This position serves as a Supervisory Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor in the VR&E Division located in the Richmond out-based office through seasoned knowledge, the incumbent provides specific information and comprehensive assistance to veterans, their dependents, and beneficiaries concerning any matter within the scope of VA benefits and related non-VA benefits, including those cases in which issues require advanced technical proficiency.

Duties

The incumbent exercises technical and oversight responsibility for subordinate employees for the VR&E Division.Major Duties/Tasks The principal work duties of VBA SVRCs include oversite of VRCs performing initial evaluation, transferable work skills analysis, employability assessment, entitlement determination, rehabilitation planning, problem solving counselling, adjustment counseling, case documentation, and administration and interpretation of vocational testing when appropriate. Analyzes and interprets laws, regulations, and rules as they affect the establishment of new policies, procedures, and methods of operation. Gathers and interprets a wide range of data addressing service concerns. Further, they can recommend appropriate action based on the data. Interviews claimants in-person or over the telephone and to elicit information essential to resolve a concern or obtain necessary evidence so that a pending claim may be properly adjudicated. Responsible for administrative actions affecting VR&E activity and provides advice, counsel, and instruction to individual employees on both technical and administrative matters. Responsible for personnel administration and actions (e.g., evaluates subordinates' performance, interviews, and makes recommendations for position appointments, promotions, or reassignments; hears and resolves employee and Veteran complaints, effects disciplinary measures, and identifies training needs). The SVRC assists with interviewing and recommending selection of employees to the VR&E Officer. The incumbent is also responsible for training and monitoring performance of employees within the unit. The incumbent prepares performance ratings, resolves disciplinary and performance problems, and assesses the on-going training needs of the employees supervised. Plans team workload, sets and adjusts short-term priorities. Prepares schedules for completion of work; assigns work; evaluates work performance; gives advice, counsels, and/ or instructs employees on both work and administrative matters, interviews candidates for positions in the unit; recommends appointments, promotions, or reassignments; hears and resolves complaints and grievances; recommends awards or bonuses; effects disciplinary measures for minor infractions; recommends other actions in more serious cases. Recommends the use of overtime, training, and travel. Furthers the goals of Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) by taking positive steps to assure the accomplishment of affirmative action objectives, and by adhering to nondiscriminatory employment practices regarding race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, or handicap. Specifically, incumbent initiates nondiscriminatory practices and affirmative action for the area under his/her supervision Plans and assigns work priorities for their subordinates. Responsible for reviewing Quality Assurance files and contributing to the development of reports and papers. Assures all performance goals are achieved and that actions are taken based on these indicators. Assesses office issues, client/organizational needs, and directives. Ensures that professional, technical, and administrative quality/timeliness of service meets both organization goals and cost-effective use of resources to accomplish assigned outcomes Acts as a program consultant to other federal and state rehabilitation agencies. As such, the facilitates operations with universities, community colleges, and vocational/technical institutes within the state. Serves as technical representative in developing, awarding, implementing, and evaluating contracts to provide professional counseling, evaluation, case management, and employment services. Coordinates intra and inter-state transfer of cases and consults with VR&E Officers throughout the field. The SVRC will also carry a caseload Work Schedule: 8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. Compressed/Flexible: Available Telework: Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Position Description/PD#: Supervisory Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor, PD39814A Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not available Financial Disclosure Report: Not required

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 probationary period
• Subject to background/security investigation
• Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process
• If you receive a conditional offer of employment for this position, you will be required to complete an Optional Form 306, Declaration for Federal Employment, and to sign and certify the accuracy of all information in your application.
• You will be required to complete ethics orientation within three months of appointment and submit a Confidential Financial Disclosure Report, OGE-450, within 30 days of appointment.

Qualifications

To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 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 by the closing date of this announcement. For a GS-13 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-12. 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. Note: Time-In-Grade requirements also apply to former Federal employees applying for reinstatement as well as current employees applying for Veterans Employment Opportunities Act of 1998 (VEOA) appointment. 2. INDIVIDUAL OCCUPATIONAL REQUIREMENT - BASIC EDUCATION REQUIREMENT: To be considered for this position, you must meet this basic educational requirement and have one of the following degrees. Your application MUST include a legible transcript (not diploma) stating the degree has been conferred or that you have graduated. Satisfactory completion in an accredited college or university of all the requirements for a master's degree in rehabilitation counseling, including an internship; OR a master's degree in counseling psychology or a related field, including 30 semester hours of course work in 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. Total graduate study must have included or been supplemented by a supervised internship. [For master's degree programs without a supervised internship/practicum, substitution is allowed for successful professional experience following completion of the master's degree. Experience suitable for substitution must be one full year in direct delivery of vocational rehabilitation services to adults with disabilities in rehabilitation programs, other than those in correctional facilities. 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.] 3. MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS REQUIREMENTS: In addition to the time-in-grade and education requirements (above), 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. 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 credited for the Basic Requirement, that year cannot also be used for qualifying at the GS-11 level GS-13 Grade Level: Basic educational requirement AND Specialized Experience: In addition to meeting the Basic educational Requirements stated above, one year of post- graduate level professional vocational rehabilitation counseling experience, equivalent to the GS-12 level is required. Specialized experience: One year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade (GS-12). Specialized experience is defined as one (1) full year of performance of technical assignments affecting the entire field of VA's Vocational Rehabilitation & Employment (VR&E) division. Your resume/application must support your response. To meet the specialized experience, your resume should reflect: Experience in conducting assessments of veterans employability; Involvement in the development of appropriate vocational goals and subsequent objectives outlined in rehabilitation plans; Providing case management services to veterans while pursuing their rehabilitation plans (e.g. personal contact regarding achievement of vocational goals, referral for medical or ancillary services, and responding efficiently to veterans concerns); Experience in training; and understanding and clearly explaining to veterans, the benefits and services available through the VR&E program. 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. 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. Physical Requirements: The work is performed mainly in an office environment with minimal exposure to injury. Frequent mental and visual concentration for computer usage and reading/assimilating technical information and for observing and recognizing behavioral cues. Requires the ability to receive detailed information through verbal and written communication., including active listening for rapport building and counseling. Alternates walking and sitting throughout workday. For more information on these qualification standards, please visit the United States Office of Personnel Management's website at http://://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-standards/.

Education

A transcript must be submitted with your application if you are basing all or part of your qualifications on education.

Note: Only education or degrees recognized by the U.S. Department of Education from accredited colleges, universities, schools, or institutions may be used to qualify for Federal employment. You can verify your education here: http://ope.ed.gov/accreditation/. If you are using foreign education to meet qualification requirements, you must send a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency with your transcript in order to receive credit for that education. For further information, visit: http://www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ous/international/usnei/us/edlite-visitus-forrecog.html

Contacts

• Address Roanoke Regional Benefit Office 210 Franklin Rd, SW Roanoke, VA 24011 US
• Name: Asjiah Fulgham
• Phone: (601) 364-7087
• Email: [email protected]