The Assistant Veteran Readiness and Employment Officer (AVREO) supports the VREO manage and operate the VR&E Division. The AVREO provides leadership and direction to the VR&E staff and coordinates activities with other divisions in the Regional Office and the VA Medical Centers.

Duties

The incumbent performs, but is not limited to, the following duties: Assists the VREO and manages broad-based and multi-faceted programs through a team of supervisors and team leaders Make decisions including basic eligibility for programs administered by the VR&E Maintains essential resources for referral for special rehabilitation procedures Provides advice and recommendations to meet major goals and assists with the assessment of priorities Provides administrative expertise in all phases of rehabilitation activities, including counseling, case management, rehabilitation plan development, and job development and placement Plans, formulates, and implements operational procedures and policies to maintain efficient operating performance of professional and support staff Provides internal policy direction and supervision of the RO VR&E staff through on- site visits and inspections, review, and analysis of standard or specifically requested data and individualized or telephonic and written communication Assumes final responsibility for proper interpretation and uniform application of laws, regulations, and instructions in conformance with mandatory policies, procedures, and practices, reconciling divergent opinions Assists the VREO as a member of the Director's staff and keeps the Director updated on critical matters Ensures staff responds timely to Congressional, White House and other special inquiries concerning VA benefits for Veterans and other claimants is another responsibility of the AVREO and VREO Gives advice, counsel, or instruction to individual employees on both work and administrative matters. In addition, the AVREO hears and resolves complaints from employees Interviews and selects of candidates for appointment, promotion or reassignment are responsibilities of the AVREO Responsible for ensuring disciplinary actions are properly taken and employees are properly rewarded Ensures performance plans for all VR&E employees are properly created and utilized. Understands and is sensitive to the objectives of the EEO program and promotes workforce diversity through recruitment, coaching, and developmental activities, consistent with the merit system principles Serves as a Regional Office consultant and expert on employment issues for Veterans with disabilities Responsible for maintaining effective communication and working relationship with labor representatives Work Schedule: 7:30 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. Compressed/Flexible: Available Telework: Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Position Description/PD#: Supervisory Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor/ 39403A Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Relocation expenses are authorized for this position. Relocation incentive may be authorized up to $15,000. Financial Disclosure Report: 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. This Position Is Approved for the Buyer Value Offer (BVO) Program. Please go to the website http://vaww.fscdirect.fsc.va.gov/pcs.asp to review the details of the BVO Program (BVO does not include buying a selectee's home).

Requirements

• You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job
• Designated and/or random drug testing may be required
• Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959
• You may be required to serve a probationary period
• Subject to background/security investigation
• Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process
• RELOCATION INCENTIVE of $15,000 AND PCS (BVO) Relocation Expenses are ONLY authorized for selectee/s choosing to physically relocate to the Official Duty location of San Antonio, TX.
• Must sign a written agreement to complete 36 months of employment, commencing upon physical relocation and establishment of residence in the San Antonio, TX geographical location.

Qualifications

To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 03/26/2024. 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-14 position you must have served 52 weeks at the 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. 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. Applicant must provide a copy of most recent SF-50, "Notification of Personnel Action" showing that you are in the competitive service and the highest grade or promotion potential held. If the most recent SF-50 has an effective date within the past year, it may not clearly demonstrate that the applicant possesses (1) year time-in-grade, as required by the announcement. In this instance, the applicant must provide an additional SF-50 that clearly demonstrates (1) year time-in-grade. General Adjustment and Award SF-50's cannot be used for time-in-grade verification purposes. You may qualify based on your experience and/or education as described below: BASIC EDUCATIONAL REQUIREMENT: This position does have an IOR (Individual Occupational Requirement) that must be met in addition to the Time-in Grade and regular Specialized Experience qualifications. To qualify for this position, you must have the education listed below: 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. Applicant's degree program must have included a supervised internship in vocational rehabilitation counseling. For programs without the required internship, applicant may substitute one year of post-degree work delivering vocational rehabilitation services to adults with disabilities in rehabilitation programs (other than those in correctional facilities). NON QUALIFYING EXPERIENCE: Vocational rehabilitation experience obtained prior to completion of the requirements for the master's degree is not qualifying. There is no substitution of work experience for the basic educational requirement. GS-14: 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-13 level is required. Specialized experience includes documented experience that has provided an advanced and detailed knowledge of Vocational Rehabilitation programs. Specifically, an in-depth knowledge of testing and evaluation, rehabilitation, job development and job placement, and demonstrated comprehensive experience in ALL the following: 1) Conducting assessments of both the local labor market, and employability. 2) Active involvement in the development of appropriate vocational goals and subsequent objectives outlined in rehabilitation plans. 3) Providing case management services to customers while pursuing their rehabilitation plans (e.g., personal contact regarding achievement of vocational goals, referral for medical or ancillary services, and responding efficiently to rehabilitation concerns); and 4) Written and oral communication skills in explaining the benefits and services available through the rehabilitation program. Supervisory/Managerial Abilities: 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. Supervised Internship - you must describe the duties and responsibilities performed during your supervised internship. Include the dates of the internship(s), where the internship(s) was performed, number of hours completed, and the name/title/phone number of the individual that supervised your internship. Awarded/Conferred Master's Degree is required and must be reflected on transcripts. Transcripts (unofficial and/or official) must show evidence of a supervised internship and must also show that the degree has been awarded/conferred and the date awarded. Physical Requirements: The work is primarily sedentary although some slight physical effort may be required. You may qualify based on your experience and/or education as described below: 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

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 Houston Regional Benefit Office 6900 Almeda Rd Houston, TX 77030 US
• Name: Elena Kabanova
• Phone: 601-364-7271
• Email: [email protected]