Supervisory Rehabilitation Counselor

Posted: 06-Aug-26 | Location: Tacoma, Washington

About the Role

This position is located within VHA Vocational Rehabilitation Service (VHA Voc Rehab). VHA Voc Rehab Service programs are recovery-oriented clinical vocational rehabilitation services that offer an array of vocational, educational, training, employment, and therapeutic work services. They include skill development, fostering of natural supports, and assistance with obtaining and maintaining employment for Veterans for whom the primary objective is competitive employment.

Qualifications

Basic Requirements:

• United States Citizenship: Non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy
• English Language Proficiency: Candidates must be proficient in spoken and written English to be appointed as authorized by 38 U.S.C. §7403(f)
• Education:
  • A master's degree in rehabilitation counseling or clinical rehabilitation counseling from a rehabilitation counseling program accredited by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP)
  • If the applicant's degree was granted prior to July 1, 2017, the program must be accredited by the Council on Rehabilitation Education
  • A master's degree in counseling or clinical rehabilitation counseling from a college or university accredited by a national or regional accrediting body accredited by Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA)
  • A master's or doctoral degree in a related field of study with course content that emphasized rehabilitation, counseling, disability, therapy, health, employment, wellness, or human development from a college or university accredited by a national or regional accrediting body accredited by CHEA
  • Foreign graduates with a degree acceptable by the Commission on Rehabilitation Counselor Certification (CRCC)
• Certification: Current, full and unrestricted certification as a certified rehabilitation counselor (CRC) from the CRCC to practice vocational rehabilitation counseling

Grade Determinations: Supervisory Rehabilitation Counselor - GS-12

• Completion of one year of professional experience equivalent to the next lower grade level (GS-11) directly related to the position being filled
• Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills and Abilities (KSAs):
  • Ability to supervise (e.g., plan, direct, oversee, review work of subordinate staff), assess employee strengths, opportunities for growth, and qualifications to accomplish program goals, adapt work operations, and guide staff
  • Knowledge of labor/management agreements to effectively manage issues and concerns
  • Knowledge of applicable accreditation bodies (i.e., Joint Commission and Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities) and their standards to ensure continuous compliance
  • Theoretical and practical knowledge of a range of rehabilitation delivery systems for the development, implementation, management, and growth of rehabilitation programs and services
  • Knowledge of business administration practices such as managing participant payroll, accounting, budget planning, to successfully operate a rehabilitation program

Preferred Experience: At least 1 year of supervisory experience for Vocational Rehabilitation

Responsibilities

• Supervise a group of interdisciplinary employees including Vocational Rehabilitation Specialists and Vocational Rehabilitation Counselors located in two different work locations
• Manage all aspects of a fund control point and biweekly payroll for Veteran clients
• Provide administrative, technical, and clinical supervision necessary for accomplishing the work of the units
• Develop and maintain standard operating procedures to provide clear guidelines and facility expectations for staff
• Perform the administrative and personnel management function relative to staff supervised
• Establish guidelines and performance expectations for staff, clearly communicated through the formal employee performance management system
• Provide advice and counsel to workers related to work and administrative matters
• Review and approve or disapprove leave requests
• Ensure that subordinates are trained and fully comply with the provisions of the safety regulations
• Provide staff training and development at multiple grade levels
• Monitor activities and program reviews, and the development and analysis of information
• Use sound judgment in the interpretation of trends and patterns, the application of guidelines, and the recommendation of program enhancements
• Perform program analysis, development, review, research, design, and contact work as possible with various agencies (public, DOD, state, etc.)
• Lead and/or facilitate clinical, facility-wide process improvements to address length of stay reflected in the Strategic Analytics for Improvement and Learning (SAIL) report and hospital performance measures as related to inpatient and specialty care
• Responsible for oversight and completion of required suspense actions
• Provide briefing reports to local facility, VISN, and National leadership
• Provide regular reports and is actively involved with Mental Health and Executive leadership

Schedule

8AM - 4:30PM, Monday - Friday

Telework

Available (Ad-hoc only)

Physical Requirements

• Light lifting and carrying (under 15 lbs.)
• Operation of motor vehicle
• Ability for rapid mental and muscular coordination simultaneously
• Ability to complete PMDB training

Environmental Factors

• Working closely with others
• Working alone

About Veterans Affairs, Veterans Health Administration

The Veterans Health Administration (VHA) is the largest integrated health care system in the United States, providing care at 1,321 health care facilities, including 172 VA Medical Centers and 1,138 outpatient sites of care of varying complexity (VHA outpatient clinics) to over 9 million Veterans enrolled in the VA health care program. VHA Medical Centers provide a wide range of services including traditional hospital-based services such as surgery, critical care, mental health, orthopedics, pharmacy, radiology, and physical therapy. In addition, most of our medical centers offer additional medical and surgical specialty services including audiology & speech pathology, dermatology, dental, geriatrics, neurology, oncology, podiatry, prosthetics, urology, and vision care. Some medical centers also offer advanced services such as organ transplants and plastic surgery.