Summary This position is located within the Vocational Rehabilitation Program, Mental Health Service Line at the Oscar J. Johnson, VA Medical Center. The primary functions of the Vocational Rehabilitation Specialist in the total vocational rehabilitation process are to find and provide suitable training and placement services for the individual served by the rehabilitation program, and to supervise the individual and follow through during the period of the Veteran's training and job adjustment. Responsibilities The primary functions of the Vocational Rehabilitation Specialist in the total vocational rehabilitation process are to find and provide suitable training and placement services for the individual served by the rehabilitation program, and to supervise the individual and follow through during the period of the Veteran's training and job adjustment. Major Duties Include: Vocational and Training Needs 25%: Based on referrals from professional staff members in conjunction with interviewing the Veteran, the VRS assists the Veteran in the development of vocational goals and objectives that are in line with their individual interests, aptitudes, and objectives. The VRS is expected to recognize and determine the extent of need and the Veteran's work capacity, as well as identify strengths that facilitate the development and pursuit of short and long term vocational objectives. Providing training services involves ascertaining the training requirements to meet the training objective; coordinating with various resources in finding, evaluating, and selecting a training facility/program that will be specifically suitable from the standpoint of the particular needs and problems of the individual. Determinations require the VRS to analyze mental and physical disabilities and other barriers in terms of the practical effects of such impairments on the Veteran's motivation, training, placement, or adjustment. The VRS counsels and guides program participants through new employment, difficult transitions, and adjustments in the employment process. The VRS may provide various levels of intervention when assisting the program participant in conducting a comprehensive job search. The VRS will provide ongoing support and guidance to the Veteran throughout all stages of the vocational process, including assistance and encouragement with job searching, submitting resumes, completing applications, job interview preparation, and employment retention. Job Development / Community Networking: Maintains awareness of and fosters community contacts. Keeps alert for job and small business opportunities. Maintains day-to-day contact with potential employers, placement personnel, community resources, and other likely placement resources. Pursues and maintains employer contacts based on individual client interests. Assists Veterans in making contact with employers/jobs within a short time period of meeting the client. Assists Veterans in contacting benefits agencies to facilitate benefits counseling. Networks in the local community with businesses and employers. Pursues employment contacts and facilitates relationships between Veterans and employers. Coordinates with various resources to locate competitive employment in the community that will be specifically suitable from the standpoint of the particular needs and interests of the Veteran. The VRS will assist the Veteran in networking with contacts within the community. Employment Retention 25% Works directly with employers and Veterans to facilitate relationships that enhance the client's job satisfaction and build natural supports in the workplace. Negotiates with employers to assist Veteran in obtaining reasonable work accommodations to meet the Veteran's needs based on worksite analysis performed. Troubleshoots problems in the workplace that may require the VRS to support the client through a situation related to work performance and or co-worker/supervisor relationships. Develops, maintains, and nurtures positive employer relationships. Monitors Client's Adjustment 25% The VRS helps, counsels, and guides the individual over the rough spots in his adjustment to the job or while in training; helps the employer or training facility to understand the nature of the individual's disability without at the same time jeopardizing the individual's position as an able rather than disabled worker; and particularly recognizes when complications in the individual's adjustment are serious enough to merit the attention of one or more of the team of professional specialists, e.g., psychologist, social worker The VRS will continue to work with the interdisciplinary team as the Veteran progresses in their job search. The team will work collaboratively to ensure that the Veteran's needs are being met, and to minimize any possible negative consequences. Performs other related duties as assigned. Work Schedule: Full-time, Monday-Friday 8:00 am-4:30 pm Financial Disclosure Report: Not required Relocation Expenses: Not authorized Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not authorized Telework: As Per Current Policy (This is not a virtual position.) Physical Requirements: The work is primarily sedentary. Physical demands do not exceed those of a typical office setting. There may be some walking, standing, twisting, turning, sitting, pushing, bending, repetitive keyboarding, or carrying of light items. Requirements Conditions of Employment You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job All applicants tentatively selected for VA employment in a testing designated position are subject to urinalysis to screen for illegal drug use prior to appointment. Applicants who refuse to be tested will be denied employment with VA. Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959 You may be required to serve a probationary/trial period Subject to background/security investigation Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process. Acceptable form(s) of identification will be required to complete pre-employment requirements (https://www.uscis.gov/i-9-central/form-i-9-acceptable-documents). Effective May 7, 2025, driver's licenses or state-issued dentification cards that are not REAL ID compliant cannot be utilized as an acceptable form of identification for employment. Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP) Qualifications To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement. Basic Requirements: United States Citizenship: Non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy. English Language Proficiency: Candidates must be proficient in spoken and written English to be appointed as authorized by 38 U.S.C. § 7403(f). Education: Undergraduate and Graduate Education: Major study - vocational rehabilitation, vocational or educational counseling, or other fields related to the position. Certification: Current, full and unrestricted certification as a certified rehabilitation counselor (CRC) from the CRCC to practice vocational rehabilitation counseling. Exception for Graduate RCs: RC graduates from an approved counseling or rehabilitation counseling program who otherwise meet the basic qualification requirements and the additional degree requirements for CRC certification by the CRCC, but do not possess the required certification, may be appointed, pending certification, as a graduate RC on a full-time temporary appointment not-to-exceed two years under the authority of 38 U.S.C. § 7405(a)(1)(D). 