This is a NON-CLASSIFIED employment opportunity. Visit the State of Colorado for Classified employment opportunities.
The Veteran Benefits Specialist (VBS) provides in-depth professional support to military and veteran connected students at Pikes Peak State College (PPSC). This person manages a caseload of students utilizing Veterans Affairs (VA) education benefits, delivering comprehensive customer support. The VBS is responsible for ensuring that the students and the college comply with VA policies related to education benefits.
Minimum Qualifications
- Completed Bachelor’s degree from regionally accredited institution OR completed Associate degree from a regionally accredited institution with two years of professional level experience or performing similar duties to those described for this position OR four years of professional level experience or performing similar duties to those described for this position.
Professional level experience is defined by the Colorado Division of Human Resources: A position that involves the exercise of discretion, analytical skill, judgment, personal accountability, and responsibility for creating, developing, integrating, applying, or sharing an organized body of knowledge. Colorado revised statute (C.R.S. 24-50-135(1) allows colleges to exempt positions from the State Personnel Classified System that are determined to be professional level work.
Preferred Qualifications
- Completed Bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited educational institution.
- Experience developing processes and procedures within a student services organization at a college or university.
- Experience working at an open-door commuter college, to include working with non-traditional adult learners, or first-generation students.
- Bi-lingual in Spanish.
- Experience working with military and veteran connected students at the college level.
For full consideration, all application materials must be received by 4:00 p.m. on November 5, 2025. Applications accepted until position is filled.
Pikes Peak State College reserves the right to close the job posting once a sufficient applicant pool has been obtained.
Must be a State of Colorado resident or able to relocate to Colorado prior to first date of employment.
Visa support is not available for this position.
Application Instructions: Application must be submitted online. Incomplete applications may not receive full consideration. A complete application will include:
- Cover letter - Address the minimum and preferred qualifications in the order listed on the job announcement.
- Resume - Reflect experience, education, knowledge, skills, and abilities.
- Unofficial Transcripts - Unofficial transcripts for all degrees conferred. Official transcripts are required if hired for the position.
- Professional References - Provide names and contact information for three recent professional references who can address your expertise and background for this position.
This position may be eligible for a variety of employee benefits. Pikes Peak State College participates in the Colorado Public Employees' Retirement Association (PERA) contribution rates.
Note: Prior submission of application materials will not be considered.
Essential Functions
Student Advising
- Provides subject matter expertise to students regarding actual and potential impacts to their VA education benefits while taking classes at PPSC.
- Advises prospective, and current veteran students, work studies, and staff members on current, and projected changes to rules, regulations and requirements pertaining to veteran education benefits.
- Maintains awareness and knowledge of all available PPSC degree and certificate programs, as well as instructional methods, to advise students.
- Provides professional-level customer service with individuals and groups in-person, over the phone, via email, and via text-message.
Benefit Caseload Processing
- Manages an assigned caseload of students with the goal of timely and accurate processing of VA education benefits.
- Validates student fulfillment of PPSC program and VA chapter-specific education benefit requirements.
- Coordinates and integrates benefit processing with DMVP School Certifying Officials (SCOs) to provide consistency of certification for all students.
- Recommends solutions to address problems pertaining to VA policy changes.
- Maintains all necessary documentation for both state and federal VA compliance surveys.
Assitional Duties
- Participates in the development and implementation of student success initiatives and outreach.
- Partners with other DMVP staff to promote student success through daily customer service interactions.
- Supports the DMVP orientation, education, and marketing efforts, such as the VA Education Benefits Briefing program, to provide helpful information to students using VA education benefits.
- Other duties as assigned by supervisor.
General Duties, Skills, Knowledge, and Abilities
- Ability to navigate differences effectively and respectfully in the workplace.
- Updates and maintains department reports.
- Provides focused and specialized customer service, mentorship, and advice to assigned student caseload to encourage increased retention and graduation rates for military and veteran connected students at PPSC.
- Completes and reports periodic VA training for SCO duties.
- Maintains awareness of changes to VA policies and procedures through VA network communications and conferences opportunities.
- Serves as a DMVP subject matter expert for VA education benefits.
- Adherence to college policies and procedures.
- Ability to travel to multiple campuses to support department needs.
- Confidentiality while working effectively with all constituents.
- Excellent organizational and networking skills.
- Analytical skills for organizational effectiveness and student support.
- Ability to work effectively with a team or individually.
- Ability to manage multiple tasks and meet deadlines.
- Computer skills including proficiency with Microsoft Office applications.
- Knowledge of VA education benefit chapters.
- Knowledge of college processes, academic programs, and relevant state and federal policies and regulations.
- Understanding of the impact of culture and military service on learning.
As part of the State of Colorado, PPSC offers a competitive benefits package:
This job description reflects Pikes Peak State College’s best effort to describe the essential duties and qualifications of the job. It is not an exhaustive statement of all the duties, responsibilities or qualifications of the job. This document is not intended to exclude an opportunity for modifications consistent with providing reasonable accommodation.
EEO Statement: Pikes Peak State College is an Equal Employment Opportunity/Americans with Disabilities Act institution. We value diversity, strive for a more unified campus where all people are valued, treated fairly, and possess a sense of belonging. Pikes Peak State College encourages minorities, women, veterans and persons with disabilities to apply.
