The Supervisory Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor provides leadership and direction the VR&E staff and coordinates activities with the other divisions in the Regional Office and the VA medical Centers. The VREO supports the principles of quality improvement and is committed to assuring timely products of high quality are provided to Servicemembers, Veterans and their families for all types of services proved completed by staff members.

Duties

Primary duties include but are not limited to: Directs the Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment (VRE)Program, which performs technical, administrative, & professional work. Serves as the Regional Office's professional and technical expert in conducting, administering, & advising in the areas of education, training, testing, evaluation, counseling, rehabilitation, psychology, job development, job placement, & entitlement. Provides administrative, technical direction & professional leadership to a professional & technical staff of Counseling Psychologists, Rehabilitation Counselors, Vocational Rehabilitation Specialists, Employment/Program Specialists, & support staff as well as providing oversight of contractors. Oversees team of Vocational Rehabilitation Counselors (VRCs) & other staff in the Veterans Benefits Administration (VBA) Regional Office (RO), RO Out-based office locations, VetSuccess On Campus (VSOC) school sites, or Integrated Disability Evaluation System (IDES) locations on military installations. Develops short & Long-term plans to assure work is accomplished in a timely manner, is of acceptable quality, and accomplishes the changing initiatives and emphasis established by VA Central Office managers, as well as local management policy changes and procedural modifications. Ensures staff provides expert and high-quality services to the Veterans with a service-connected disability such as vocational counseling and consultation; counseling interventions; and superb case management. Responsible for managing allocated budgetary resources and for authorizing and supervising the expenditure of funds such as staff travel, beneficiary travel, tools, supplies, equipment, revolving fund loans, tutoring or reader services, individual instructor fees, tuition, and subsistence allowances. Provides counseling, training, and employment services to all eligible beneficiaries within the State of Indiana through two full-time offices. Activities and services provided by the VR&E Program directly .and significantly impact a wide range of agency activities. The VR&E Program deals with the direct payment of benefits to veterans and dependents as well as providing payment for educational programs which can typically cost many thousands of dollars. Provides the Director's full-time assistant, the Assistant Director, who is authorized, a clear line of authority. Directs the VRE Program, which encompasses between 1650 and 1700 participants at any point in time. The program administers approximately $10 million in expenditures from the Rehabilitation Benefits Account. VR&E Officer exercises significant responsibility in dealing with other Division Chiefs, higher level VR&E program officials, officials of Veterans Service Organizations, officials of other local, state, and federal agencies, officials of institutions of higher learning, and community. based contract service providers. Establishes division goals and objectives as well as related priorities to assure program and RO mission and objectives are accomplished. Meets with senior managers at the RO, State or Labor representatives, focal VA Medical Centers, Outpatient Clinics, and other facilities. Incumbent must frequently contact high-ranking civilian managers, supervisors, and technical staff regarding contracting of services. Other professional contacts are with physicians, psychiatrists, clinical psychologists, social workers, program and administration officials with VA and other local, state, and federal agencies. Given the interrelated nature of the various contracted services, state and federal Vocational Rehabilitation programs, the level of these contacts has a decided impact on the successful performance of the work. Decision Making: Develops short & long-term plans to assure work is accomplished in a timely manner, is of acceptable quality, and accomplishes the changing initiatives and emphasis established by VA Central Office managers, as well as local management policy changes and procedural modifications. Takes a variety of personnel-related actions such as hearing/resolving grievances or complaints, proposes disciplinary and adverse actions, evaluates performance of rehabilitation professionals; decides on nonroutine training needs, approves expenses relative to employee travel and overtime; recommends within-grade increases, awards, bonuses; and recommends changes in position classification Promotion Potential: None Work Schedule: Full time, Monday - Friday 8:00 am to 4:30 pm Compressed/Flexible: Unavailable Telework: Yes, per Agency guidelines. This is not a remote position. Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Position Description/PD#: Supervisory Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor, 38428A Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: YES, Authorized Financial Disclosure Report: Required Physical Requirements: The work normally involves mental rather than physical exertion.

Requirements

Qualifications

GS 14 Level Specialized Experience: One year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade GS-13 in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization. Specialized experience is defined as experience in Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment programs 1) expertise with employment and vocational rehabilitation programs; 2) possessing knowledge and expertise in the procedures for vocational and rehabilitation law; 3) the expertise to administer and counsel in the areas of counseling, rehabilitation, psychology, career development, and job placement entitlements; 4) the expertise to control budgetary resources for approving and monitoring financial expenditures.

Contacts

• Address Boise Regional Benefit Office 444 W. Fort Street Boise, ID 83702-4531 US
• Name: Latrice Harris-Bryant
• Phone: (515) 323-7464
• Email: [email protected]