Asst Director, Veterans Health Policy

About the position Supervises the VFW’s health policy team and provides direction on health policy initiatives and casework. Provides technical expertise on Department of Defense (DoD) and Veterans Affairs (VA) health policies and regulations. Creates analytical reports and recommendations. Maintains liaison with Department Service Officers, rendering assistance and training as required. Provides managerial support to the VAVS program by maintaining records and pertinent publications. Maintains liaison with the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) on all programs affecting the veterans' community.

Responsibilities

• Supervises the health policy team staff; reviews all reports for completeness and accuracy; evaluates survey procedures and provides recommendations to Deputy Director.
• Assists in the preparation of Congressional testimony on issues pertaining to veterans' health care.
• Reviews data, news reports, VA OIG reports, veteran complaints, and VA documents to determine if VA facilities are experiencing problems.
• Provides analysis and input to Deputy Director.
• Coordinates surveys of Department of Veterans Affairs medical facilities nationwide to determine the adequacy and completeness of services provided to the veterans' community and prepares objective analytical narratives to include findings and recommendations concerning the surveys.
• Responds to inquiries from the veterans' community concerning veterans' health care policy and homeless program issues through both written and oral communications, attends conferences in various federal agencies and serves as VFW liaison to specific advisory committees.
• Assists in developing VFW policy/positions.
• Provides orientation and training for newly assigned NVS reps and Department Service Officers.
• Coordinates and conducts meetings and conferences in areas of concern, and provides technical assistance to the VFW staff and Department Service Officers as required.
• Serves as the VFW National Rep and administers the VA Voluntary Service program for the Veterans of Foreign Wars, maintains records, minutes and awards pertaining to VFW volunteers, and provides recommendations to enhance the VFW VAVS Program.
• Participates in VHA policy development and assesses implementation and impact of program changes at both the national and field operations level, e.g., resource allocations, enrollment, eligibility reform implementation, among other significant developments in VA health care delivery.
• Coordinates with the VFW’s National Legislative Service health policy representative for legislative actions and surveys.
• Reviews the Federal Register for VA health related content and provides technical expertise for responses, analysis, and input to VFW leadership.
• Represent the National Organization at regional and state meetings as required
• Ensures the efficient management of daily activities of the veterans health policy team.
• Provides accurate analytical reports and recommendations concerning VA health policies, OIG report, health care initiatives and advocacy.
• Ensures Department Service Officers and staff are provided adequate training concerning the provision of the services in the veterans' health arena.
• Administers the VFW VAVS Program.
• Ensures the timely and efficient response to written and oral inquiries from federal agencies, VA,, VFW staff and leadership, members, and the general public.
• Monitors VHA program developments and implementation and provides analysis and input.
• Coordinates with National Veterans Service Training/Quality Control Specialist in development of training program.

Requirements

• Position requires military service and VFW membership (member eligibility requirements at https://www.vfw.org/join/eligibility) to attend the National Convention as a member in good standing and represent the National Organization at regional or state meetings.
• Position requires a bachelor’s degree or a minimum three to five years directly-related work experience.
• Position requires superior human relations, analytical and organizational skills to administer the VFW’s health policy program, initiatives and advocacy.
• Position requires knowledge of given subjects to such a degree as to make the incumbent authoritative in veterans' affairs health programs.
• Position requires VFW accreditation with the Department of Veterans Affairs and successful completion of the Veterans Benefits Administration’s Training, Responsibility, Involvement and Preparation of claims (TRIP) test.
• Incumbent will, from time to time, be required to take recertification tests to monitor their proficiency in the laws pertaining to veterans’ benefits.
• Basic knowledge of general office machines and computer operations is necessary.

Nice-to-haves

• Health care experience and health care team or department management experience is preferred.
• Typically includes public speaking on a particular subject and incumbent may frequently be called upon for his/her views on a special veterans' affairs issue.

Benefits

• Limited telework option may be available.
• This position is not eligible for relocation assistance.