Manager of Veteran Affairs

Training Tomorrow's Technicians to Become Skilled, Employable, and Essential ABOUT US - Big Changes, Better Benefits - Join us today! At Cotulla Education, home to the Aviation Institute of Maintenance, Centura College, Tidewater Tech, and American Lineman College, we are dedicated to transforming lives through hands-on, career-focused education. Our mission is to empower students to achieve their professional dreams in high-demand fields like aviation, healthcare, information technology, and skilled trades. With experienced faculty providing personalized support, our graduates emerge as future leaders ready to make a significant impact in their communities. Join us in shaping the careers of those who will build and maintain our world and embark on a transformative journey towards a fulfilling career. Work Schedule: Full-time, Monday–Friday Compensation: $80,000 - $87,000 annually, based on experience, qualifications, and other relevant factors. Most candidates expected to land in the middle We are seeking an experienced, compliance-focused Manager of Veteran Affairs to oversee VA-related operations across our campuses and serve as the institution’s primary School Certifying Official (SCO). This role is responsible for ensuring the accurate, timely, and compliant administration of VA educational benefits while leading a centralized team of VA Specialists. The Manager of Veteran Affairs will oversee certification, reporting, audit readiness, program approvals, and regulatory compliance while partnering with campus and academic leadership to provide a consistent, high-quality experience for our military-affiliated students. The ideal candidate brings strong knowledge of VA education benefits and regulatory requirements, experience leading VA operations within higher education, and the ability to develop standardized processes and internal controls across multiple campuses. Key Duties Serve as the institution’s primary School Certifying Official (SCO) and oversee VA operations across all campuses Lead, develop, and manage a centralized team of VA Specialists/SCOs, including training, performance management, and accountability for processing and compliance standards Oversee certification and administration of approved military and veteran education benefit programs, including: Post-9/11 GI Bill (Chapter 33) Montgomery GI Bill (Chapters 30 and 1606) Veteran Readiness and Employment (Chapter 31) Survivors’ and Dependents’ Educational Assistance (Chapter 35) Military Tuition Assistance MyCAA Ensure timely and accurate submission of enrollment certifications, adjustments, student status changes, program completions, and other required reporting Conduct regular audits of student enrollments, curriculum changes, program adjustments, and VA records to maintain compliance and data integrity Maintain compliance with key VA requirements and audit-risk areas, including the 85/15 rule, enrollment reporting, 35% exemption renewal, and required SCO training Lead preparation for VA audits, compliance reviews, and Risk-Based Surveys, maintaining organized and audit-ready documentation Develop and implement standardized processes and internal controls to reduce compliance risk and ensure consistency across campuses Serve as the primary liaison with the State Approving Agency (SAA) and coordinate new and revised academic program approvals Partner with Student Accounts and Financial Aid to ensure accurate tuition and fee reporting, billing, and administration of VA benefits Monitor and reconcile VA payments, debts, and overpayments and ensure timely resolution and appropriate documentation Provide ongoing training and guidance to VA staff, campus partners, and institutional leadership regarding regulatory requirements and certification processes Ensure compliance with FERPA and institutional privacy requirements when managing military-affiliated student information Qualifications Education: High School Diploma or GED, or equivalent on-the-job exper…