| Job Description | The Director of Veteran and Military Services leads the institution’s comprehensive military and veteran engagement strategy, serving as the primary liaison between Missouri Western State University and military/veteran organizations across local, state and national levels.
This Director cultivates strategic partnerships that simultaneously strengthen U.S. military capabilities and enhance university-military collaborations benefiting the region, state and nation. Reporting to the Dean of Students, the director establishes formal agreements with military entities, secures funding through grants and philanthropy, and represents MWSU at key military functions and installations. This role requires exceptional stakeholder management skills to coordinate university communication, build relationships with military leadership and establish measurable metrics for program effectiveness. The director champions the unique needs of military-affiliated populations while strengthening their connection to MWSU, ultimately advancing initiatives that align with the university’s mission.
Supervisory Responsibilities: - Coordinator (School certifying official)
ESSENTIAL DUTIES: - Effectively manage the development and implementation of a vision, mission, and strategic plan in accordance with national best practices to further the support of veteran and military-affiliated students at MWSU. Continue to develop and oversee all major initiatives and programming related to veteran and military students.
- In collaboration with Admissions and academic departments across the institution, cultivate efforts to expand military and veteran enrollments, both on campus and online; helps identify veteran and military markets and develop suitable materials; attending recruitment events.
- Serve as VA Work study site supervisor
- In collaboration with other units across campus (including Admissions, Financial Aid, Registrar, Advising, Testing, Counseling, Student Success, Student Health, Student Affairs, and others) responsible for development, implementation, and enhancement of services for veterans, service members, dependents, and survivors.
- Help military-affiliated and veteran students navigate university and community resources for curricular and co-curricular success. Assist students in accessing appropriate resources as they relate to academic, financial, social, personal and professional success.
- Serve as the primary point person in facilitating University support for military-affiliated students as they progress toward graduation.
- Coordinate with school certifying official(s) and serve as back-up SCO when needed to help support processing of GI Bill benefits and tuition assistance.
- Serve as primary contact between University and Department of Defense, Veterans Administration, and other Federal and State agencies involved with veterans and service members, dependents, and survivors for the purposes of student recruitment, advising, etc.
- Pursue grants and other external funding opportunities to enhance student services for the military and veteran population.
- Maintain data and prepare reports on military-affiliated student enrollment, retention, persistence, and degree-completion.
- Engage in community and civic outreach programs and external agency engagement efforts in support of the University’s vision for military affiliated students; develops, maintains, and expands institutional relations with local and private entities to support military-affiliated students
- Plan occasional programs and events for this student population
- Supervise a coordinator who serves as a School Certifying Official
- Other duties and special projects as assigned.
Knowledge, Skills and Abilities: - Excellent verbal and written communication skills
- Excellent interpersonal and organizational skills, with demonstrated ability to facilitate, mediate, advise, advocate, and mentor
- Ability to work well in a diverse environment
- Active military service, National Guard or Reserve service, with experience in post-9/11 conflicts and knowledge of issues affecting post-9/11 veterans and their families
- At least two years of experience working with either veterans’ services or a similar non-traditional student population
- At least two years demonstrated supervisory and management skills
- Experience working in an educational setting, preferably in higher education, with an understanding of enrollment services, advising, and financial aid issues.
- Knowledge of programs administered by the U.S. Veterans Administration (VA), including GI Bill benefits, Vocational Rehabilitation and Dependents Educational Assistance, as well as tuition assistance programs for active military and National Guard/Reserve
- Proficiency using personal computers and common computer applications such as word processing, spreadsheet software, e-mail, and web-based research
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