling, Higher Education, Education Administration or a related field from an accredited institution is required.
A Doctorate degree in a related field is preferred.
EXPERIENCE
Five (5) years of supervisory/management experienced to include one (1) year experience with VA-Once with Veteran Affair Office is required
Community college/veteran affairs service experience preferred.
Military veteran status preferred.
KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES
Knowledge of US Department of Veterans Affairs (DVA) Educational Benefits
Knowledge of Federal and state regulations related to educational benefits
Knowledge of enrollment processes for disabled veterans under the Vocational Rehabilitation Program
Supervisory principles, practices, and methods
Knowledge of processes utilized to provide academic advising to veteran students
Maintain an established work schedule
Effective use of interpersonal communication skills, including tact and diplomacy
Effective use of organizational and planning skills with attention to detail and follow through
Able to manage the flow of educational services to Veterans
Able to monitor compliance with federal and state Veterans educational benefits regulations
Able to advise veteran students regarding available educational benefits
Able to effectively supervise, lead, and delegate tasks and authority
Able to maintain confidentiality of work related information and materials
Able to establish and maintain effective working relationships
This job description in no way states or implies that these are the only duties to be performed by the employee occupying this position. Employees will be required to follow any other job-related instructions and to perform any other job-related duties requested by their supervisor.
This job description may be revised upon development of other duties and changes in responsibilities.