Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor

Arizona Department of Administration•Phoenix, AZ

8h•Hybrid

About The Position

The Department of Economic Security (DES), Division of Employment and Rehabilitation Services (DERS), Rehabilitation Services Administration (RSA), is seeking a Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor to help individuals with disabilities address barriers to employment and gain the skills needed to enter, obtain, or retain employment. The position reports to the Supervisor and provides vocational rehabilitation counseling and guidance. It serves in a hybrid work environment and may be eligible for remote work within Arizona, with a minimum of two days per week in the office or hoteling space. Travel is required for State business. Placement and salary depend on qualifications. Entry-level counselors need a relevant bachelor’s degree and two years of experience working with individuals with disabilities. Intermediate counselors need a closely related master’s degree and one year of relevant experience. Senior counselors must meet intermediate requirements and hold Certified Rehabilitation Counselor (CRC) certification. The annual salary range is $48,510.17 to $55,440.52. Candidates are subject to Child Protective Services and Adult Protective Services registry searches, must hold or qualify for a Level One Arizona fingerprint clearance card before their first day, and must pass background and reference checks. Newly hired State employees must also complete E-Verify. If driving or using a vehicle is an essential job function, a valid class-appropriate driver’s license, acceptable driving record, required training, and applicable vehicle insurance are required.

Requirements

Entry tier: bachelor’s degree in a field reasonably related to rehabilitation counseling or another field that reasonably prepares an individual to work with people with disabilities and employers, plus two years of experience working with individuals with disabilities.
Intermediate tier: master’s degree in a field closely related to rehabilitation counseling, as defined by the Commission on Rehabilitation Counselor Certification, plus one year of experience working with individuals with disabilities.
Senior tier: meet the intermediate credential requirements and hold Certified Rehabilitation Counselor (CRC) certification.
Knowledge of federal and state laws, statutes, rules, and regulations pertaining to vocational rehabilitation services.
Knowledge of occupational opportunities and labor market trends, and case management.
Skill working with individuals with disabilities, interpersonal communication, time management, critical thinking, and problem-solving.
Ability to motivate clients to achieve goals, communicate effectively, and demonstrate strong reading comprehension.
Meet applicable registry-search, fingerprint-clearance, background-check, reference-check, and E-Verify requirements.
Travel for State business is required.
If driving or vehicle use is an essential function, maintain a current, valid class-appropriate driver’s license, meet driving-record and training requirements, and maintain required liability insurance when using a personally owned vehicle.

Responsibilities

Introduce clients to the vocational rehabilitation program, including eligibility criteria and client rights and responsibilities.
Review clients’ medical and/or psychological information to identify employment needs, goals, services, and resources.
Provide vocational counseling, career exploration, and labor market exploration to determine suitable employment goals.
Meet individually with clients to problem-solve and establish or modify an Individualized Plan for Employment (IPE).
Provide case management, maintain regular contact with clients, service providers, and collaborative programs, and assess services and IPE progress.
Manage fiscal resources, including authorizing, reviewing, and paying for services.
For intermediate counselors: provide case management to clients with complex needs and goals, serve as a program liaison for specialized groups, and guide Entry Vocational Rehabilitation Counselors.
For senior counselors: may serve as backup to the Rehabilitation Supervisor and provide case management to clients with a high complexity level.

Benefits

Affordable medical, dental, life, and short-term disability insurance plans.
Participation in the Arizona State Retirement System (ASRS) and long-term disability plans.
10 paid holidays per year.
Paid vacation and sick time.
Paid parental leave of up to 12 weeks per year for a newborn or newly placed foster or adopted child.
Deferred compensation plan.
Wellness plans.
Tuition reimbursement.
Stipend opportunities.
Infant at Work Program.
Rideshare and public transit subsidy.
Career advancement and employee development opportunities.