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- 7 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-5 grade 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 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. Specialized Experience GS-7: Applicants must have one (1) full year of specialized experience that equipped you with the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform successfully the duties of the Vocational Rehabilitation Specialist at the GS-7 level. To be creditable, this experience must have been equivalent to at least the GS-05 level in Federal service. Specialized experience related to this position includes demonstrated knowledge and experience in working with persons including counseling, training and placement of individuals with physical, psychological and social needs; knowledge of theories, principles, concepts and methodologies of vocational rehabilitation; ability to work with individuals with mental illness and/or physical disabilities; ability to communicate in writing to prepare emails, letters, and reports; and communication and interpersonal relations skills which have demonstrated the ability to communicate to a diverse group of individual with varying levels of understanding. OR Substitution of Education for Specialized Experience - GS-7: One (1) full year of graduate level education or superior academic achievement. Such education must be in a major field of study such as Vocational Rehabilitation, Vocational or Educational Counseling, or other fields related to the position and must demonstrate the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work of the position. Superior Academic Achievement is based on class standing, grade-point average, or honor society membership. Class Standing - Applicants must be in the upper third of the graduating class in the college, university or major subdivision, such as the College of Liberal Arts or the School of Business Administration, based on completed courses. Grade-point Average - Applicants must have a grade point average of 3.0 or higher out of a possible 4.0 as recorded on their official transcript, or as computed based on 4 years of education, or as computed based on courses completed during the final 2 years of curriculum; or 3.5 or higher out of a possible 4.0 based on the average of the required courses completed in the major field or the required courses in the major filed completed during the final 2 years of the curriculum. Election to membership in a National Scholastic Honor Society - Applicants can be considered eligible based on membership in one of the national scholastic honor societies listed by the Association of College Honor Societies. Transcripts Required OR Combining Specialized Experience and Education - GS-7 - Equivalent combinations of experience and education are qualifying for this position. Transcripts Required. Specialized Experience GS-9: Applicants must have one (1) full year of specialized experience that equipped you with the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform successfully the duties of the Vocational Rehabilitation Specialist at the GS-9 level. To be creditable, this experience must have been equivalent to at least the GS-07 level in Federal service. Examples of specialized experience include (but are not limited to): Skill in providing rehabilitation, training and placement for individuals with physical, psychological and social needs; knowledge of theories, principles, concepts and methodologies of vocational rehabilitation; provides personal adjustment and problem-solving counseling; knowledge of training concepts and working knowledge of the purposes and services of various professional and technical specialists involved in the rehabilitation process; works with individuals with mental illness and/or physical disabilities; develops and formulates special treatment plans and techniques and establishes work effectiveness criteria and evaluation methods; skill in using software applications such as word processing, database, and internet applications for data entry, management, data retrieval and analysis; skill in the use of MS Excel and PowerPoint to develop and change spreadsheets, provide reports, and presentation materials; and ability to communicate in writing to prepare emails, letters, and reports. OR Substitution of Education for Specialized Experience - GS-9: A master's or equivalent graduate degree or two (2) full years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to such a degree. Education must be in a major field of study such as Vocational Rehabilitation, Vocational or Educational Counseling, or other fields related to the position. Transcripts Required. OR Combining Specialized Experience and Education - GS-9 - Equivalent combinations of experience and education are qualifying for this position. Transcripts Required. 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. You will be rated on the following Competencies for this position: Interpersonal Skills Partnering Technical Competence Therapy 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. 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: http://www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ous/international/usnei/us/edlite-visitus-forrecog.html .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/. 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 Additional Information This occupation is being considered for a Veterans Health Administration enterprise-wide Critical Skills Incentive (CSI). Candidates may be eligible for a lump sum CSI. The amount of lump sum CSI is determined based on appointment date and may be pro-rated as determined by the end date of the CSI. Eligible candidates will be required to sign a service agreement agreeing to an obligated service period and failure to complete the obligated service period may result in a debt for the unearned portion of the CSI. This occupation is currently approved for a Veterans Health Administration enterprise-wide Critical Skills Incentive through [insert date]. Candidates may be eligible for a lump sum CSI for a pro-rated amount if onboard prior to the CSI expiration date. Eligible candidates will be required to sign a service agreement agreeing to an obligated service period and failure to complete the obligated service period may result in a debt for the unearned portion of the CSI. Receiving Service Credit or Earning Annual (Vacation) Leave: Federal Employees earn annual leave at a rate (4, 6 or 8 hours per pay period) which is based on the number of years they have served as a Federal employee. Selected applicants may qualify for credit toward annual leave accrual, based on prior work experience or military service experience. This credited service can be used in determining the rate at which they earn annual leave. Such credit must be requested and approved prior to the appointment date and is not guaranteed. This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies. If you are unable to apply online or need an alternate method to submit documents, please reach out to the Agency Contact listed in this Job Opportunity Announcement. Under the Fair Chance to Compete Act, the Department of Veterans Affairs prohibits requesting an applicant's criminal history prior to accepting a tentative job offer. For more information about the Act and the complaint process, visit Human Resources and Administration/Operations, Security, and Preparedness (HRA/OSP) at The Fair Chance Act.
