Assistant Director Military Veterans Affairs

Summary

The Assistant Director – Military and Veterans Affairs (ADMVS) directs, plans, and organizes all veterans’ services initiatives. The ADMVS assists with and helps lead the department’s vision, goals, and objectives for the department. The ADMVS reports to the Director of Student Services.

Basic Function

The primary function of the ADMVS is to assume responsibility for most activities, procedures, and policies related to the Howard University Military connected community, including assisting with the department’s budget and staff. This position provides strategic direction for the assigned department under the general guidance of the Director of Student Services.

The position is responsible for implementing the policies and procedures to assist the Howard University Military & Veterans Community. The ADMVS performs the administrative and technical duties required to establish and maintain a program to assist Military connected individuals in obtaining educational, financial, social services and other benefits available through the Federal, State and local legislation. This position requires evening and weekend hours and accessibility as student needs arise.

Characteristic Duties & Responsibilities

• Serve as point of contact for veteran’s educational programs, policies, procedures and regulations
• Serve as liaison between HU and the VA for eligibility for veteran students
• Develop and expand the University’s relationships with other U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs and other services agencies
• Provide accurate information to all interested parties regarding current educational benefits and programs which are provided by federal and state government and local agencies to support veterans
• Counsel students and parents concerning eligibility and benefits available under various programs
• Ensure compliance with federal and state government reporting requirements related to veterans’ educational benefits
• Manage and monitor schedule changes, major changes, withdrawals, audits and inapplicable courses for appropriate changes in benefits
• Implement control measures to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of certification
• Establish and maintain student VA files
• Coordinate with the office of Admission and Recruiting, Records and Registration, Financial Aid, and Disabilities Services to improve the enrollment process for military connected students
• Recommend, implement, and administer methods and procedures to enhance recruitment efforts
• Develop a working knowledge of ASU academic programs that are of interest to veterans’ students
• Evaluate U.S. Armed Forces transcripts for transfer credit and transfer equivalencies
• Develop and maintain the department’s website
• Represent the University on committees and advisory groups that work to advance and enhance VA benefits, and state and regional organizations that assist veteran students with four-year college graduation
• Actively promote programs that engage veterans and the campus community
• Perform other duties as assigned by Senior Leaders within The Office of Student Services and Student Affairs

Leadership / Supervision

• Direct supervision of two Veterans Affairs Coordinators (Certifying School Officials)
• Indirect supervision of one Program Assistant

Collaboration and Partnership

• Partner with the Howard University Bursar’s office for seamless and streamlined communication
• Collaborate and coordinate with the financial aid office
• Provide recommendations, tools and resources for faculty and staff to assist them in how to support military connected students
• Develop, cultivate, and sustain collaborative and effective working relationships with key stakeholders outside the Division of Student Affairs

Minimum Qualifications

• Master’s degree or equivalent in education, training, and experience
• 3-5 years of experience with student support initiatives in higher education or a similar setting
• Strong interpersonal, analytical, critical thinking, professional judgment, oral and written communication
• Demonstrated ability to work with a diverse and inclusive student population
• Self-directed; self-motivated individual who can work autonomously with minimal supervision while managing multiple situations
• Demonstrated ability to prioritize, follow through, meet deadlines, and make professional decisions
• Ability to work independently, collaboratively across multiple offices and in a team environment
• Flexibility and accessibility particularly as it relates to responding to and attending to student needs
• Demonstrated work ethic that illustrates integrity, ethics, sound professional judgment and an appreciation for diversity, equity, and inclusion
• Competent and comfortable with technology and ability to utilize data to inform decisions
• Strong writing, editing, and presentation skills
• Ability to handle sensitive matters with exceptionally good judgment and discretion
• Experience supervising employees, including hiring and evaluation

Preferred Qualifications

• Master’s Degree in Counseling, Public Health, Education, Higher Education,
• Student Affairs, Social Work, or a related field
• 5-7 years related experience
• Ability to build knowledge base of national trends and best practices
• Previous Military Services