This position is in the Veteran Readiness and Employment (VRE) Division of the VBA Regional Office. The position supervises VR&E staff and is responsible for the administration and workflow of the division. The incumbent exercises technical and oversight responsibility for subordinate employees for the VR&E Division.

Duties

Major duties and responsibilities include, but are not limited to: This position is in the Veteran Readiness and Employment (VRE) Division. The Supervisory Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor (SVRC) is responsible for the administration and workload management of the VRE Division, to assure that performance goals in the areas of timeliness, accuracy, cost, customer satisfaction and employee development are achieved. The SVRC will assist in serving as a professional consultant and expert in conducting, administering, and advising in the areas of education, psychology testing and evaluation, counseling, rehabilitation, job accommodation, and placement for the professional counseling staff. The SVRC has a familiarity with all phases of the VRE Division to interview claimants' in-person or over the telephone and to elicit information essential to resolve concerns or obtain necessary evidence so claims may be properly adjudicated for disabled Veterans receiving Veterans Administration (VA) benefits. The incumbent will provide administrative and technical supervision necessary for accomplishing the work of the VRE Division. Responsible for interviewing and recommending the selection of employees to the VR&E Officer. Is also responsible for training and monitoring the performance of employees within the unit. Prepares performance ratings, assists in preparing division reports, resolves disciplinary and performance problems, and assesses the ongoing training needs of the employees supervised at the out-based locations. Reviews and provides consultation and supervision regarding the most difficult cases, using expertise, training, and experience beyond the journeyman level of line VR&E Counselors. This also includes broad expertise of divisional operations to provide supervision and management of the employment coordinator and program specialist positions. The incumbent acts as a program consultant to other federal and state rehabilitation agencies to coordinate services. The incumbent is also responsible for the cost-effective use of resources to accomplish the VRE's assigned outcomes. The incumbent can monitor the Systematic Technical Accuracy Reviews (STAR) both local and national and administer the appropriate training to the division. As such, the incumbent facilitates operations with major public and private universities, community colleges, and vocational/technical institutes in the state to resolve training issues. The SVRC will serve as the first-line supervisor of VRE staff at out based locations and within the Regional Office. The SVRC is responsible for the administration and workload management of the VRE Division, to assure that all performance goals in the areas of timeliness, accuracy, cost, customer satisfaction, and employee development are achieved. Also assures that actions are taken to achieve appropriate goals for the division based on these indicators. This would include assessment of office problems, client and organizational need, and directives. Provides quality assurance, contributing to the development of reports, such as Strategic Oversight and Analysis Review (SOAR) quarterly reports, congressional and AVA inquiries, and white papers. The SVRC is supervised and accountable to the VR&E Officer, with consultation of the Assistant VR&E Officer. Collects data and prepares accurate reports and analysis as required by the VR&E Officer, including systematic analysis of operations reports (SAOR's) and reports on special projects. Identifies and recommends to the VR&E Officer changes needed for improvement of operations or service and acts as directed. The supervisor has a familiarity with all phases of the VRE division to interview 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. Provides technical support and supervision as needed for accomplishing the work of the unit. Analyzes, interprets, and managerially enforces the application of laws, regulations, and rules as they affect policies, procedures, and methods of operations. Also performs administrative and personnel management functions relative to staff supervised as directed. Promotion Potential: None - selection is at the full performance level. Work Schedule: Full-time, Monday through Friday Compressed/Flexible: Available Remote: This is not a remote position. Telework: Authorized Position Description/PD#: 39814A Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not authorized Bargaining Unit Position: No Financial Disclosure Report: Not required Promotion Potential: None, this position is at full performance level (FPL).

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

Qualifications

To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 10/09/2024. 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-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. BASIC REQUIREMENT: 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 education 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 Experience: One-year post-master's degree experience in direct delivery of professional vocational rehabilitation services to individuals with disabilities. In addition to meeting the basic requirement above, to qualify for this position you must also meet the qualification requirements listed below: MINIMUM QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENT: You may qualify based on your experience as described below: Specialized Experiences: You must have 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 experience in Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment programs. Examples of specialized experience would typically include: 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. Your resume/application must support your response. To meet the specialized experience, your resume should reflect experience that has provided a thorough knowledge of general laws affecting Veterans and/or people with disabilities testing and evaluation, rehabilitation, job development and job placement and a full and complete knowledge of Chapters 18, 30, 31, 34, and 35 of Title 38, USC. Documented specialized experience will illustrate the ability to conduct, administer and advise in areas of education, training, counseling, and psychology affecting the entire field of VA's VRE program. There is no educational substitution for Specialized Experience at this grade level. 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. Physical Requirements: The work is primarily sedentary. Work may also require walking and standing in conjunction with travel to and attendance at meetings. The work does not require any special physical effort. 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

If you are claiming education as any part of your qualifications for this position, you must submit an official transcript, unofficial transcript, or a list including courses, grades earned, completion dates, and quarter and semester hours earned.

Equivalent combinations of Specialized Experience and Graduate Education: Only graduate education in excess of the amount required for the next lower grade level may be used to qualify applicants for positions at grades GS-9 and GS-10. Graduate-level education must demonstrate the competencies necessary to do the work of the position. 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; religious; 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.

Special Instructions for Foreign Education: If you are using education completed in foreign colleges or universities to meet the qualification requirements, you must show that the education credentials have been evaluated by a private organization that specializes in the interpretation of foreign education programs and such education has been deemed equivalent to that gained in an accredited U.S. education program; or full credit has been given for the courses at a U.S. accredited college or university. Failure to provide such documentation with your application will result in lost consideration. For further information, visit https://sites.ed.gov/international/recognition-of-foreign-qualifications/.

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 Columbia Regional Benefit Office 6437 Garners Ferry Rd Columbia, SC 29209 US
• Name: Christina Farrell
• Phone: 601-364-7271
• Email: [email protected]