School Certifying Official / Education Benefits Advisor (Student Services Professional II)

Position Summary

Join the Joan and Art Barron Veterans Center as a School Certifying Official & Advisor and support our military and veteran students. Reporting to the MVP Director, you'll manage education benefits, provide student advising, and ensure VA compliance. This role offers a balance of independent work and collaborative support to benefit both the university and our military-affiliated students.

Key Responsibilities:

• Certification Process: Guide military-affiliated students through the process of receiving federal and state VA education benefits.
• Liaison Role: Act as the primary point of contact for VA-related inquiries, engaging with students, the general public, and the campus community through various channels, including office walk-ins, emails, and phone calls.
• Issue Resolution: Assist in resolving payment and overpayment issues by communicating with the VA Regional Processing Office in Muskogee, Oklahoma.

Why Join Us?

• Support military-affiliated students in accessing education benefits.
• Ensure VA compliance while providing advising and assistance.
• Work independently with guidance from leadership.
• Serve as a key resource for VA-related inquiries.
• Assist with benefit certification and payment issue resolution.
• Make a meaningful impact on student success.

If you’re ready to make a difference and be part of a supportive team, apply today!

Position Information

• This is a full-time (1.0 time-base), benefits eligible, permanent/probationary position.
• This position is designated as exempt under FLSA and is not eligible for overtime compensation.
• Standard SDSU work hours are Monday - Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., but may vary based on operational needs.
• The individual hired into this role will work on campus at SDSU in San Diego.

Department Summary

SDSU Military and Veterans Program is the California State University (CSU) system’s flagship veteran’s resource center and the first veteran’s center in the system. The Military and Veterans Program (MVP) is a component within Student Affairs and Campus Diversity which directs, manages and provides services for all aspects of the veteran, active duty, reserve and dependent programs for San Diego State University undergraduate and graduate students. The MVP manages all veteran and military-connected support services and events for the campus and serves as the primary source for the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), Department of Defense (DoD), California Department of Veterans Affairs (CalVet), and other agencies.

For more information regarding the Joan and Art Barron Veterans Center, click here .

Education and Experience

Equivalent to graduation from a four-year college or university in one of the behavioral sciences, public or business administration or a job-related field. Additional specialized experience during which the applicant has acquired and successfully applied the knowledge and abilities shown above may be substituted for the required education on a year-for-year basis.

Or

Possession of these knowledge and abilities is typically demonstrated through the equivalent of two years of professional experience in one of the student services program areas or in a related field; experience should give evidence of competence and indicate the potential for further growth. A master’s degree in a job-related field may be substituted for one year of the professional experience.

Key Qualifications

• Knowledge of program operations, organizational management, research methods, and student behavior principles.
• Ability to interpret regulations, analyze data, advise students, and collaborate with diverse groups.
• Strong decision-making skills with the ability to implement program improvements.
• Experience with public speaking with small and large audiences.
• Working knowledge of the practices, procedures and activities related to state / federal VA education benefit programs.
• Knowledge of university regulations, policies, and procedures, with an understanding of the broader higher education environment.
• Minimum of 2 years of experience in the U.S. military, including active duty, reserve, or National Guard service within any branch of the Department of Defense or Department of Homeland Security preferred.
• Minimum of 2 years of experience in a role involving the administration of education benefits or certification processes preferred.

Compensation and Benefits

Starting salary upon appointment is not expected to exceed $5,083 per month.

Salary placement is determined by the education, experience, and qualifications the candidate brings to the position, internal equity, and the hiring department’s fiscal resources.

San Diego State University offers a rich benefits package that constitutes a major portion of total compensation. For more information regarding SDSU benefits, please click here .

CSU Classification Salary Range: $5,083 - $7,228 per month.

SDSU Values

At SDSU, our diversity gives us power and benefits every single member of our community. Consistent with California law and federal civil rights laws, SDSU provides equal opportunity for all in education and employment. We encourage all members of our community to purposefully learn from one another through open and respectful dialogue and responsible engagement. We strongly preserve the right to free expression and encourage difficult conversations that help lead to improved individual and community learning and cohesion.

Principles of Community

At SDSU, we are a community of diverse individuals who have and represent many perspectives, beliefs, and identities. This diversity lends our community strength, and we commit to creating and sustaining an inclusive and intellectually vibrant environment that benefits all members of our university.

SDSU’s Principles of Community is an aspirational statement that is intended to evolve over time. The statement reflects the ideals we are encouraged to uphold in our interactions with one another.

Equal Opportunity and Excellence in Education and Employment

All university programs and activities are open and available to all regardless of race, sex, color, ethnicity or national origin. Consistent with California law and federal civil rights laws, San Diego State University (SDSU) provides equal opportunity in education and employment without unlawful discrimination or preferential treatment based on race, sex, color, ethnicity, or national origin. Our commitment to equal opportunity means ensuring that every student and employee has access to the resources and support they need to thrive and succeed in a university environment and in their communities. SDSU complies with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, the California Equity in Higher Education Act, California’s Proposition 209 (Art. I, Section 31 of the California Constitution), other applicable state and federal anti-discrimination laws, and CSU’s Nondiscrimination Policy. We prohibit discriminatory preferential treatment, segregation based on race or any other protected status, and all forms of discrimination, harassment, and retaliation in all university programs, policies, and practices.

SDSU is a diverse community of individuals who represent many perspectives, beliefs and identities, committed to fostering an inclusive, respectful, and intellectually vibrant environment. We cultivate a culture of open dialogue, mutual respect, and belonging to support educational excellence and student success. Through academic programs, student organizations and activities, faculty initiatives, and community partnerships, we encourage meaningful engagement with diverse perspectives. As a higher education institution, we are dedicated to advancing knowledge and empowering individuals to reach their full potential by prioritizing inclusive curriculum development, faculty and staff training, student mentorship, and comprehensive support programs. At SDSU, excellence is built on merit, talent, diversity, accessibility, and equal opportunity for all.

Supplemental Information

Initial review of the required application materials, including cover letters and resumes, will begin on March 6, 2025. To receive full consideration, apply by March 5, 2025. The position will remain open until filled.

The person holding this position is considered a ‘mandated reporter’ under the California Child Abuse and Neglect Reporting Act and is required to comply with the requirements set forth in CSU Executive Order 1083 as a condition of employment.

San Diego State University is not a sponsoring agency for staff or management positions (e.g., H-1B visa). Applicants must currently be authorized to work in the United States on a full-time basis. Offers of employment are contingent upon the presentation of documents that demonstrate a person's identity and authorization to work in the United States, which are consistent with the provisions of the Immigration Reform and Control Act.

A background check (including a criminal records check) must be completed satisfactorily and is required for employment. SDSU will make a conditional offer of employment, which may be rescinded if the background check reveals disqualifying information, and/or it is discovered that the candidate knowingly withheld or falsified information. Failure to satisfactorily complete the background check may affect the continued employment of a current SDSU employee who was conditionally offered the position.

SDSU is a smoke-free campus. For more information, please click here .

Reasonable accommodations will be provided for qualified applicants with disabilities who request an accommodation by contacting Livia Peeples at lpeeples@sdsu.edu .

Advertised: Feb 14 2025 Pacific Standard Time
Applications close:

Closing Date/Time:

• 

• San Diego State University

• 619-594-5200

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