Supervisory Rehabilitation Counselor

About the role

This position is located within VHA Vocational Rehabilitation Service. Rehabilitation Counselors in the Veterans Health Administration work with persons who experience functional impairments and disabilities associated with mental health, physical, and/or psychosocial challenges affecting employment, independent living, or personal adjustment. The primary functions of the position include managing program staff, completing administrative duties, sitting and talking with patients, utilizing computers, and transporting Veterans in the community for job searches, interviews, and meetings with prospective and current employers. A full examination is required due to the driving requirement. Work is performed in an office/clinic setting with minimal risks that requires normal safety precautions; the area is adequately lighted, heated, and ventilated. The work environment requires the ability to handle several tasks at once in sometimes stressful situations.

Responsibilities

• Serves as a Supervisory Rehabilitation Counselor with responsibility for providing oversight and supervision of a significant number of professional Rehabilitation Counselors (RC level and below) and other VHA Voc Rehab Service staff, and for administratively planning and directing their work in accordance with VHA Directive 1163.
• Provides discipline-specific clinical supervision for vocational rehabilitation staff assigned throughout the VA medical facility.
• Manages and provides oversight for multiple program components and/or multiple locations.
• Synthesizes national handbooks and directives for development of local policies and procedures.
• Leads, coordinates, and manages all aspects of a clinical rehabilitation service delivery system within the organization assigned.
• Informs higher-level management of anticipated vacancies or increases in workload.
• Recommends promotions, reassignments, performance ratings, and retention or release of probationary employees or other changes of assigned personnel.
• Provides advice, counsel, or instruction to employees on both clinical and administrative matters.
• Oversees attendance and leave, including approval of sick and annual leave and vacation schedules.
• Writes position descriptions and/or functional statements and interviews, selects, and recommends candidates for positions.
• Serves as the Affiliate Coordinator for Graduate Trainee Educational Affiliation Agreements and directs clinical trainee program for trainees in Rehabilitation Counseling assigned to VHA Voc Rehab.
• Identifies developmental and training needs to ensure organizational proficiency.
• Establishes labor mapping, adjusts workloads, and forecasts future work assignments and projects.
• Provides direction and guidance in accomplishing major milestones, goals, and objectives.
• Utilizes both qualitative and quantitative methods to develop and implement program evaluation tools.
• Estimates budgetary needs based on history, anticipated workload, resource need, and the workload capacity of the VHA Voc Rehab Service and makes justified requests or proposals.
• Oversees the overall planning, direction, and timely execution of the VHA Voc Rehab Service programs.
• Represents VHA Voc Rehab Service programs at meetings with leadership, service level, non-federal groups, professional organizations, and stakeholders regarding program activities and programs directed.
• Provides leadership in a wide range of areas affecting the management and operations of VHA Voc Rehab, including clinical specialties, finance, accountability, oversight of work performed by program staff, consultation, negotiation, and monitoring to successfully operate and enhance all programs.
• Provides individual and group training, orientation, consultation, and guidance within clinical specialization of rehabilitation counseling practice to develop, improve, and maintain programming.

Qualifications

• United States Citizenship: Non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy.
• 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. OR 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 the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA). OR 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. OR 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. May qualify based on being covered by the Grandfathering Provision as described in the VA Qualification Standard for this occupation (only applicable to current VHA employees who are in this occupation and meet the criteria).
• Grade Determinations: Supervisory Rehabilitation Counselor - GS-13.
• Preferred Experience: Minimum of 5 years experience as a supervisor or working within the Compensated Work Therapy program.

Schedule

Work Schedule: Monday-Friday 8:00am-4:30pm

Benefits

• Paid Time Off: 37-50 days of annual paid time off per year (13-26 days of annual leave, 13 days of sick leave, 11 paid Federal holidays per year). Selected applicants may qualify for credit toward annual leave accrual based on prior work experience or military service experience.
• Parental Leave: After 12 months of employment, up to 12 weeks of paid parental leave in connection with the birth, adoption, or foster care placement of a child.
• Child Care Subsidy: After 60 days of employment, full-time employees with a total family income below $144,000 may be eligible for a childcare subsidy up to 25% of total eligible childcare costs for eligible children, up to the monthly maximum of $416.66.
• Retirement: Traditional federal pension (5 years vesting) and federal 401(k) with up to 5% in contributions by VA.
• Insurance: Federal health, vision, dental, term life, and long-term care (many federal insurance programs can be carried into retirement).
• Telework: Available. This is not a virtual position.
• Recruitment/Relocation Incent