Supervisory Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor

Veterans Benefits Administration•Albuquerque, NM

1d•Onsite

About The Position

The Assistant Veteran Readiness and Employment Officer (AVREO) in the Albuquerque Regional Office provides administrative and technical direction and professional leadership to Vocational Rehabilitation Counselors, Vocational Rehabilitation Specialists, and clerical staff at the Regional Office and its out-based locations. The AVREO ensures that goals for production, accuracy, cost, customer satisfaction, and employee development are met, and responds to the needs of veterans and beneficiaries in the jurisdictional area. The role recommends resources to improve service delivery and, when the Veteran Readiness and Employment Officer (VREO) is absent, serves as Acting VREO and performs the associated duties and responsibilities. The position oversees the administration and workflow of the VR&E Division, including supervision of staff at the Regional Office and out-based locations. It coordinates with public and private universities, community colleges, and vocational and technical institutes to resolve training issues. The AVREO also represents the program in developing, awarding, implementing, and evaluating contracts for counseling, evaluation, case management, employment, and traumatic brain injury services, and supervises contract quality reviews to ensure compliance with regulatory requirements. The AVREO interprets data and recommends actions, collaborates with division teams on programs and studies supporting the agency mission, evaluates subordinate performance, recommends staffing and awards, addresses employee complaints, approves travel, and identifies ways to reduce backlogs and production barriers. The position develops multi-year plans for scheduling in-service and contract work. It requires extensive knowledge of VA laws, regulations, policies, procedures, and benefits, as well as professional expertise in education, training, psychology, testing, evaluation, counseling, rehabilitation, job development, and placement. The incumbent supports rehabilitation services under Chapter 31 and other VA rehabilitation, education, and training programs, including counseling, case management, rehabilitation plan development, and job development and placement. The position is full-time, Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. It is not virtual. The selectee must report to the official duty station each scheduled workday; only situational telework may be approved case by case with supervisory approval, and routine or recurring telework is not authorized. A financial disclosure report is required. The position requires a one-year probationary period and may require a supervisory probationary period.

Requirements

At least one year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-12 level or higher, including assessing veterans' employability; developing vocational goals and rehabilitation-plan objectives; providing case management to veterans pursuing rehabilitation plans; and interpreting VR&E benefits and services for veterans.
For current Federal GS employees, meet the GS-13 time-in-grade requirement of 52 weeks at GS-12 by the announcement closing date.
Submit an SF-50 demonstrating time-in-grade eligibility; additional SF-50 documentation may be needed if the most recent one does not establish 52 weeks at the required grade.
Meet the positive education requirement through a degree in behavioral or social science or a related discipline appropriate to the position; an equivalent combination of education and experience; or four years of appropriate experience demonstrating knowledge equivalent to a major in a behavioral or social science field.
Submit official transcripts to verify the positive education requirement; foreign education requires a certificate of foreign equivalency.
Be a U.S. citizen.
Meet Selective Service registration requirements, if applicable.
Complete required background/security investigation and online onboarding, and provide acceptable identification for I-9 employment verification.
Serve a one-year probationary period and, if applicable, a supervisory probationary period.
Submit a financial disclosure report.

Responsibilities

Provide administrative and technical direction and professional leadership to VR&E counselors, specialists, and clerical staff in the Regional Office and out-based locations.
Ensure performance goals for production, accuracy, cost, customer satisfaction, and employee development are achieved.
Respond to the needs of veterans and beneficiaries in the jurisdictional area and recommend resources to improve service delivery.
Serve as Acting VREO in the VREO's absence and perform the associated duties and responsibilities.
Supervise VR&E staff and administer the division's program workflow.
Coordinate with public and private universities, community colleges, and vocational and technical institutes to resolve training issues.
Serve as a technical representative in developing, awarding, implementing, and evaluating contracts for counseling, evaluation, case management, employment, and TBI services.
Gather and interpret data about service concerns and recommend appropriate actions.
Collaborate with division teams to plan, design, and carry out programs, projects, studies, and other mission-supporting work.
Evaluate subordinate performance; recommend filling positions and awards; receive employee complaints; and approve employee travel.
Determine alternative courses of action to reduce work backlogs and barriers to production.
Develop multi-year plans for scheduling in-service and contract work.
Supervise contract quality reviews and ensure contracting activity is consistent with regulatory requirements.
Advise higher management on education, training, psychology, testing, evaluation, counseling, rehabilitation, job development, and job placement.
Implement counseling, training, and related rehabilitation services under Chapter 31 and other VA rehabilitation, educational, and training programs.
Assist the VREO with counseling, case management, rehabilitation plan development, and job development and placement.