Supervisory Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor

Veterans Benefits Administration•Arlington, TX

19h•Onsite

About The Position

The Supervisory Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor (SVRC) serves in the Veteran Readiness and Employment Division (VR&E) at a Regional Office. The role supervises VR&E staff and administers the division’s workflow, providing technical oversight and guidance to subordinate employees. The position requires regular in-person attendance at the Waco office. Situational, case-by-case telework may be approved with supervisory permission; routine or recurring telework is not authorized, and the position is not virtual. The SVRC oversees vocational rehabilitation services and casework, including initial evaluations, transferable work skills analyses, employability assessments, entitlement determinations, rehabilitation planning, counseling, case documentation, and vocational testing when appropriate. The incumbent interprets laws and regulations, analyzes service concerns and related data, and recommends actions. The position also includes interviewing claimants to gather information or evidence needed to address concerns and adjudicate pending claims. The SVRC is responsible for administrative and personnel matters, including planning and assigning work, setting priorities and schedules, coaching employees, interviewing candidates, recommending appointments, promotions, reassignments, awards, bonuses, overtime, training, and travel, and addressing performance or disciplinary concerns. The incumbent trains and monitors staff, evaluates performance, identifies training needs, and promotes equal employment opportunity and affirmative action. The SVRC reviews case files for quality assurance and contributes to reports and special projects, including Strategic Oversight and Analysis Reviews, quarterly reports, Congressional and IRIS inquiries, and white papers. The role monitors performance goals related to timeliness, accuracy, cost, customer service, and employee development. It also coordinates services with federal and state rehabilitation agencies, educational institutions, and other partners; may represent the program in developing and overseeing service contracts; and coordinates case transfers and consultation with VR&E Officers.

Requirements

Meet the Individual Occupational Requirement 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 at least one year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-12 level, involving technical assignments affecting the VA VR&E field.
Demonstrate experience conducting veterans’ employability assessments, developing vocational goals and rehabilitation-plan objectives, and providing case management while veterans pursue rehabilitation plans.
Demonstrate experience training veterans on and clearly explaining VR&E benefits and services.
Demonstrate supervisory or managerial abilities, or potential to develop them, including assigning and reviewing work, training staff, meeting quality and quantity expectations within cost and time limits, planning and carrying out work, communicating effectively, supporting management goals, and improving or designing work methods.
For current federal employees subject to the time-in-grade requirement, have 52 weeks at the GS-12 level for this GS-13 position.
Be a U.S. citizen.
Meet Selective Service registration requirements, if applicable.
Complete required background and security investigation, onboarding, and employment eligibility verification.
Serve a one-year probationary period and, if not previously completed in a federal supervisory position, a one-year supervisory probationary period.
Submit an accredited-school transcript if relying on education to meet qualification requirements; foreign education requires a certificate of foreign equivalency.

Responsibilities

Supervise VR&E staff and oversee the division’s administration, workflow, and technical work.
Oversee vocational rehabilitation activities, including evaluations, employability assessments, entitlement determinations, rehabilitation planning, counseling, documentation, and vocational testing when appropriate.
Interpret laws, regulations, and rules; analyze service-related data and concerns; and recommend appropriate actions.
Interview claimants in person or by telephone to obtain information or evidence needed to resolve concerns and adjudicate claims.
Plan and assign subordinate work, set priorities, and establish schedules for completing assignments.
Advise, counsel, and instruct employees on technical and administrative matters.
Handle personnel actions, including performance evaluations, candidate interviews, recommendations for appointments, promotions, or reassignments, and employee complaints or disciplinary matters.
Train and monitor employees, address performance problems, and assess ongoing training needs.
Recommend awards, bonuses, overtime, training, and travel for staff.
Promote equal employment opportunity, affirmative action, fair treatment, employee achievement, career development, and full use of employee skills.
Review case files for quality assurance and contribute to reports and special projects, including SOARs, quarterly reports, Congressional and IRIS inquiries, and white papers.
Monitor performance goals for timeliness, accuracy, cost, customer service, and employee development, and take action to help meet them.
Coordinate services as a program consultant to federal and state rehabilitation agencies and facilitate training-related operations with educational institutions.
Potentially serve as a technical representative in developing, awarding, implementing, and evaluating contracts for counseling, evaluation, case management, and employment services.
Coordinate intra- and interstate case transfers and consult with VR&E Officers throughout the field.
Perform other duties as assigned.