Education Program Specialist

DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS' SERVICES

For Veterans and those who care for them.

EDUCATION PROGRAM SPECIALIST

Job Location:

Department of Veteran's Services Headquarters
1688 West Adams Street
Phoenix, Arizona 85007

Posting Details:

Salary: $59,125.00 

Grade: 22

Closing Date: April 25, 2025

Job Summary:

Would you like to be part of an amazing team that helps Veterans thrive? At the Arizona Department of Veterans Services (AZDVS), we are committed to serving and honoring veterans, service Members, and their families by ensuring that they receive the highest quality services so that they can thrive for a lifetime!

We are looking for an outstanding Education Program Specialist.

Your rewards:
• Incomparable Benefits: Our program provides the opportunity to receive a pension and healthcare benefits for a lifetime
• Meaningful Work: Your dedication will directly enhance the lives of veterans and their family members, providing them with the care and respect that they deserve.
• Professional Growth: You will engage in continuous learning and improvement through the Arizona Management System (AMS).

Your contribution:
• Outstanding Service: Provide the best assistance to veterans to improve their quality of life
• Continuous Improvement: Participate in facility meetings, training sessions, and the implementation of the Arizona Management System (AMS) to achieve continuous improvement and efficiency
• Team Collaboration: Work with other professionals to use your expertise while improving your knowledge, skills, and abilities

Job Duties:

• Completes risk-based survey visits (RBSV)
• Conducts oversight of academic institutions by reviewing advertisements, student complaints, financial soundness, student files, classroom instruction, and conducting student interviews
• Provides a facility findings report to the U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs (DVA)
• Through the interpretation and application of federal and state laws, regulations, policies and procedures, analyzes data and evaluates institutional and training establishment information to determine if academic, vocational, technical, apprenticeship, on-the-job and flight training programs meet necessary requirements
• Prepares appropriate technical documentation, reports and letters
• Assists with the planning, development and implementation of outreach activities to encourage both student schools, training establishments and employers participation in and awareness of veterans education and training programs
• Conducts training of professional academic institution and vocational training establishment personnel to ensure they can advise veteran students in accordance with federal and state laws, regulations, policies and procedures
• Assists with establishment of the mission, goals and objectives for the State Approving Agency (SAA) that reflect those of the Department of Veterans' Affairs at the federal level and the Arizona Department of Veterans' Services at the state level
  

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities (KSAs):

Knowledge:

• Requires knowledge of applicable statutory laws and regulations, both state and federal, governing the SAA
• Requires general knowledge of the standards and criteria used for SAA approval of institutions and entities
• Requires comprehensive knowledge of personal computer programs including MS Office, Excel, Power Point, Google Suites, VA database systems

Skills:

• Skill in utilizing and applying policy, procedure, federal and state regulations in the SAA approval of institutions and entities
• Skill in utilizing effective communication in correspondence with school officials, internal staff, other state and federal agencies and the general public
• Superior word processing and database input and management, creation of Excel spreadsheets

Abilities:

• Must have the ability to analyze and assess SAA approval application requirements and content to ensure requirements are met
• Requires the ability to maintain cooperative, courteous and professional working relationships with internal and external stakeholders
• Requires the ability to understand data collection processes and systems in order to input information, manipulate data, create tables, compile and analyze reports and conduct administrative functions
  

Selective Preference(s):

• Experience as a school certifying official in a higher education environment working with veteran education benefits to include work in VA database systems
• Prior experience working in a regulatory capacity or work in the legal field.

Pre-Employment Requirements:

• Bachelor's Degree with five years of related education or training experience, OR
• Master's Degree with three years of related education or training experience, OR
• Doctoral Degree with one year of related education or training experience
• The ability to drive in the course of conducting State business. Requires possession of and ability to retain a current, valid state-issued driver's license. Employees who drive on State business are subject to driver's license record checks, must maintain acceptable driving records and must complete any required driver training (see Arizona Administrative Code R2-10-207.11).
• Obtain U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) security clearance and background check and obtain a Personal Identity Verification (PIV) card

If this position requires driving or the use of a vehicle as an essential function of the job to conduct State business, then the following requirements apply: Driver’s License Requirements.

All newly hired State employees are subject to and must successfully complete the Electronic Employment Eligibility Verification Program (E-Verify).

Benefits:

The Arizona Department of Administration offers a comprehensive benefits package to include:
• Sick leave
• Vacation with 10 paid holidays per year
• Paid Parental Leave-Up to 12 weeks per year paid leave for newborn or newly-placed foster/adopted child (pilot program).
• Health and dental insurance
• Retirement plan
• Life insurance and long-term disability insurance
• Optional employee benefits include short-term disability insurance, deferred compensation plans, and supplemental life insurance

Learn more about the Paid Parental Leave pilot program here. For a complete list of benefits provided by The State of Arizona, please visit our benefits page

Retirement:

Positions in this classification participate in the Arizona State Retirement System (ASRS).  Please note, enrollment eligibility will become effective after 27 weeks of employment.

Contact Us:

If you have any questions please feel free to contact Paul Sharp at recruiting@azdvs.gov or (602) 781-7032 for assistance.

The State of Arizona is an Equal Opportunity/Reasonable Accommodation Employer.

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