The Vocational Rehabilitation Specialist possesses intensive knowledge of mental and physical disabilities or other handicaps, in terms of the practical effects of such handicaps on work tolerances, motivations, adjustment to training, and difficulty in employment placement. The focus of services will be to promote optimal occupational functioning of Veterans within the community.

Duties

Major Duties: Determining the vocational goals and objectives of the Veteran based on referral from a professional staff member or by interviewing the Veteran; Determining areas of vocational interest, and deciding what services such as job seeking skills training, resume development, or interview skills training the Veteran may require in order to successfully obtain employment; Analyzing mental and physical disabilities or other handicaps, in terms of the practical effects of such handicaps on motivations, adjustment to training, and difficulty in employment placement; Counseling and guiding Veterans through difficult transitions in the adjustment to employment; Helping employers understand the nature of the Veteran's abilities while maintaining a positive impression of the Veteran's capability of success; Approving any significant modifications to the placement contract, evaluating the results of the program, making sound professional arguments for recommended changes, and reporting program progress in accordance with established procedure; Assisting the Veteran to find suitable employment opportunities, monitoring progress, and promoting successful adjustment; Networking with community employers, community agencies, and community businesses with the goal of developing professional relationships with these groups in order to assist program participants in obtaining and maintaining suitable community employment; Performs other duties as assigned. Work Schedule: Monday through Friday: 8:00am to 4:30pm Telework: VA supports the use of telework as a way to help attract and retain talented individuals in public service, increase worker productivity, and better prepare the agency to operate during emergencies. This position may be authorized for telework. Telework eligibility will be discussed during the interview process. Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Position Description/PD#: Vocational Rehabilitation Specialist/PD106990 Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized

Requirements

Qualifications

To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 11/01/2024. 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-11 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-09. 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 the most recent SF-50 has an effective date within the past year, it may not clearly demonstrate you possess one-year time-in-grade, as required by the announcement. In this instance, you must provide an additional SF-50 that clearly demonstrates one-year time-in-grade. You may qualify based on your experience and/or education as described below: Specialized Experience: You must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade GS-09 in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization. Examples of specialized experience would typically include, but are not limited to: providing a wide range of rehabilitation services that meet individual patient's needs; promote recovery from substance abuse, mental illness and homelessness; and enhance independence and community integration including employment, education and job training. OR, Education: Applicants may substitute education for the required experience. To qualify based on education for this grade level you must have successfully completed a Ph. D or equivalent doctoral degree or 3 full years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to such a degree in a major field of study of vocational rehabilitation, vocational or educational counseling, or other fields related to the position, or a LL.M. TRANSCRIPT(S) MUST BE SUBMITTED IF EDUCATION IS BEING USED TO QUALIFY. OR, Combination: Applicants may also combine education and experience to qualify at this level. You will be rated on the following Competencies for this position: Education and TrainingInterpersonal SkillsTechnical CompetenceTherapy and Counseling 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 physical demands of this position are moderate. Although some of the physical work is sedentary, there will be significant local travel for support purposes to potential work locations, community locations, and Veteran work sites. This local travel may involve operating vehicles in inclement weather. The stress related to providing services to Veterans in emotional distress or who may be demanding and uncooperative, can be more significant than that of most sedentary positions. Work is performed in a well-lit and climate-controlled office environment. The Vocational Rehabilitation Specialist may have to occasionally work outside in performing job observations or interventions of Veteran work performance. The nature of the Veterans served may entail some risk of physical harm if they become agitated. For more information on these qualification standards, please visit the United States Office of Personnel Management's website at https://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: https://sites.ed.gov/international/recognition-of-foreign-qualifications/.

Contacts

• Address Bob Stump VA Medical Center 500 Highway 89 North Prescott, AZ 86313 US
• Name: Ian Quentin
• Phone: 928-445-4860 X6720
• Email: [email protected]