Veterans Benefits Services Manager

About the role

The Wounded Warrior Project (WWP) Benefits Services Manager leads a team of service officers to assist warriors in obtaining Department of Defense (DoD) and Veterans Benefits Administration (VBA) benefits. The manager oversees the day-to-day operations of a service officer team, performs case/claims work with his/her team, and fulfills leadership functions covering training, coaching, budgeting, and collaborating.

Responsibilities

• Manage a service officer team of local and remote WWP staff members as they work to identify veterans benefits available to warriors and assist and support these veterans by writing and submitting benefits claims to the Department of Defense and/or the Veterans Administration.
• Lead the veterans’ benefits services team as they serve as liaison between the VA and wounded service members and provide representation and advocacy for them with their benefits claims.
• Manage an active caseload of at least 33% of his/her team’s average caseload.
• Provide frequent performance feedback to teammates to highlight strengths and areas for development in one or more of the five individual contributor performance competencies.
• Establish and maintain a team of knowledgeable service officers prepared to address warrior claim needs across the spectrum of benefit categories.
• Represent WWP through public presentations at third-party events in support of WWP or other opportunities to educate veterans.
• Build collaborative relationships with WWP teammates and teams and partnerships with local representatives and staff of the Department of Veterans Affairs and relevant military and community organizations.
• Lead the veterans’ benefits services team to meet or exceed established goals for timeliness and successful completion of benefits claims.
• Utilizing WWP process and performance data, report to leadership the progress and outcomes of benefit trends.
• Stay abreast of current trends, discoveries, and medical conditions pertaining to wounded warriors. Share information with benefits services team members.
• Collaborate with leadership and the training team to provide staff training and education to maintain teammate VA accreditation.
• Manage budget, ensuring proper expense controls and accurate records.
• Attend and actively participate in required training and/or meetings, including but not limited to New Teammate Orientation, WWP Cares, ASIST Suicide Prevention training, Leadership training, culture/team based training, or departmental huddles.

Qualifications

• Five years of veterans benefits advocacy experience as a VA accredited service officer.
• Three years of leadership and/or management experience.

Skills & Abilities

• Strong working knowledge of VA and DoD benefits law and procedures.
• Subject matter expert in filing claims across the entire spectrum of DoD and VA benefit categories.
• Demonstrated working knowledge of regulations, precedents, and procedures related to the Medical/Physical Evaluation Board and Veterans Affairs disability rating system.
• Experienced handling complex case management.
• Demonstrated ability to lead and manage local and remote staff members while maintaining high quality standards of service to warriors.
• Demonstrated understanding of relationship management and partnering.
• Exceptional interpersonal skills.
• Demonstrated ability to interact effectively with diverse individuals, collaborate, and establish and build effective working relationships with individuals in leadership and key community roles.
• Ability to respond to sensitive matters with diplomacy and empathy.
• Strong presentation skills. Confident communicator, with demonstrated ability to present information effectively to large audiences, small groups, and individuals, and serve as representative of the organization.
• Strong organizational and time management skills.
• Ability to quickly adapt to changing priorities.
• Demonstrated ability to balance and communicate tactical and strategic initiatives of the organization.
• Demonstrated ability to establish credibility, be decisive, influence others, and influence change.
• High energy level. Self-starter; willing to take initiative.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Demonstrated understanding of Wounded Warrior Project and its mission, values, programs and services, and the impact of these programs and services on wounded warriors and their families.
• Proficient using Microsoft Office, e.g., Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook.

Benefits

• Medical/Prescription drug, Dental, Vision, Life/AD&D, Short-term Disability, Long-term Disability, and an Employee Assistance Program.
• A 401(k)-retirement plan.
• A competitive PTO package.
• Sick Leave, Family Care Leave, Paid Holidays, Birthday Holiday, Education Assistance, Teammate Wellness Program, and Bereavement Leave.

Pay

• For Colorado Applicants: The estimated hiring range for this position is between $82,790 - $103,488 base salary, subject to a candidate’s combination of experience, qualifications, and credentials.
• For Chicago, IL, San Diego, CA and Washington State Applicants: The estimated hiring range for this position is between $90,675 - $113,344 annual base salary, subject to a candidate’s combination of experience, qualifications, and credentials.
• For Washington, D.C. Applicants: The estimated hiring range for this position is between $94,617 - $118,272 annual base salary, subject to a candidate’s combination of experience, qualifications, and credentials.
• For New York, NY Applicants: The estimated hiring range for this position is between $98,560 - $123,200 annual base salary, subject to a candidate’s combination of experience, qualifications, and credentials.

Schedule

A flexible hybrid work schedule (three days in the office, two days’ work from home).

Benefits

• Full medical, dental, and vision coverage for both teammates AND family members.
• Competitive pay and performance incentives.
• A fun, mission-focused, and collaborative team environment.

Equal Opportunity Employer

We recognize the success of our mission depends on the efforts of our passionate, hard-working teammates. To help teammates remain focused on the warriors and families we serve, WWP offers a comprehensive benefits package that includes:

• Medical/Prescription drug, Dental, Vision, Life/AD&D, Short-term Disability, Long-term Disability, and an Employee Assistance Program.
• A 401(k)-retirement plan.
• A competitive PTO package.
• Sick Leave, Family Care Leave, Paid Holidays, Birthday Holiday, Education Assistance, Teammate Wellness Program, and Bereavement Leave.

We are an equal opportunity employer committed to providing equal employment opportunity to all persons without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, marital status, citizenship, age, veteran or military status, disability, genetic information, or any other characteristic protected by law. Please note: Wounded Warrior Project is not seeking assistance or accepting unsolicited resumes from search firms without a written search agreement in place. All resumes submitted by search firms to any employee at Wounded Warrior Project via email, the Internet or directly to hiring managers at Wounded Warrior Project in any form without a valid written search agreement in place will be deemed the sole property of Wounded Warrior Project, and no fee will be paid in the event the candidate is hired by Wounded Warrior Project as a result of the referral or through other means."