Veterans Assistance Counselor 1/2 (Ouachita)

At theLouisiana Department of Veterans Affairs (LDVA), our mission is to honor and serve Louisiana’s veterans and their families. We do this by connecting them to the benefits they’ve earned, providing dedicated support, and enhancing their quality of life through compassionate service across the state.

We’re looking for a Veterans Assistance Counselor to join our team. In this role, 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 monitoring the processing of claims to a justifiable conclusion.

AN IDEAL CANDIDATE SHOULD POSSESS THE FOLLOWING COMPETENCIES:

• Accepting Direction: The ability to be open and willing to follow guidance or instructions.
• Communicating Effectively: The ability to convey information, ideas, and emotions using structured communication methods that promote understanding and engagement.
• Learning Actively: The ability to pursue learning, seek feedback, and integrate new knowledge to improve personal and professional performance.
• Acting Decisively: The ability to make timely, confident decisions using sound reason.
• Displaying Expertise: The ability to demonstrate specialized knowledge, skills, and experience to apply subject-matter expertise in diverse and evolving contexts.
• Displaying Professionalism: The ability to uphold workplace standards through consistent conduct, responsible communication, and consideration for others.
• Managing Time: The ability to prioritize tasks, meet deadlines, and allocate time to ensure timely completion of work goals.
  
  

If you're compassionate, organized, and thrive in a people-centered environment, this could be the opportunity for you!

Minimum Qualifications

This job requires the incumbent to be an honorably discharged veteran of the United States Armed Forces who served on an active, full-time basis and meet one of the following qualification requirements:

Three years of experience in veterans service work, public benefits claims examining, social services or human resources; OR

Six years of full-time experience in any field; OR

A bachelor's degree.

Experience Substitution:

Every 30 semester hours earned from an accredited college or university will be credited as one year of experience towards the six years of full-time work experience in any field. The maximum substitution allowed is 120 semester hours which substitutes for a maximum of four years of experience in any field.

Job Specification

The official job specifications for this role, as defined by the State Civil Service, can be found here.

Job Duties:

Job Duties and Other Information

As An Veterans Assistance Counselor, You'll Help Create a Positive Experience For Every Person Who Walks Through Our Doors. In This Role, You Will:

• Review individual case files following the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs rating action to determine compliance with current laws, rules, and regulations as outlined in U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims decisions.
• Examine medical information including but not limited to, service medical records, physical examinations, hospital reports and post-operative reports, and determines degree of residual disability for comparison with U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs assignment.
• Initiates formal appellant proceedings, and/or otherwise advises the claimant take specific action to obtain proper rating, as necessary.
• Participate in veterans outreach functions to promote public interest and awareness as requested by veterans organizations or the LDVA Administrative Staff
  
  

Probational or Job Appointment (a temporary appointment not to exceed four years)

Career Progression: This position can be filled as a Veterans Assistance Counselor 1 or 2.

Work Schedule: Work hours are 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM, Monday - Friday.

Compensation: The starting pay for this position is $17.56/hr. (Special Entrance Rate); $2.00 work incentive pay (premium pay) upon completion of TRIPS Certification

How To Apply:

No Civil Service test score is required in order to be considered for this vacancy.

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.

Information to support your eligibility for the position must be included in the application (i.e., relevant, detailed experience/education). Resumes will not be accepted in lieu of completed education and experience sections. Applications may be rejected if incomplete.

Contact Information:

For further information about this vacancy, contact:

Torin McClanahan

Human Resources Specialist

Torin.McClanahan4@la.gov

Louisiana is a State As a Model Employer (SAME) that supports the recruitment, hiring, and retention of individuals with disabilities.

Louisiana State Government represents a wide variety of career options and offers an outstanding opportunity to make a difference through public service. With an array of career opportunities in every major metropolitan center and in many rural areas, state employment provides an outstanding option to begin or continue your career.

As a State Employee, You Will Earn Competitive Pay, Choose From a Variety Of Benefits, And Have Access To a Great Professional Development Program:

Insurance Coverage More information can be found at https://info.groupbenefits.org/

Parental Leave – Up to six weeks paid parental leave

More information can be found at https://www.civilservice.louisiana.gov/Parental-Leave/Default.aspx

Holidays and Leave – State employees receive the following paid holidays each year:

• New Year's Day
• Martin Luther King, Jr. Day,
• Mardi Gras,
• Good Friday,
• Memorial Day,
• Independence Day,
• Labor Day,
• Veteran's Day,
• Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day.
• Additional holidays may be proclaimed by the Governor
  
  

State employees earn sick and annual leave which can be accumulated and saved for future use. Your accrual rate increases as your years of service increase.

Retirement – State Of Louisiana Employees Are Eligible To Participate In Various Retirement Systems (based On The Type Of Appointment And Agency For Which An Employee Works). These Retirement Systems Provide Retirement Allowances And Other Benefits For State Officers And Employees And Their Beneficiaries. State Retirement Systems May Include (but Are Not Limited To):

• Louisiana State Employees Retirement System (www.lasersonline.org). LASERS has provided this video to give you more detailed information about their system
• Teacher's Retirement System of Louisiana (www.trsl.org),
• Louisiana School Employees Retirement System (www.lsers.net), among others
  
  

01

Are you an honorably discharged veteran of the United States Armed Forces who served on an active full time basis?

• Yes
• No
  
  

02

Qualified applicants must be honorably discharged veterans of the United States Armed Forces. Service must have been on an active full-time basis. Did you upload your DD-214? This is needed for verification. If not, please do so before submitting.

• Yes
• No
  
  

03

DPf: Displaying Professionalism - How well do you meet expectations for workplace behavior, communication, and responsibility, especially when under pressure?

• I miss deadlines, act unprofessionally, or avoid responsibility for my actions or workplace expectations.
• I meet basic standards for work quality, behavior, and communication when given occasional reminders or support.
• I meet expectations, follow policies, and communicate respectfully and clearly—even in difficult situations.
• I model professionalism and ethics, adapt under pressure, and build trust through consistent and responsible behavior.
  
  

04

DPf: Displaying Professionalism - Explain your selection by providing specific examples from your experience. Tip: Use the STAR method (situation, task, action, result) to explain how you have demonstrated this competency. Examples from work, military service, volunteering, education, or other life experiences are all valid.

05

LA: Learning Actively - How do you seek out learning and apply feedback to grow your skills?

• I avoid learning, feedback, or collaboration and show little interest in developing my skills.
• I set basic learning goals and participate occasionally, but I don’t always apply what I learn.
• I set clear learning goals, apply new skills, use feedback, and help others learn when I can.
• I seek growth through reflection, feedback, and collaboration. I mentor others and model lifelong learning.
  
  

06

LA: Learning Actively - Explain your selection by providing specific examples from your experience. Tip: Use the STAR method (situation, task, action, result) to explain how you have demonstrated this competency. Examples from work, military service, volunteering, education, or other life experiences are all valid.

07

ADi: Accepting Direction - How well do you accept guidance, follow instructions, and adjust when given feedback?

• I resist direction, ignore feedback, and need reminders to complete tasks.
• I follow direction with reminders and often need clarification or support.
• I follow direction reliably, adjust to feedback, and complete tasks on time.
• I adapt quickly, follow through, and help others adjust as needed.
  
  

08

ADi: Accepting Direction - Explain your selection by providing specific examples from your experience. Tip: Use the STAR method (situation, task, action, result) to explain how you have demonstrated this competency. Examples from work, military service, volunteering, education, or other life experiences are all valid.

• Required Question