Vocational Rehabilitation Specialist.

Responsibilities

• Authorizes all necessary services and benefits, and receives, reviews and authorizes all charges for services before submitting invoices to Finance Division for payment.
• Provides training and supervision to contract service providers to assure that the services rendered are appropriate and in accordance with accepted professional standards.
• Acts as Contracting Officer's Technical Representative (COTR) to acquire evaluation, case management, employment, and other services needed in the rehabilitation process.
• Provides case management services including assistance applying for VA benefits and resolving individual VA benefits issues; coordination of all rehabilitation and employment services; referrals for medical and mental health services; transition support; documentation of progress and adjustment; development of community and on‑campus resources to provide comprehensive services to Veteran Students; and maintenance of case records according to VA regulations.
• Provides coordination of all rehabilitation services, such as financial decisions, adjusts rehabilitation plans, and coordinates employment services; makes minor adjustments to rehabilitation plans, if necessary for the Veteran to meet the goals of the original plan.
• Provides comprehensive employment and post‑employment services which include assessing employability and assisting in the development of an employment assistance plan; researches resources and funding available in the community for consumers.
• Obtains written reports regarding client progress, documents progress and adjustment as needed, and maintains case records in accordance with laws and regulations.
• Utilizes information from a variety of sources, including an assessment of the Veteran's disabilities, knowledge of VA regulations and other guidelines, assessment of data received from medical and psychological sources, and vocational evaluations and labor market information.

Promotion Potential: The selectee may be promoted to the full performance level without further competition when all regulatory, qualification, and performance requirements are met. Selection at a lower grade level does not guarantee promotion to the full performance level. The grade progression for this position is: GS‑09/11.

Requirements

• U.S. Citizenship required.
• Selective Service Registration required for males born after 12/31/1959.
• May be required to serve a probationary or trial period.
• Subject to background/security investigation.
• Selected applicants must complete an online onboarding process; acceptable identification required; effective May 7, 2025, non‑REAL ID compliant driver's licenses or state‑issued identification cards cannot be used.
• Placement Policy: announcement does not obligate management to fill a vacancy; may be filled by reassignment, change to lower grade, transfer, appointment, or reinstatement; VA policy does not deny employment due to financial hardship or unemployment; announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies.
• Probationary Period: 1‑year probationary period; employment terminated unless written certification is received that continued employment advances the public interest (considering performance and conduct, agency needs/interests, organizational goals, and efficiency of Federal service).
• Time‑in‑Grade Requirement: For GS‑09, 52 weeks at GS‑07; for GS‑11, 52 weeks at GS‑09. If a current VBA employee requesting reassignment or change to lower grade, must currently hold GS‑9 or higher and the promotion potential of the current position must be at least GS‑11. Applies also to former Federal employees applying for reinstatement or VEOA appointment.
• Individual Occupational Requirement (IOR): Education – undergraduate/graduate major in vocational rehabilitation, vocational or educational counseling, or related fields. OR Experience – specialized experience examples include: obtaining/applying occupational information for people with disabilities; knowledge of interrelationships of professional services; counseling methodology to motivate individuals; familiarity with vocational rehabilitation problems and resources; experience in vocational guidance, teaching, developmental/supervisory work in rehabilitation programs, or placement work providing knowledge of training/adjustment needs for persons with disabilities or social adjustment problems.
• Minimum Qualification Requirement:
  • GS‑09: One year of specialized experience equivalent to GS‑07; OR a master's or equivalent graduate degree in a related field; OR combination of experience and education beyond 1 full year of graduate‑level education.
  • GS‑11: At least one year of specialized experience equivalent to GS‑09; OR a Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree in a related field; OR 3 full years of progressively higher‑level graduate education; OR combination of experience and education beyond 2 full years of graduate‑level education.
• Combining Education & Experience: If the full length of experience or education for a specific grade is not met, the two