Vocational Rehabilitation Specialist

Veterans Health Administration • Murfreesboro, TN

6h • Onsite

About The Position

The Vocational Rehabilitation Specialist performs assigned duties within the Compensated Work Therapy/Transitional Work Experience/Supportive Employment program at TVHS. The specialist recruits, interviews, assesses, and selects suitable clients with severe mental illnesses for competitive supported employment. The role provides vocational rehabilitation services using current theories and methods, including intake assessments, Columbia Suicide Screening, employment-readiness assessment, and North Eastern Program Evaluation. The specialist assesses disabilities and develops plans to address employment barriers, works with patients and program stakeholders, and helps clients find and retain employment through job matching, accommodations, community resources, work incentives, and long-term support. The position also develops and delivers best-practice training for the CWT/TWE/SE program and provides guidance on implementing the Supported Employment initiative across TVHS. The specialist advises the Program Coordinator on implementation conditions and serves as the local authority for analyzing, developing, and implementing Supported Employment projects. The position is onsite and follows a Monday–Friday schedule from 7:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

Requirements

• U.S. citizenship.
• Meet the Individual Occupational Requirements for the Vocational Development Specialist, GS-1715 series through qualifying education or experience in vocational rehabilitation, vocational or educational counseling, or a related field.
• For GS-11, have one year of specialized experience equivalent to GS-09 in vocational rehabilitation, counseling, vocational guidance, disability-related placement, or related work; or qualify through the specified graduate education or combination of education and experience.
• Current or former federal employees subject to the time-in-grade requirement must have 52 weeks at GS-09 for a GS-11 position by the announcement closing date.
• Complete the application, questionnaire, and required online assessment.
• Register with Selective Service if applicable.
• Complete required background/security investigation and online onboarding; provide acceptable identification for pre-employment requirements.
• Participate in the seasonal influenza vaccination program as a Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel employee.
• Serve a one-year probationary period or two-year trial period, as applicable.
• Submit transcripts if using education to meet qualification requirements; foreign education requires a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency.
• The work has no inherent physical requirements that cannot otherwise be performed with accommodation or workplace adjustment.

Responsibilities

• Provide vocational rehabilitation services, including intake assessment, Columbia Suicide Screening, employment-readiness assessment, and North Eastern Program Evaluation.
• Assess disabilities and develop plans to address barriers to employment created by disabilities.
• Communicate with and provide direction to patients, staff, and local agencies involved with the program.
• Analyze jobs and modify duties in accordance with ADA concepts.
• Maintain contacts with potential employers, placement personnel, and other placement resources; negotiate appropriate accommodations for veterans with disabilities.
• Use community resources and work incentives, identify job and small-business opportunities, and educate patients about the effects of returning to work on benefits.
• Recruit, interview, assess, and select suitable clients with severe mental illnesses for employment.
• Maintain working relationships with other professionals and provide training and guidance on program implementation.
• Serve as the local authority for analysis, development, and implementation of program projects.
• Work creatively with community employers and identify client strengths, interests, skills, and needs to match clients with jobs.
• Arrange long-term support to help clients remain employed.
• Make treatment decisions and adapt effective approaches to provide rehabilitation services to patients with substance abuse or psychiatric disorders.
• Develop best-practice training offerings for the Transitional Work Experience and Supported Employment programs.
• Train and guide other TVHS programs in implementing the Supported Employment initiative.
• Advise the Program Coordinator about conditions affecting implementation of the Supported Employment Program.
• Analyze, develop, and implement Supported Employment projects.

Benefits

• Federal employee benefits package available to the employee and family, subject to eligibility.
• VA may credit qualifying job-related non-federal experience or active-duty uniformed military service toward the annual-leave accrual rate if requested and approved before appointment.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level
• Education Level: Ph.D. or professional degree