VR Workforce Dev Manager

About the role

This vacancy is within the Tennessee Department of Human Services (TDHS), Division of Rehabilitation Services - Vocational Rehabilitation (VR). The VR WORKFORCE DEV MANAGER performs professional workforce development, on- and off-boarding, training support and monitoring, employee development, and career pathway activities specific to the vocational rehabilitation (VR) program at the supervisory level. An employee in this class is responsible for staff supervision, strategic planning, and evaluating VR workforce development functions. This role supports the infrastructure around training and workforce development for VR programs. This class differs from that of a DHS Program Director in that an incumbent of the latter supervises employees within this classification. This position requires 25% travel throughout the state to conduct field visits, attend required department meetings, and participate in occasional team meetings.

Responsibilities

• Directs recruitment, workforce development, on- and off-boarding, training support and monitoring, technical assistance, career pathway functions, and succession planning efforts. Oversees stay and exit interviews, analyzes responses, and briefs leadership on the development and implementation of improved recruiting and retention strategies.
• Supervises workforce development staff, assigns and reviews work, evaluates performance, and ensures consistency and quality. Ensures compliance with state and federal requirements regarding staff qualifications, credentialing, continuing education, and workforce standards.
• Leads the development and implementation of workforce strategies related to recruitment, internships, on- and off-boarding, retention, advancement, staff readiness, and events. Manages the development of training frameworks, on-boarding structures, career pathway models, and technical assistance systems in accordance with Rehabilitation Services Administration (RSA) supported initiatives.
• Establishes and implements strategic goals, policies, priorities, and performance expectations for workforce development initiatives in accordance with RSA standards. Evaluates effectiveness and directs improvements to strengthen employee experience, organizational capacity, and long-term workforce sustainability.
• Develops and maintains partnerships with accredited colleges, universities, professional organizations, vendors, and other workforce stakeholders offering vocational rehabilitation or other related courses and programs. Establishes pipelines to source VR counselors with academic training supported by the principles of Commission on Rehabilitation Counseling Certification (CRCC) standards.
• Utilizes workforce training and retention data to identify gaps, caseload and service delivery trends, forecast future needs, and guide planning, evaluation, and continuous improvement. Seeks approval of training objectives from CRCC to allow for delivery of training that will meet continuing education hour requirements.
• Collaborates with program leadership and internal/external partners to align workforce development initiatives with agency goals, service delivery needs, and organizational priorities to ensure compliance with Workforce Innovation Opportunity Act requirements. Coordinates with fiscal, legal, and program leadership to establish contracts or agreements with external vendors to support training and programmatic initiatives.
• Ensures staff receive timely and relevant technical assistance support on VR-specific training and case management systems and processes.

Qualifications

• Must possess and maintain a Certified Rehabilitation Counselor (CRC) credential and have completed five years of full-time professional experience in workforce development, training, employee development, rehabilitation services, human resources, or public program administration.

Skills

• Social or human service field experience preferred.
• Ability to grasp and utilize various computer programs.
• Ability to build collaborative relationships with stakeholders across all organizational levels.
• Experience with coaching, mentoring, and employee development.
• Knowledge of policy development, compliance, and regulatory training requirement.

Pay

The target range for the VR WORKFORCE DEV MANAGER position is $61,200 - $76,476. The directly related experience, knowledge, skills and abilities of the selected candidate will determine the actual salary offer.