Benefits Advisor, VA Transition Assistance Program

GBX Consultants, Inc. is accepting resumes for a full-time Benefits Advisor. The Benefits Advisor’s primary role is to conduct workshops and provide one-on-one individualized engagements with separating and retiring military personnel and their spouses who are transitioning from the US military in order to enable transitioning service members to make informed decisions regarding the use of VA benefits.

CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT:

1.     MUST BE ABLE TO OBTAIN STATUS OF FORCES AGREEMENT PROTECTION (SOFA)

2.     ABLE TO OBTAIN AND MAINTAIN FAVORABLE FITNESS DETERMINATION BY THE DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Deliver one-hour and one-day briefings to transitioning service members that cover critical benefits including education, compensation, pension, vocational rehabilitation and employment, home loan guaranty, insurance, burial benefits, health care, and information and demonstrations on electronic tools and resources.
• Follow established agenda timelines and procedures on setting up and breaking down briefing rooms, preparing materials for participants, and preparing and securing any required electronic equipment.
• Facilitate individualized discussions with service members to further explain the benefits and services that may be available and assist with finding answers to questions related to filing VA claims or applications.
• Refer service members to base transition center staff and other approved stakeholders for follow-on individual counseling, guidance and resources.
• Conduct standardized VA Benefits and Services Briefings, one-on-one engagements, pre-separation counseling support, military life cycle events, Capstone events, and warm-handover support.
• Attend training sessions, as required per program requirements.
• Participate in weekly staff meetings as scheduled.
• Submit demographic class report on contractor database and administer online student survey.
• Complete course required documentation including, but not limited to, attendance reports, evaluation forms, and other workshop reports.
• Perform all mandatory curriculum exercises and demonstrate effective navigation of curriculum websites.
• Promote supplemental transition and personal development programs available on military bases.
• Work in cooperative partnership with base transition staff within established roles.

QUALIFICATIONS

• Associate’s degree or 1-2 years’ equivalent work/ military experience.

• Experience delivering workshops to military audiences preferred.

• Outstanding written and oral communication skills.

• Must be keen observer of behavior and interpreter of non-verbal language, have excellent listening skills, possess an innate sensitivity to unspoken needs and be acutely attuned in gauging the comfort of all participants.

• Must be able to demonstrate an interactive, dynamic, and energetic training style necessary to engage the military audience in job search training activities.

• Ability to adjust teaching style to meet needs of participants.

• Ability to read applications and government forms.

• Ability to learn information in a rapid timeframe.

• Knowledge of the military and experience working with military clients is strongly preferred.

• Must successfully complete a two and a half-week standards-based training course. Successful course completion includes passing a written test and an oral presentation.

• Must be able to pass a personal background check.

• Flexibility to travel up to 50% to other military bases to deliver training.

• Must be able to use a wide range of adult learning and group facilitation techniques including interactive/collaborative sessions.

• Able to maintain fluency on all benefits and programs in the contract area.

• Able to provide post-briefing assistance services related to benefits/programs.

• Must Meet SOFA Requirements for the area.

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or national origin. EOE/Minorities/Females/Vet/Disabled