Gold Star Family Support Specialist / Advisor (Southern Illinois) Personal Service Contract

Position Overview

The Gold Star Family Support Specialist / Advisor will serve as a trusted, knowledgeable, and compassionate resource supporting Gold Star Families across Southern Illinois. This role requires extensive military knowledge, strong familiarity with Illinois-based veteran and survivor communities and demonstrated experience working directly with Gold Star Families.

The ideal candidate brings lived or closely connected experience within the Gold Star Family community, understands its unique needs, and has established relationships within veteran service organizations and regional networks. This individual will play a key role in planning, coordinating, and executing Gold Star Family-focused events, particularly those associated with the Du Quoin State Fair, while supporting broader outreach and engagement efforts in partnership with the Illinois Department of Veterans Affairs.

Essential Functions

• Build and maintain trusted relationships with Gold Star Families throughout Southern Illinois.
• Assist the Illinois Department of Veterans Affairs in planning, organizing, and supporting all Gold Star Family events associated with the Du Quoin State Fair.
• Engage and coordinate with past and prospective vendors for the Veterans Vendor Fair at the Du Quoin State Fair. 
• Participate in veteran outreach events, planning meetings, and community engagements throughout Southern Illinois.
• Organize and lead After Action Review (AAR) meetings following major events in the Southern Illinois region.
• Maintain accurate and confidential records of outreach, event planning, and engagement activities.
• Perform other related duties as assigned in support of Gold Star Families and associated programs. 

Minimum Qualifications

• Requires demonstrated experience working with Illinois Gold Star Families, particularly in Southern Illinois.
• Requires extensive knowledge of military culture, structure, and survivor benefits.
• Requires strong familiarity with veteran service organizations and the broader veteran community in Southern Illinois.
• Requires proven ability to plan, coordinate, and execute events and community initiatives.
• Requires high degree of emotional intelligence, empathy, and discretion when working with grieving families.
• Requires strong organizational, communication, and problem-solving skills.

Preferred Qualifications

• Prefers lived experience as a member of a Gold Star Family, with prior participation in community events or support networks.
• Prefers prior experience working with or alongside the Illinois Department of Veterans Affairs or similar state agencies.
• Prefers established relationships with regional veteran service organizations, community leaders, and Gold Star Family networks in Southern Illinois.
• Prefers direct experience supporting or coordinating events at the Du Quoin State Fair or similar large-scale public events.
• Prefers background in nonprofit, government, or military-affiliated program coordination or outreach. 
• Prefers experience recruiting, managing, or coordinating volunteers. 
• Prefers familiarity with planning and facilitating After Action Reviews (AARs) or program evaluations. 
• Prefers experience developing event materials such as programs, scripts, agendas, and briefing documents. 

Conditions of Employment

• Requires the ability to pass a background check.
• Requires ability to travel in the performance of duties, with overnight stays as appropriate. Requires appropriate, valid drivers license.
• Requires the use of an agency supplied cell phone and laptop. 

The conditions of employment listed here are incorporated and related to any of the job duties as listed in the job description. 

About the Agency

The Illinois Department of Veterans Affairs is a state agency designed to empower veterans and their families to thrive. We do this by assisting them in navigating the system of federal, state, and local resources and benefits, providing long-term health care for eligible veterans in our Veterans’ Homes and partnering with other agencies and non-profits to help veterans address education, mental health, housing, employment, and other challenges. A career with the Illinois Department of Veterans’ Affairs provides a rewarding and challenging opportunity for individuals. Working together, we create partnerships and experiences that engage and inspire our fellow co-workers and the veterans and their family members that we serve every day.