Benefits Manager, Military Services - 005246 - United States Jobs Opening

September 16, 2024

University of South Alabama

Mobile

FULL TIME

Benefits Manager, Military Services - 005246

Minimum Qualifications

Bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution as approved and accepted by the University of South Alabama and three years of related experience. An equivalent combination of experience and education may be considered.
Must obtain clearance and be authorized by the Veterans Administration annually to become and remain an active SCO (School Certifying Official).

Preferred Qualifications

Job Description Summary

The University of South Alabama’s Office of Military Services is seeking to hire a Benefits Manager. Interested candidates should apply to be considered.

Essential Functions

These are the job duties required of the position.

Essential Functions

Primarily responsible for GI Bill Compliance at The University of South Alabama. Ensures all required Federal and State GI Bill laws and regulations are adhered to by all staff involved in GI Bill processing through the Enrollment Manager system. Reviews all student certification files and ensures adherence to all VA Education requirements outlined in the VA School Certification Handbook. Responsible for the training of all GI Bill Schools Certifying Officials as well as all VA Student Workers assigned to the University of South Alabama. Responsible for working with Academic Advisors to ensure they understand the rules for students to receive GI Bill benefits and assist in the training of advisors to meet those requirements for all Federal GI Bill students. Responsible for ensuring that all approved GI Bill courses are correctly entered into the Enrollment Manager system that have been approved by the State Approving Agency per the USA Academic Catalog for all on-campus and distance education courses. Works with other departments across campus to ensure GI Bill compliance standards are in line with Federal and State Legislation as well as all Veterans Administration policies, regulations, and rules as determined by the VA and State Approving Agency. Serves as a School Certifying Official and to provide parents and students with information regarding the many options available under the Veterans Administration Educational Benefits. Upon appropriate guidance, the position will provide timely, accurate, and complete certifications within the Enrollment Manager system. Thoroughly advises students as to the type of benefits they may receive, the terms of the benefits, the length of the benefits, and the consequences of not complying with all VA policies and procedures. Interfaces with the staff in Student Accounting and Academic Records as well as with academic advisors across campus. Provides a high quality of consumer information and customer service to students and their parents. Responsible for accurate GI Bill certification. Works independently and is required to make professional judgment calls per VA and USA policy guidance.

Monitor and maintain all programs entered into the Enrollment Manager system.
Determine and enter all USA term dates into the Enrollment Manager system.
Ensure all School Certifying Officials maintain clearance and the VA Education Liaison Representative is updated on staff who are eligible to certify benefits at USA.
Conduct interviews with veterans, service members, dependents, and survivors to determine their needs. Counsel students and parents concerning eligibility and benefits available under various programs at the local, state, regional, and federal level.
Coordinate with respective University of South Alabama offices to maximize services and benefits being received by all GI Bill recipients.
Monitor and report on students who have been mobilized and make sure university policies on military withdrawal are being enforced.
Prepare various reports as needed to determine the number of veterans, service members, dependents, and survivors enrolled and/or receiving some type of VA benefits at the University of South Alabama and report this data to the Associate Director for assessment purposes.
Monitor the academic degree progress of VA students through various resources and in consultation with academic advisors.
Counsel students who are in jeopardy of losing VA financial benefits due to not meeting academic performance standards.
Manage the USA Debt Management System in correspondence with the VA Debt Management System to ensure VA debt management procedures are followed at the university level.
Monitor and maintain the debt management system to ensure VA Treasury Offsets do not occur which will negatively affect USA accounts.
Stay in constant contact with the VA Debt Management Center to ensure weekly reports are accurate. Maintain a log of all VA Treasury Offsets that contain critical information to include the Grant/College/Department that is affected, as well as the student and the responsible party for repayment. Thoroughly investigate all Debt Letters to ensure accuracy and proper party responsibility.
Ensures appropriate tracking of offsets and repayments to the VA and the college.
Maintain a log for all payments that go through the Student Accounting office for repayment to the VA to ensure proper tracking of checks and EFT funds sent to the Debt Management Center.
Ensure debt issues are addressed within the VA-set time limits when a Debt Letter is received.
Ensure refund checks or EFTs are credited to the proper account when returned to USA by working closely with the Student Accounting.
Ensure that student/USA debts are not established on students who pass away during the term.
Ensure that student/USA debts are not established on students who withdraw for Medical Reasons, Mitigating Circumstances, or Mobilization to Active Duty.
Initiate tracers with the Treasury Department for checks and EFT payments that have not been received within three business days.
When debt letters are established due to student overpayments, ensure the debt is valid, the student is counseled on his/her options for repayment, and assist the student in initiating a waiver request to establish repayment timelines and amounts.
Serve as the liaison between the office and the Study Abroad program.
Ensure all students who request Study Abroad payments are eligible per VA guidelines.
Submit a GI Bill certification request to the VA for all Chapter 33 GI Bill students who are eligible for Study Abroad.
Work directly with the “Host” school in the foreign country to ensure their programs are approved by the Veterans Administration.
Counsel the student on VA requirements and payments for Study Abroad to ensure they understand what costs they will be responsible for and what the VA will pay.
Review Study Abroad courses to ensure compliance for USA Faculty-Led Study Abroad programs.
Provide guidance and training to the Military Services Benefits counselors.
Compile and review information from the Benefits Counselors for reporting to the Veterans Administration to meet Federal Compliance Standards.
Compile and report information to the Office of Assessment, as required.
Serve as the liaison between the University of South Alabama and all service components dealing with Veterans’ Education Benefits.
Manage a system to monitor schedule changes, major changes, withdrawals, audits, and inapplicable courses and report these changes to the appropriate service component promptly.
Correspond with the Student Receivables concerning Veterans Education Benefits received from service components and the Veterans Administration to ensure timely billing and payment of benefits.
Keeps the office updated on the latest Federal Tuition Assistance (FTA) electronic methods of reporting and developing methods in order to improve workflow.
Serve the University of South Alabama as an authoritative source on veteran educational programs, policies, procedures, and regulations dealing with FTA.
Establish relationships with local, state, regional, and federal agencies to make sure that VA benefits are provided more effectively and more efficiently to student veterans, service members, dependents, and survivors.
Attend all meetings and conferences as directed.
Regular and prompt attendance.
Ability to work schedule as defined and additional hours as required.
Related duties as required.