We are pleased to announce we are now accepting applications for our Program Specialist 4, Veterans Estate Management Program (VEMP) Specialist, Full-Time, Permanent position, located at our beautiful Central Office Headquarters in historic Olympia, Washington! The typical expected hours will be 8:00 am to 5:00 pm, Monday through Friday. This position is also eligible for Hybrid Telework that may be authorized based on mission requirements. This position is eligible for Flex scheduling as well.

• This position has been posted within the assigned pay range through Step L. Step M has not been published as this is considered the longevity step, in alignment with state HR compensation rules.

Here at the Washington State Department of Veterans Affairs (WDVA), we are passionate about our mission of “Serving Those Who Served.” As a national leader in our advocacy for more than 500,000 veterans and their family members, we strive to connect them to earned benefits as well as innovative programs focused on their overall health and wellness. In addition, we provide critical community services through a variety of programs, and at our four State Veterans Homes located in Orting, Port Orchard, Spokane, and Walla Walla. These locations provide Medicare and Medicaid nursing home care to honorably discharged veterans, including, in some instances, their spouses, widows, or Gold Star Families.

Some of what you'll be doing includes:

• 
  Manage all program services for the Veterans Estate Management Program include program budget, program policy, procedures, operations, case management activities, and coordinating support services such as banking and agency business team support.
• Responsible for determining program priorities, setting objectives, and allocating resources on a daily basis to ensure the wellbeing of over 350 clients enrolled in VEMP.
• Develop, revises, implements, interprets, and administers program specific policies, procedures, and practices and sets standards for existing and new program activities which include and impact clients and supportive services.
• Understand and explain complex program issues to clients, agency staff, senior agency leaders, and outside entities, and anticipate potential conflicts while demonstrating de-escalation and problem-solving abilities.
• Serves as a liaison and must develop and maintain working relationships with external partners in order to facilitate program referrals for new clients and the successful exit of clients from the program.
• Manages certificates of deposit for all VEMP clients, ensure that all client records are maintained in accordance with VA, SSA, and WDVA policy, and coordinates the agency response to external audits performed by VA, SSA, and the State Auditor’s office.
• Enters and maintains program data using the Enterprise Veterans Case Management System (EVCMS) and uses this system to prepare reports needed by the Veterans Services Administrator and senior agency leaders.
• Maintain a caseload of clients enrolled in VEMP and performs all the functions of the Estate Manager positions to include establishing and maintaining monthly budgets for clients, ensuring that their correct VA and/or SSA income is received, receiving and verifying billing statements, issuing checks to vendors and communicating with vendors such as landlords and utility companies.
• Responds to client requests for personal living expenses, determines financial eligibility for veterans’ benefits, services as an advocate and liaison for clients by assessing clients financial needs and ensuring that clients are able to meet their financial obligations.
• Advise clients of their personal financial status and take corrective actions to proactively manage client finances, respond to a high-level of telephone inquiries from clients, family members, social workers, case managers, and other professionals assisting VEMP clients.
• Maintain hard copies of client files and maintains case notes and other records in the Enterprise Veterans Case Management System, closing out VEMP cases by contacting relatives for deceased clients along with completing the final closeout of client estates, coordinating with other social and health services for continued benefits such as VA health care, public assistance, Medicaid, etc.
• Serves as the supervisor for the Veterans Estate Management Program.
• Develops and maintains Position Descriptions, Performance and Development Plans, performance evaluations, and staff schedules.
• Maintains attendance and leave records and ensures payroll records are accurate.
• Assist with interviewing and onboarding new staff members and provide professional development training to staff on motivational counseling, trauma informed care, de-escalation, suicide prevention, safety, and other pertinent topics affecting the health and welfare of clients enrolled in the program.

Required:

• 
  Bachelor’s degree in Psychology, Social Services, Social Work, Social Science, Healthcare, or Liberal Arts/Sciences from an accredited institution whose accreditation is recognized by the U.S. Department of Education or the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA) or a foreign equivalent and four years of experience.
• OR, Master’s degree in Psychology, Social Services, Social Work, Social Science, Healthcare, or Liberal Arts/Sciences from an accredited institution whose accreditation is recognized by the U.S. Department of Education or the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA) or a foreign equivalent and two years of experience.
• OR, eight years of experience providing services to individuals experiencing homelessness including those with chronic mental health and substance use disorders.
• OR, a combination of eight years education and experience.

• Master’s degree in Social Work, Psychology, Counseling or closely related field.
• Experience providing services to individuals experiencing homelessness with a broad understanding of the barriers individuals may face in obtaining permanent housing.
• Experience in program development and/or administration of fiduciary and/or representative payee services.
• Supervisory experience.

Application Process:

The top candidates will be contacted directly to interview for this position. Because the selection will be based on information provided by you, it is in your best interest to identify the knowledge, skills and abilities that address the mandatory and desirable qualifications described below.

Please include the following documents with your application:
1. A letter of interest describing specific qualifications.
2. A current resume detailing applicable experience and education.

Finalists will be asked to provide a list of at least three professional references with current telephone numbers.

Other Information:

• State employees must be fully vaccinated. Your vaccine status will be verified at New Employee Orientation.

• Prior to a new hire, a background check including criminal record history will be conducted. Information from the background check will not necessarily preclude employment but will be considered in determining the applicant's suitability and competence to perform in the position.
• Positions requiring travel must have a valid unrestricted driver's license and must be insured if driving a privately owned vehicle on state business.

Applicants wishing to claim Veterans Preference should attach a copy of their DD-214 (Member 4 copy), NGB 22, or signed verification of service letter from the United States Department of Veterans Affairs to their application. Please blackout any personally identifiable data such as social security numbers. For further information please contact us at: recruiters@dva.wa.gov.

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Employer

Here at YOUR Washington Department of Veterans Affairs our employees come from all walks of life. We strive to hire great people from a wide variety of backgrounds. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, genetics, disability, age, or veteran status.

We believe in the importance of recognizing the value each of us contribute to the success of the mission of the agency. Having a diverse workforce is this agency’s greatest resource of strength and knowledge. It is through the combination of talents and abilities that we can pursue finding effective measures on how we can provide the best customer service. We are committed to building a diverse and inclusive workplace for everyone.

The State of Washington is an equal opportunity employer. Persons with a disability who need assistance in the application process or testing process, or those needing this announcement in an alternative format, may call (360) 725-2183. TTY users should first call 711 to access the Washington Relay Service.

You are welcome to include the name and pronoun you would like to be referred to in your materials and we will honor this as you interact with our award-winning diverse and inclusive organization.

If you have any questions regarding this announcement, program, or the agency please contact us at recruiters@dva.wa.gov.