Summary

This is an OPEN CONTINUOUS ANNOUNCEMENT. The initial cut-off date for referral of eligible applications will be December 18 - 2025. Eligible applications received after that date will be referred at regular intervals or as additional vacancies occur on an as-needed basis until position is filled.

Qualifications

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: Proficient in spoken and written English as required by 38 U.S.C. 7402(d)
• Education: Individual must meet one of the requirements below: Master's degree in rehabilitation counseling or clinical rehabilitation counseling from a rehabilitation counseling program accredited by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP)
• If the applicant's degree was granted prior to July 1 - 2017 - the program must be accredited by the Council on Rehabilitation Education
• OR Master's degree in counseling or clinical rehabilitation counseling from a college or university accredited by a national or regional accrediting body accredited by Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA)
• OR Master's or doctoral degree in a related field of study with course content that emphasized rehabilitation - counseling - disability - therapy - health - employment - wellness - or human development from a college or university accredited by a national or regional accrediting body accredited by CHEA
• OR Foreign graduates with a degree acceptable by the Commission on Rehabilitation Counselor Certification (CRCC)
• Certification: Must possess a current - full and unrestricted certification as a certified rehabilitation counselor (CRC) from the CRCC to practice vocational rehabilitation counseling Grade Determination: GS-11 Rehabilitation Counselor Experience: Completion of one year of professional experience equivalent to the next lower grade level (GS-09) directly related to the position being filled
• Examples of experience related to the GS-09 grade level includes but not limited to: providing vocational and personal adjustment counseling - case management and transferrable skills analyses to aid Veterans with severe disabilities in pursuit of their self-determined employment - educational and independent living goals
• conduct assessments through record reviews - observations and interviews with Veterans to document personal - vocational and educational histories
• develop and amend patient-centered treatment plans utilizing specific - measurable - agreed upon - realistic and time-based goals
• facilitate job placement for Veterans by teaching valuable job search skills - resume/application development - interview skills and basic computer skills
• and coordinate transportation to interviews/hiring events
• OR Education: A doctoral degree in rehabilitation counselor education or related field (e.g
• rehabilitation psychology) from a CACREP accredited institution or from an institution accredited by a national or regional accrediting body accredited by CHEA
• Demonstrated Knowledge - Skills and Abilities: In addition to the experience or education above - you must demonstrate all the following KSAs clearly in your resume: Knowledge of physical and psychological disabilities - appropriate accommodations and assistive technology principles to mitigate and reduce or eliminate barriers to integrate into the community
• Knowledge of counseling theory - medical and psychiatric terminology and signs and symptomology of suicidal and homicidal ideations - to communicate appropriately with community health care professionals to provide useful input to other team members and employers in relation to the Veteran and/or his/her family's psychosocial needs and to recommend and help implement suitable treatment plans
• Ability to use evidence-based and evidence informed vocational and professional counseling practices to include individual placement and support (IPS) - customized employment and supported employment models and motivational interviewing skills to promote self-awareness - adjustment to disability - enhanced job retention and successful integration to the community
• Knowledge of career development processes and job analysis methodology to determine essential functions of jobs - worksite modifications and/or alternative vocational goals given the work history and residual functional capacities of individuals with disabilities
• Ability to administer and interpret a wide variety of assessment methods including transferrable skills and labor market analyses to evaluate for individual interests - aptitudes and abilities and to identify suitable vocational goals for the development of an effective individual service delivery plan
• Knowledge of marketing strategies to develop collaborative partnerships/Memorandums of Agreement within VA and local business community to enhance employment and/or work opportunities
• Knowledge of military lifestyle - specific factors - and dynamics associated with Veterans - particularly combat Veterans - to assist those who are returning to community and community based-work
• Preferred Experience: MS in Rehabilitation Counseling and experience in rehabilitation counseling
• At least one year of experience working in the Vocational Rehabilitation field
• Previous experience working with Veterans
• Reference: For more information on this qualification standard - please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/
• The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-11
• The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is GS-11
• Physical Requirements: The physical demands of this position involve primarily walking - sitting - talking - driving - use of the telephone - etc
• Strenuous physical activity is not required although the incumbent is expected to withstand pressure and stress as part of their day-to-day activities
• There is ongoing exposure to individuals having psychiatric and physical illness and disabilities
• These include violent or aggressive behavior and chronic psychiatric and medical problems
• Light lifting - under 15 pounds - Light carrying - under 15 pounds - Hearing (aid permitted).

Duties

• Duties - include but not limited to: Provides personal adjustment counseling - therapeutic rehabilitation interventions - and case coordination services
• Uses evidence-informed and evidence-based modalities to aid Veterans with severe disabilities - such as physical - psychosocial - psychological - or neurological barriers - integrate successfully into the community
• Serves Veterans who have myriad barriers to overcome and achieve competitive employment - educational - and independent living goals
• Uses effective counseling skills to promote self-awareness - adjustment to disability - enhanced job retention and successful integration to the community
• Conducts psychosocial assessments using medical records - pertinent disability documentation - observation and interviews with Veterans and their support systems to generate personal - vocational - and educational histories
• Selects - administers - and interprets vocational and other psychometric instruments to evaluate abilities - transferrable skills - functional capacity - labor market analyses - aptitudes - interests - values - preferences - and overall work resilience and synthesize into an interpretive data report
• Administers Measurement Based Care instrument to track progress throughout treatment and adjust goals and services as needed
• Consults with interdisciplinary teams to enhance coordination of care - ensure medical clearance - and provide for optimal timing of further interventions
• Develop patient-centered treatment plans utilizing Specific - Measurable - Agreed upon - Realistic - and Time-based (SMART) goals and provides ongoing assessment of Veteran's progress
• Procures and manages transitional work agreements from community - state - and federal agencies
• Monitors worksite compliance with agreements to ensure Veterans are appropriately trained and evaluated consistent with industry standards
• Provides psychoeducational and/or psychotherapeutic groups to facilitate effective job search skills - employer-desired soft skills - work and life skills fostering independence and recovery
• Provides disability education and program-specific training to staff and stakeholders
• Provides professional recommendations and guidance regarding the career development processes and job analysis methodology to determine essential functions of jobs - worksite modifications and/or alternative vocational goals given the work history and residual functional capacities of individuals with disabilities
• Work Schedule: Monday-Friday - 8:00am-4:30pm Telework: Ad-Hoc - to be determined by the service line
• Virtual: This is not a virtual position
• Functional Statement #: 54381F Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized