Employment opportunities with the Veterans Review & Appeal Board

by Heidi Riley

The Veterans Review & Appeal Board (VRAB) provides hearings to ensure that Veterans, Armed Forces and RCMP members with service-related disabilities and their families receive the benefits they are entitled to. VRAB operates at arms-length from Veterans Affairs Canada.

Values of the Board

Accountability – VRAB is open and transparent so that Veterans and Canadians can hold VRAB accountable for its actions and decisions. VRAB provides diversity and inclusion and is committed to both in the service they provide Veterans. VRAB strives to be a workplace of choice and excellence, with continuous improvement and innovation.

Impartiality – VRAB treats Veterans in a fair and unbiased manner.

Independence – VRAB provides Veterans with hearings and decisions that are free from outside influences.

Integrity – VRAB enhances public confidence and trust in the appeal process by being professional and ethical.

Respect – VRAB treats Veterans and one another with courtesy and respect.

Work environment

The work environment offers flexibility and the opportunity for a hybrid model, working three days at the office and two days at home. Staff have the option to work a compressed work week, and there are flexible work start and end times to provide work/life balance.

As VRAB is much smaller than most government departments, staff have the opportunity to see their co-workers on a regular basis and get to know the members of the senior leadership team.

Training opportunities

VRAB provides staff with ample opportunities to participate in courses that will develop their skills and knowledge and further their careers.

Salary and benefits

The government of Canada offers competitive salary, health and dental benefits, pension plans, as well as union membership. VRAB often seeks to fill entry-level bilingual positions.

Potential opportunities with the board

Typically, all federal government jobs are posted at www.jobs.gc.ca. Sign up for an account and set notifications for openings at the Veterans Review and Appeal Board to see job postings that become available.

There are opportunities for those who speak English only, French only, and those who are bilingual.

Hiring Veterans

From teamwork, leadership and adaptability, Veterans have the talents that make them valued members of any team. Approximately 8,200 Canadian Armed Forces members transition from the military each year – about half seek new career opportunities.

To help make that career search and the transition to civilian life a little easier, the Government of Canada introduced the Veterans Hiring Act. This legislation introduced entitlements to improve access to public service jobs for members and Veterans of the Canadian Armed Forces.

Veterans Affairs Canada encourages Veterans looking for a new career to consider joining the Federal Public Service. More information can be found here: www.veterans.gc.ca/en/education-and-jobs/find-new-job/jobs-federal-government/you-start

Student opportunities

The Federal Student Work Experience program (FSWEP) allows post-secondary students to work with the government of Canada while gaining an education. To be eligible for this program, students must be registered in full-time studies and plan to return to full-time studies in the next academic term.

When you apply, you can indicate if you identify as a woman, an Indigenous person, a member of a visible minority, or a person with a disability.

How to apply

Visit www.jobs.gc.ca to register. Sign up for notifications so that you will see when new jobs are posted.