The Vocational Rehabilitation Counselors (VRCs) are 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) military installations. VRCs in the VBA provide and coordinate a wide range of rehabilitation counseling and case management services to veterans with service-connected disabilities and other eligible individuals.

Duties

Vocational Rehabilitation Counselors (VRCs) provide and coordinate a wide range of rehabilitation, counseling, and case management services to disabled Veterans and other eligible individuals. The purpose, objectives, services, and outcomes are developed by the VRC during the evaluation. The program's primary focus will be on helping the veteran find work and set goals and objectives to help them become more independent in their daily lives. Perform initial rehabilitation evaluations, entitlement assessments, rehabilitation planning, problem-solving and adjustment counseling, case management, including the coordination of all rehabilitation services, case documentation, employment services, and, as necessary, the administration and interpretation of vocation testing. Provide services for employer consultation, employment development and placement, career counseling, and vocational planning and assessment. Combine data from diagnostic tests and medical records to give a comprehensive picture of strengths, weaknesses, capabilities, and interests to help Veterans and Service members find suitable employment and/or increase independence in daily living. Partner with Vet Centers, career centers, local Disabled Veterans' Outreach Program Specialists, Local Veterans' Employment Representatives, VA employment programs, and others to provide job search and placement services. Provide information and assistance with the VR&E program through individual and group sessions. Conduct counseling using a variety of approaches, including Tele- counseling, depending on the needs of the Veteran. Partners with administrators at schools, Vet Centers, military bases, and federal, state, and local agencies to determine the individual needs of service members and Veterans and to provide the essential assistance. Promotion Potential: The selectee may be promoted to the full performance level without further competition when all regulatory, qualification, and performance requirements are met. Selection at a lower grade level does not guarantee promotion to the full performance level. The grade progression for this position is: GS-09/11/12. Work Schedule: Standard 5 day, 8 hours, Full time, Monday through Friday; Hours may vary to effectively carry out the mission. Compressed/Flexible Schedule: May be available per local agency guidelines Telework: Yes, per Agency guidelines. This is not a remote position. Virtual: This is not a virtual position Position Description Title/PD#: Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor; GS-9 38544A, GS-11 38543A, GS-12 38542A Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized

Requirements

• You must be a U.S. citizen to apply for this job.
• Selectees are subject to a background/suitability investigation.
• Selective Service registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959.
• A probationary period may be required for employees and supervisors.
• 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.
• The salary range indicated will be adjusted to include locality for selected duty location. Locality pay tables may be found at https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/pay-leave/salaries-wages/2023/general-schedule

Qualifications

Specialized Experience: To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements [Basic educational requirement, internship requirements, specialized experience and Time in Grade requirements] by the closing date of this announcement, 08/30/2023. 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 by the closing date of this announcement. For a GS-09 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-07 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 facility employee seeking reassignment or change to a lower grade via this vacancy announcement, you must currently hold the GS-09 (or higher) and the promotion potential of your current position must be at least GS-12. 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. Education. Successful completion of a master's degree (or higher) in rehabilitation counseling, rehabilitation services, clinical rehabilitation counseling, counseling psychology, mental health counseling, career counseling or social work from an accredited college or university. Internship or Experience Requirement. The required (1) supervised internship or (2) post-master's degree experience is described as follows: (1) Supervised Internship: The master's degree must have included a supervised internship in rehabilitation counseling or case management specialization. The internship must have been supervised by a professional in vocational rehabilitation or a closely related professional field that typically has oversight for vocational rehabilitation programs. OR (2) Experience: One-year post-master's degree experience in direct delivery of professional vocational rehabilitation services to individuals with disabilities. Grandfathering Provision. VRCs employed in VBA on the effective date of this qualification standard (July 28, 2023) are considered to have met all qualification requirements for the title, series and grade held, including certifications that are part of the basic requirements of the occupation. For employees who do not meet all the basic requirements in this standard but met the qualifications applicable to the position at the time they were appointed, the following provisions apply: (1) VRCs who are grandfathered into the GS-0101 occupational series may be reassigned, promoted up to and including the full performance level of a career ladder or changed to a lower grade within the occupation or placed in a supervisory or managerial position. (2) VRCs who are appointed on a temporary basis prior to the effective date of this qualification standard may not be extended or reappointed on a temporary or permanent basis until they fully meet the basic requirements of this standard. (3) If VRCs who are grandfathered under this provision leave the occupation, they lose protected status and must meet the full qualification standard requirements in effect at the time of re-entry to the occupation. Creditable Experience. Creditable experience required the use of Knowledge Skills and Abilities (KSAs) associated with current professional vocational rehabilitation counseling practices. Creditable experience can be obtained through employment as a VRC. This may be demonstrated by providing direct rehabilitation counseling services to individuals with disabilities in the context of a professional counseling relationship, which may include vocational rehabilitation and personal adjustment counseling, case management, assessment, or rehabilitation, training and employment services coordination.Creditable experience must have been obtained post-graduate and be directly related to the duties to be performed to qualify to work as a professional VRC. 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. GS-09 Grade Level: There are no additional qualification requirements at this grade level. You must meet the Individual Occupational Requirements (basic educational requirements) documented above. 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: 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 the workday.

Education

This position requires specific coursework and/or a degree to meet the basic education requirement. You must submit a legible transcript, to include courses, grades earned, completion dates, and quarter and semester hours earned. Your transcript(s) must clearly demonstrate the course(s) listed in the qualification requirement section. If the transcript(s) does not clearly demonstrate this you must submit a copy of the course description and/or other documentation demonstrating that the courses are equivalent.

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 Providence Regional Benefit Office 380 Westminster Street Providence, RI 02903 US
• Name: Mark Abecia
• Phone: 515-323-7575
• Email: [email protected]