Supervisory Vocational Rehab Counselor - AVREO

Veterans Benefits Administration•Washington, DC

10h•Onsite

About The Position

The Supervisory Vocational Rehab Counselor serves as the Assistant Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment Officer (AVREO) for the Veterans Benefits Administration. The AVREO assists the VREO and manages broad, multifaceted Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment (VR&E) programs through a team of supervisors and team leaders. The VR&E division typically includes professional, administrative, technical, and clerical staff up to and including GS-13. The position directs and supervises work involving program eligibility, vocational exploration, assessments of local labor markets, development of plans based on vocational goals, review of medical information, entitlement decisions, award adjustments and authorizations, and case management. Acting under delegated authority from the VREO, the AVREO makes decisions including basic eligibility determinations for VR&E programs. The role also oversees purchases made through the VISA Purchase Card program and maintains referral resources for specialized rehabilitation procedures. The AVREO collaborates with employers, school officials, medical and rehabilitation officials, contractors, state employment service personnel, and other community resources. The role provides advice and recommendations on program goals and priorities; assigns and allocates resources; directs and reviews personnel; develops and implements plans; monitors progress; and addresses obstacles. It provides administrative expertise across counseling, case management, rehabilitation planning, and job development and placement, while coordinating operations and policies with other divisions, agencies, employers, and rehabilitation facilities. The position plans and implements operating procedures and policies, provides internal policy direction and supervision through visits, inspections, data reviews, and communications, and ensures consistent interpretation and application of laws, regulations, and instructions. The AVREO may personally review complex cases, including fraud, high-cost programs, independent living, re-entry, retroactive induction, and entitlement extensions; approves Clear and Unmistakable Error cases; and oversees supplemental claim reviews, higher-level reviews, counseling-service procurement, and formal hearings. The role is also responsible for claims-file and eFolder maintenance and operations, timely transfer of claims to scanning vendors, and management and control of award-payment and other data inputs. This is a full-performance-level GS-14 position with no promotion potential. The work schedule is Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. The position is eligible for situational (ad hoc) telework only, subject to supervisory approval; routine or recurring telework is not authorized, and the employee must report to the official duty station each scheduled workday. The work is sedentary, with occasional walking, standing, bending, carrying light items, or driving; no special physical demands are required. A one-year probationary period is required, along with a one-year supervisory probationary period if not previously completed in a Federal position. A Confidential Financial Disclosure Report (OGE-450) is required before entering on duty and annually thereafter.

Requirements

Meet the basic requirements for the 0101 series through a degree in behavioral or social science or a related discipline; an equivalent combination of education and experience; or four years of appropriate experience demonstrating equivalent knowledge.
Have specialized experience in Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment programs, including expertise in employment and vocational rehabilitation programs; vocational rehabilitation law and procedures; counseling, rehabilitation, psychology, career development, and job-placement entitlements; and control of budgetary resources for approving and monitoring expenditures.
For GS-14 qualification as a current Federal GS employee, meet the time-in-grade requirement of 52 weeks at GS-13 by the announcement closing date.
Be a U.S. citizen.
Meet Selective Service registration requirements, if applicable.
Serve a one-year probationary period and, if not previously completed in a Federal position, a one-year supervisory probationary period.
Complete required background/security investigation, onboarding, and employment-eligibility identification requirements.
Submit a Confidential Financial Disclosure Report (OGE-450) before entering on duty and annually thereafter.
Submit transcripts if relying on education to meet qualification requirements; foreign education must include a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency.

Responsibilities

Assist the VREO and manage broad-based VR&E programs through supervisors and team leaders.
Direct and supervise work involving eligibility, vocational exploration, labor-market assessments, vocational plan development, medical information review, entitlement decisions, award adjustments and authorizations, and case management.
Make delegated decisions on behalf of the VREO, including basic eligibility determinations for VR&E programs.
Oversee VR&E purchases made through the VISA Purchase Card program.
Maintain referral resources for special rehabilitation procedures and collaborate with employers, school officials, medical and rehabilitation officials, contractors, state employment service personnel, and community resources.
Provide recommendations on goals and priorities; allocate resources; direct and review personnel; develop and implement plans; monitor progress and address obstacles.
Provide administrative expertise in counseling, case management, rehabilitation plan development, job development, and placement, coordinating operations and policies with relevant divisions and external organizations.
Plan, formulate, and implement operational procedures and policies for efficient professional and support staff performance.
Provide internal policy direction and supervise regional-office VR&E staff through visits, inspections, data review, and individual, telephone, and written communication.
Ensure proper interpretation and uniform application of laws, regulations, instructions, policies, procedures, and practices, reconciling divergent opinions.
Review difficult and complex cases, including fraud, high-cost programs, independent living, re-entry, retroactive induction, and entitlement extensions; approve cases involving Clear and Unmistakable Error.
Oversee supplemental claim reviews, higher-level reviews, procurement of counseling services, and formal hearings.
Manage claims-file and eFolder maintenance and operations, including timely transfer of claims to the scanning vendor and control of award-payment and other data inputs.