Supervisory Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor (AVREO)

Veterans Benefits Administration•North Little Rock, AR

10d•Hybrid

About The Position

Serves as the Assistant Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment Officer (AVREO) in a Regional Office, providing administrative and technical direction and professional leadership to professional and technical Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor staff and clerical staff at the Regional Office and out-based locations. In the absence of the Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment Officer, serves as Acting VRE Officer and exercises the associated duties and responsibilities. The AVREO administers the VR&E Division program and its workflow, supervises staff, and works with public and private universities, community colleges, and vocational and technical institutes to resolve training issues. The position provides technical expertise in developing, awarding, implementing, and evaluating contracts for counseling, evaluation, case management, employment, and traumatic brain injury services. It gathers and interprets data on service concerns and recommends actions, and collaborates with division teams to plan and deliver programs, projects, studies, and other work supporting the agency’s mission. The position evaluates subordinate performance; recommends staffing actions and awards; receives employee complaints; approves employee travel; and determines ways to address work backlogs and barriers to production. It develops multi-year schedules for in-service and contract work, supervises contract quality reviews, and ensures contracting activity complies with applicable requirements. The incumbent applies knowledge of VA laws, regulations, policies, procedures, benefits, and services, and advises higher management on education, training, psychology, testing, evaluation, counseling, rehabilitation, job development, and job placement. The role supports implementation of counseling, training, and related rehabilitation services under Chapter 31 and other VA rehabilitation, education, and training programs, and assists the VRE Officer across rehabilitation activities, including counseling, case management, rehabilitation plan development, and job development and placement. This is a full-time position with a Monday–Friday schedule, 8:00 a.m.–4:30 p.m. The position is based at its official duty station; it is not virtual. Situational (ad hoc) telework may be approved case by case with supervisory approval, but routine or recurring telework is not authorized. The position is primarily sedentary, with some walking, standing, bending, stooping, and carrying lightweight items. A one-year supervisory probationary period is required 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 occupational requirement through a bachelor's or higher 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.
At least one year of specialized experience equivalent to GS-12, including vocational rehabilitation and employment program experience, knowledge of vocational rehabilitation laws and regulations, counseling and administration skills in career development, job placement, psychology, rehabilitation and counseling, and authority over budgetary resources for approving and monitoring expenditures.
For current Federal GS employees, meet the GS-13 time-in-grade requirement of 52 weeks at GS-12 by the announcement closing date.
U.S. citizenship is required.
Selective Service registration is required for males born after December 31, 1959.
Serve a one-year supervisory probationary period if one has not previously been completed in a Federal position.
Complete a background/security investigation and required onboarding and employment eligibility verification.
Submit a Confidential Financial Disclosure Report (OGE-450) before entering on duty and annually thereafter.
Submit transcripts if qualifying based on education or a combination of education and experience; qualifying transcripts must show the degree awarded and award date.
The position requires primarily sedentary work, with some walking, standing, bending, stooping, and carrying lightweight items.

Responsibilities

Supervise Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment staff at out-based locations and within the Regional Office.
Administer the VR&E Division program and manage its workflow.
Coordinate with universities, colleges, and vocational or 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 traumatic brain injury services.
Gather and interpret data concerning service issues and recommend appropriate action.
Collaborate with division teams to plan, design, and carry out programs, projects, studies, and other mission-supporting work.
Evaluate subordinate performance; recommend staffing actions and awards; receive employee complaints; approve employee travel; and determine actions to reduce backlogs and production barriers.
Develop multi-year plans for scheduling in-service and contract work.
Supervise contract quality reviews and ensure contracting activity complies with regulatory requirements.
Advise higher management as a professional and technical expert in 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, education, and training programs.
Assist the VRE Officer with counseling, case management, rehabilitation plan development, and job development and placement.
Act as the VRE Officer and exercise the appropriate duties and responsibilities in the officer’s absence.