VOCATIONAL REHABILITATION COUNSELOR - MASTERS - 09292026- 81290

About the role

Location: Maynardville, TN – Department of Human Services, Union County. Under the general supervision of a Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) Regional Field Supervisor, the VR Counselor provides counseling and guidance services to individuals with disabilities in East TN. This is a hybrid position requiring a criminal background check. Opening date: 09/29/2026 12:00AM CT; closing date: 10/12/2026 11:59PM CT.

Responsibilities

• Collects customer's medical and psychological information and determines eligibility for services.
• Monitors local labor market trends to facilitate effective job placement and maximize employment outcomes.
• Conducts assessments to evaluate customer's skills, abilities, occupational interests, and goals.
• Reviews assessment data to identify appropriate goals and opportunities and directs them toward suitable employment opportunities.
• Uses counseling and guidance to interpret and explain medical, psychological, and vocational information to customers.
• Empowers customers to make informed decisions concerning their goals.
• Collaborates with customers to develop and implement personalized rehabilitation and employment plans that align with vocational and employment goals.
• Evaluates customer's progress and employment readiness and amends plans as needed to ensure successful outcomes.
• Arranges appointments, training sessions, and assessments to facilitate customer participation in vocational programs.
• Requests authorizations for services provided and ensures vendors receive payment.
• Investigates complaints to resolve customer and employer concerns.
• Documents customer data, processes case expenditures, and monitors case progress in case management systems.
• Educates employers and the public on rehabilitation services and the employment of individuals with disabilities and promotes qualified applicants to employers.
• Cultivates professional relationships with internal staff, vendors, school systems, agencies, institutions, employers, and community organizations to identify potential applicants or available resources and promote rehabilitation services.

Qualifications

Education and Experience: Master's degree in Rehabilitation Counseling OR Master's or doctoral degree in a related field of study with course content that emphasizes rehabilitation, counseling, disability, therapy, health, employment, wellness, or human development AND within 90 days of hire must submit an educational plan for approval and apply for admission to an accredited university for enrollment of additional required courses. Within six months of hire must enroll, at their own expense, in the following courses in accordance with their education plan: Professional Orientation & Ethics in Rehabilitation Counseling, Medical & Psychosocial Aspects of Disabilities, Theories & Techniques of Counseling and satisfactorily complete all within thirty-six months from the date of hire. OR within 90 days of hire, submit a request for a pre‑review, at their own expense, to the Commission on Rehabilitation Counselor Certification (CRCC) that results in confirmation that they meet the eligibility criteria to test for the Certified Rehab Counselor Certification and provide official notification from the CRCC. OR have an active Certified Rehab Counselor Certification from the CRCC.

Necessary Special Qualifications: Applicants must complete a criminal history disclosure form in a manner approved by the appointing authority; agree to release all records involving their criminal history to the appointing authority; supply a fingerprint sample prescribed by the TBI based criminal history records check; possess a valid motor vehicle operator's license at the time of appointment in some positions; produce a transcript at the time of application verifying degree and courses completed. As a condition of employment, individuals who do not have a master's in Rehabilitation Counseling will be required to complete additional requirements as outlined above in the specified timeframes.

Skills

• Decision Quality
• Resourcefulness
• Communicates Effectively
• Instills Trust
• Situational Adaptability
• Customer and Personal Service Skills
• Active Learning and Listening
• Complex Problem Solving
• Critical Thinking
• Judgment and Decision Making
• Time Management
• Deductive Reasoning
• Inductive Reasoning
• Problem Sensitivity
• Originality
• Tools & Equipment: General Office Equipment, Computer/Laptop/Tablet, Multifunction Printer (print/copy/scan/fax), Cell Phone

Pay

Salary (Monthly): $4,057.00 – $5,078.00
Salary (Annually): $48,684.00 – $60,936.00