One Vacancy will be filled in ONE of the indicated locations. The documents required for applying to job announcements has been updated. Please review the "Required Documents" section very carefully - failure to follow the guidelines may result in loss of consideration for this job announcement.

Duties

Serves as the Assistant Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment Officer (AVREO), providing administrative and technical direction and professional leadership to a professional and technical staff of Vocational Rehabilitation Counselors and clerical staff in the Regional Office and its out-based locations. The AVREO ensures that performance goals in the areas of speed, accuracy, cost, customer satisfaction, and employee development are achieved. Must be responsive to the dynamic nature of the Veteran and beneficiary populations and their needs within the jurisdictional area. Recommends acquisition of resources to improve delivery of services to meet established program goals. In the absence of the Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment Officer, will function as the Acting VRE Officer exercising all appropriate duties and responsibilities. Duties include, but are not limited to: Supervises Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment (VR&E) staff at out-based locations and within the Regional Office. The AVREO is responsible for the administration and workflow of the VR&E Division program. Facilitates operations with major public and private universities, community colleges, and vocational/technical institutes in the state to resolve training issues. Serves as a technical representative in developing, awarding, implementing and evaluating contracts to provide professional counseling, evaluation, case management, employment, and traumatic brain injury (TBI) services. Gathers and interprets a wide range of data addressing service concerns and is able to recommend appropriate action based on that data. Works closely with division teams in planning, designing, and carrying out programs, projects, studies, or other work to support the mission. Evaluates the work performance of subordinates, make recommendations to fill division positions, receive employee complaints, approve employee travel, recommend awards and determine alternative courses of action to reduce work backlogs and barriers to production. Develops multi-year plans for scheduling in-service and contract work. The incumbent provides supervision of contract quality reviews and ensures that all contracting activity in the out-based offices or under the division control is consistent with regulatory requirements. Possess extensive knowledge about Department of Veterans Affairs laws, regulations, policies, and procedures and their proper utilization and application and must be aware of the full scope of benefits and services available through the Department of Veterans Affairs and other agencies or sources. Serves as the professional and technical expert to advise higher management in areas of education, training, psychology, testing, evaluation, counseling, rehabilitation, job development, and job placement in this capacity is responsible for implementing the counseling, training, and related rehabilitation services under Chapter 31 and other VA rehabilitation, educational, and training programs, as well. Assists the VR&E Officer by providing professional and technical expertise in all phases of rehabilitation activities, including counseling, case management, rehabilitation plan development, and job development and placement. Promotion Potential: This position is being announced at the full performance level. Work Schedule: Standard 5 day, 8 hours, full time (40 hours a week); Hours may vary to effectively carry out the mission. Telework: Per Agency Policy Virtual: This is NOT a virtual position. Position Description/PD#: Supervisory Vocational Rehab Counselor (Assistant Vocational Rehab & Employment Officer-AVREO)/Pd# 002760 Financial Disclosure Report: Required-Selectee will be required to complete a Confidential Financial Disclosure Report, OGE-450, under 5 CFR 2634.904(a) prior to entering on duty and annually thereafter.

Requirements

• You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job
• Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959
• You may be required to serve a supervisory/managerial probationary period
• Subject to background/security investigation
• Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process

Qualifications

To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement: 07/24/2023 1. TIME-IN-GRADE REQUIREMENT: Applicants who are current Federal employees and have held a GS grade any time in the past 52 weeks must also meet time-in-grade requirements. For a GS-13 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-12 level. The grade may have been in any occupation, but must have been held in the Federal service. An SF-50 that shows your time-in-grade eligibility must be submitted with your application materials. If you are a current VBA employee seeking reassignment or change to lower grade via this vacancy announcement, you must currently hold the GS-13 (or higher) and the promotion potential of your current position must be at least GS-13. The grade may have been in any occupation, but must have been held in the Federal service. An SF-50 that shows your time-in-grade eligibility must be submitted with your application materials. 2. INDIVIDUAL OCCUPATIONAL REQUIREMENT/EDUCATION REQUIREMENT: To be eligible for this position, you must meet the basic educational requirement, below. Your application MUST include a legible transcript (not diploma) stating the degree has been conferred or that you have graduated. A master's degree in rehabilitation counseling; OR A master's degree in counseling psychology (or related field) supplemented by at least 30 semester hours of course work in a majority of the following areas (coursework MUST have an emphasis on vocational rehabilitation counseling): foundations of rehabilitation counseling, human growth and development, counseling theories and techniques, vocational assessment, career development, job placement, case management, and medical/psycho-social aspects of disability. INTERNSHIP REQUIREMENT: Your degree must have included either an internship or experience as described below. The experience or internship/practicum must have been supervised by a professional in vocational rehabilitation or a closely related professional field that typically has oversight for vocational rehabilitation programs. An internship in rehabilitation counseling; OR One year post-masters degree experience in direct delivery of vocational rehabilitation services to adults with disabilities in rehabilitation programs (other than those in correctional facilities). 3. MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS REQUIREMENTS: In addition to the time-in-grade AND education requirements, you must also meet the following grade-specific qualification requirements. NON-QUALIFYING EXPERIENCE: Vocational rehabilitation experience obtained prior to completion of the requirements for the master's degree is not qualifying. If one year of work experience is substituted for an internship, that year cannot also be used for qualifying. Specialized Experience is documented experience in Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment programs 1) experience specialization in vocational rehabilitation and employment programs; 2) comprehensive knowledge and proficiency in the regulations of vocational and rehabilitation law; 3) administering counsel in the areas of entitlements for career development, job placement, psychology, rehabilitation, and counseling and 4) experience controlling budgetary resources for approving and monitoring financial expenditures. Candidates must also have demonstrated in their work experience or training that they possess, or have the potential to develop, the qualities to successfully supervise subordinates/teams and to share responsibility for directing and supervising the administrative work necessary to manage a successful program operation. SUPERVISORY/MANAGERIAL ABILITIES: Candidates must also demonstrate experience or training they possess, or have the potential to develop, the qualities of successful supervision as follows: 1) Assign to and review work of subordinates, train and work effectively with subordinates from a variety of backgrounds and with different levels/areas of training; 2) Accomplish the quality and quantity of work expected within set limits of cost and time; 3) Plan own work and carry out assignments effectively; 4) Communicate with others effectively both orally and in writing in working out solutions to problems or questions relating to the work; 5) Understand and further management goals as these affect day-to-day work operations; and 6) Develop improvements in, or design new work methods and procedures. Volunteer Experience: Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religions; spiritual; community; student; social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience. Full vs. Part-Time Employment: Full-time employment is considered to be at least 35 hours per week. Part-time experience will be credited on a pro-rated basis; when including part-time employment in your resume you must specify the average hours worked per week. Physical Requirements: This work normally involves mental rather than physical exertion. This position is primarily sedentary with some walking, standing, bending, stooping and carrying of lightweight items (i.e. folders, claims files).

Education

A legible transcript must be submitted with your application. It must include your coursework and date of conferral of a Masters degree in vocational rehabilitation (or related) field.

Education must be accredited by an accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education to be credited towards qualifications. Provide only the attendance and/or degrees from schools accredited by accrediting institutions recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.
All education claimed by applicants will be verified upon appointment. If you are using foreign education to meet qualification requirements, you must send a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency with your transcript to receive credit.

Contacts

• Address Fort Harrison Regional Benefit Office 3633 Veterans Dr Ft Harrison, MT 59636-0188 US
• Name: Mindy Marion
• Phone: (303) 236-6184
• Email: [email protected]