As a Supervisory Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor you will oversee a team of Vocational Rehabilitation Counselors (VRCs) and 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.

Duties

Directs the Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment (VRE) Program, which performs technical, administrative, and professional work. Serves as the Regional Office's professional and technical expert in conducting, administering, and advising in the areas of education, training, testing, evaluation, counseling, rehabilitation, psychology, job development, job placement, and entitlement. Provides administrative and technical direction and professional leadership to a professional and technical staff of Counseling Psychologists, Rehabilitation Counselors, Vocational Rehabilitation Specialist, Employment/Program Specialist, an support staff as well as providing oversight of contractors. Oversees a team of Vocational Rehabilitation Counselors (VRCs) and 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-and 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 that his/her 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 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 Regional Office Director's full-time assistant, the Assistant Director, who is authorized, a clear line of authority. Directs the Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment Program, which encompasses between 1,650 and 1,700 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 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 Regional Office mission and objectives are accomplished. Meets with senior managers at the Regional Office, State or Labor representative, 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 psychologist, 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-and 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. Taking 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.

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.
• Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process.
• 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.
• Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
• Remote: This is not a remote position.
• A $25,000 relocation incentive, paid up front as one lump sum. This will require a 3 year service agreement for the incumbent remaining in the same position in the same geographical location as hired.

Qualifications

Basic Requirement: This position has a Basic Requirement which requires candidates must meet the following Basic Education Requirement, Combination of education and experience or Experience Requirement listed below: A. 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. B. Internship or Experience Requirement: The required (1) supervised internship or (2) post-master's degree experience is described as follows: (1) Supervised Internship:The education listed above 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. In addition to the Basic Requirement, you must meet the Specialized Experience. Specialized Experience: To qualify for the Supervisory Vocational Rehab Counselor, GS-0101-14 position, you must have at least one 1 year (52 weeks) of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade level (GS-13) in the Federal service. Specialized Experience is defined as: Expertise with employment and vocational rehabilitation programs; Possessing knowledge and expertise in the procedures for vocational and rehabilitation law; The expertise to administer and counsel in the areas of counseling, rehabilitation, psychology, career development, and job placement entitlements; The expertise to control budgetary resources for approving and monitoring financial expenditures. Time-in-grade: Applicants who are/were 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-14 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-13 level. To support your claim of time in grade, you must submit your most recent appointment, promotion, or within grade increase SF-50 (not an award or general adjustment SF-50). Some applicants may have to submit more than one SF-50 to demonstrate their eligibility. See the required documents section for more information. Note: 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. Note: A full year of work is considered to be 35-40 hours of work per week. Part-time experience will be credited on the basis of time actually spent in appropriate activities. Applicants wishing to receive credit for such experience must indicate clearly the nature of their duties and responsibilities in each position and the number of hours a week spent in such employment. 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.

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. 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.

Contacts

• Address Indianapolis Regional Benefit Office 575 N Pennsylvania St Indianapolis, IN 46204 US
• Name: Kevin Providence
• Phone: (313) 596-7207
• Email: [email protected]