Supervisory Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor

Duties are divided between counseling duties and case management which include the following but are not limited to:

• Answers technical questions for counselors and support staff in the VR&E Office.
• Manages broad-based and multi-faceted programs through a team of supervisors and team leaders. Typically the VR&E division is comprised of professional administrative technical and clerical staff members ranging in grades up to and including the GS-13.
• Directs and supervises the administration of work involving eligibility criteria vocational exploration conducting assessments of both the local labor market plan development based on appropriate vocational goals examination of medical information making legally binding entitlement decisions award adjustments award authorization and case management services;
• Maintains essential resources for referral for special rehabilitation procedures. Frequent collaboration and referrals are maintained with employers school officials medical and rehabilitation officials contractors state employment service personnel and other community resources.
• Ensures staff responds timely to Congressional White House and other special inquiries concerning VA benefits for Veterans and other claimants.
• Provides advice and recommendations to meet major goals and assists with the assessment of priorities. Makes decisions related to assigning and allocating program resources and directing and reviewing personnel within the assigned staff complement to accomplish the changing initiatives and emphasis established by Central Office program managers. Must be responsive to dynamic nature of Veteran and beneficiary populations and needs within the jurisdictional area. Assists with the development and implementation of plans to meet objectives; monitors progress toward the accomplishment of approved goals and takes steps to overcome any obstacles.
• Provides administrative expertise in all phases of rehabilitation activities including counseling case management rehabilitation plan development and job development and placement. Coordinates and integrates these operations and policies with other divisions agencies employers and rehabilitation facilities. Plans formulates and implements operational procedures and policies to maintain efficient operating performance of professional and support staff.
• 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. The AVREO may review personally the most difficult and complex cases and elements such as fraud high cost programs independent living cases to include home adaptation category one and two self-employment cases re-entrance into a rehabilitation program cases retroactive induction cases and extension of entitlement cases.
• Approves cases involving Clear and Unmistakable Error (CUE) to include cases in which large sums of money may be addition the AVREO oversees employees who do supplemental claim reviews and higher-level reviews procure counseling services and conduct informal hearings.

Work Schedule: Full time Monday through Friday 7:30am-4:00pm
Compressed/Flexible Schedule: Not Available
Telework: This position is eligible for situational (ad hoc) telework only. The selectee is required to report to the official duty station each scheduled workday. Telework may be approved only on a case-by-case basis with supervisory approval. Routine or recurring telework is not authorized for this position.
Virtual: This is not a virtual position
Position Description Title/PD#: Vocational Rehab Counselor; PD# 002760
Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized
Financial Disclosure Report: Not Required
Bargaining Unit: No

As a condition of employment for accepting this position you will be required to serve a 1-year probationary period during which we will evaluate your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public determining if your employment advances the public interest we may consider:

• your performance and conduct;
• the needs and interests of the Agency;
• whether your continued employment would advance organizational goals of the Agency or the Government; and
• whether your continued employment would advance the efficiency of the Federal service.

Upon completion of your probationary period your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification in writing that your continued employment advances the public interest. You may be required to serve a supervisory probationary period.

Additional Conditions of Employment are as follows:

• You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job
• Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959
• You may be required to serve a probationary or trial period
• Selectees are required to service a one-year supervisory probationary period if not previously completed in a Federal position.
• 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 I-9 Acceptable Documents.
• Effective May 7 2025 drivers licenses or state-issued identification cards that are not REAL ID compliant cannot be utilized as an acceptable form of identification for employment.

1. TIME-IN-GRADE REQUIREMENT: As a current Federal GS employee you must meet time-in-grade requirements by the closing date of this announcement.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 this instance you must provide an additional SF-50 that clearly demonstrates one-year time-in-grade.

2. BASIC REQUIREMENTS: To be eligible for this position candidates must meet the following basic requirements:

• Degree: behavioral or social science; or related disciplines appropriate to the position.

OR

• Combination of education and experience that provided the applicant with knowledge of one or more of the behavioral or social sciences equivalent to a major in the field.

OR

• Four years of appropriate experience that demonstrated that the applicant has acquired knowledge of one or more of the behavioral or social sciences equivalent to a major in the field.

Reference: Additional information on the qualification requirements for this position can be located on the OCHCO VA Qualifications Standards website found here.

3. SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE REQUIREMENTS: In addition to the time-in-grade and IOR requirements you must also have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade GS-12.

Specialized Experience: Specialized experience is defined as 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 of the following:

• Conducting assessments of both the local labor market and employability;
• Active involvement in the development of appropriate vocational goals and subsequent objectives outlined in rehabilitation plans
• 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); an
• Written and oral communication skills in explaining the benefits and services available through the rehabilitation program.

Candidates must also have demonstrated in their work experience or training that they possess or have the potential to develop the qualities to successfully supervise subordinates/teams and to share responsibility for directing and supervising the administrative work necessary to manage a successful program operation.

Volunteer Experience: 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.

Full vs. Part-Time Employment: Full-time employment is considered to be at least 35 hours per week. Part-time experience will be credited on a pro-rated basis. Applicants wishing to receive credit for such experience must indicate the nature of their duties and responsibilities in each position and the number of hours a week spent in such employment.

Physical Requirements: The position is primarily in an office setting. Some travel may be necessary on occasion for training meetings or customer interactions.

For more information on these qualification standards please visit the United States Office of Personnel Managements website at http://://