The position is a Vocational Rehabilitation Specialist, organizationally aligned to Vocational Rehabilitation Program, Social Work Service Line, Richard L. Roudebush VA Medical Center in Indianapolis, Indiana - a VHA level 1a complexity facility that serves over 67,000 unique patients and has 13 off site community clinics, in addition to the homeless team, the community based extended care programs and a 50 bed Domiciliary.
To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 10/08/2025. Time-In-Grade Requirement: Applicants who are current Federal employees and have held a GS grade any time in the past 52 weeks must also meet time-in-grade requirements by the closing date of this announcement. For a GS 11 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS 9. The grade may have been in any occupation, but must have been held in the Federal service. An SF-50 that shows your time-in-grade eligibility must be submitted with your application materials. If the most recent SF-50 has an effective date within the past year, it may not clearly demonstrate you possess one-year time-in-grade, as required by the announcement. In this instance, you must provide an additional SF-50 that clearly demonstrates one-year time-in-grade. Note: Time-In-Grade requirements also apply to former Federal employees applying for reinstatement as well as current employees applying for Veterans Employment Opportunities Act of 1998 (VEOA) appointment. You may qualify based on your experience and/or education as described below: Education. Undergraduate and Graduate Education: Major study -- vocational rehabilitation, vocational or educational counseling, or other fields related to the position. OR Experience. Specialized Experience (for positions above GS-5): Examples of qualifying specialized experience include: Work that required obtaining and applying occupational information for people with disabilities, knowledge of the interrelationships of the involved professional and specialist services, and skill in employing the methodology and techniques of counseling to motivate and encourage individuals served by the program. Experience that demonstrated knowledge of the vocational rehabilitation problems characteristic of the disabled, including familiarity with available resources and skill in identifying, evaluating, and making effective use of such resources to serve individuals with disabilities; or of the disadvantaged, including knowledge of adjustment problems of the educationally or culturally disadvantaged, familiarity with available adult education and training resources, and ability to recognize problem areas needing special attention. Experience in vocational guidance or teaching in a recognized vocational rehabilitation program or school, developmental or supervisory work in programs of vocational rehabilitation or training programs for the disadvantaged, or personnel or employment placement work that provided extensive knowledge of the training and adjustment requirements necessary to place persons having disabilities or social adjustment problems. Grade Determinations: You must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade (GS-09) level in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization. Vocational Rehab Specialist, GS-11 Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities. In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate, in their resume, all of the following Knowledge, Skills and Abilities (KSAs): Knowledge of the principles and theoretical concepts of vocational rehabilitation. The knowledge to successfully complete comprehensive assessment. The ability to select the pertinent techniques for data collection and to identify aspects of successful program operations that can be used for improving similar programs. The ability to utilize a variety of fact-finding techniques. Requires a basic knowledge of the program objectives of local, state, and Federal agencies to ensure that action is appropriate Preferred Experience: Preferred experience working with individuals with serious mental health issues providing job placement assistance and supports. NOTE: Applicants wishing to receive credit for such experience must indicate clearly the nature of their duties and responsibilities in each position and the number of hours a week spent in such employment. You will be rated on the following Competencies for this position: Education and Training Interpersonal Skills Technical Competence Therapy and Counseling Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religions; spiritual; community; student; social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience. Note: A full year of work is considered to be 35-40 hours of work per week. Part-time experience will be credited on the basis of time actually spent in appropriate activities. Applicants wishing to receive credit for such experience must indicate clearly the nature of their duties and responsibilities in each position and the number of hours a week spent in such employment. Physical Requirements: The work is primarily sedentary; however, incumbent should be able to perform prolonged walking and standing necessary to conduct work site visits, employer tours, etc. Incumbent must possess a valid driver's license in order to transport Veterans in government vehicles to interviews, tours, etc. with employers or other community resources. For more information on these qualification standards, please visit the United States Office of Personnel Management's website at https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-standards/.
Duties include but not limited to: Determines Training Needs: Utilizing the Vocational Assessment Profile with the program participant, determines the areas of vocational interests, and determines what services such as job seeking skills training, resume development, or interview skills training the program participant may require in order to successfully obtain suitable employment. The Vocational Rehabilitation Specialist determines the extent to which the program participant possesses the knowledge, skills, or abilities necessary to meet the goals or objectives. Training provided must meet established agency or Federal guidance for expenditure of agency resources. Training need determinations are difficult, as requirements that meet the client's vocational goals and objectives are not available in standard vocational or training programs. Networks with the Community: The Vocational Rehabilitation Specialist networks with community employers, community agencies, and community businesses with the goal of developing professional relationships with these groups in order to assist program participants in obtaining and maintaining suitable community employment. The Vocational Rehabilitation Specialist coordinates with various resources to locate services and employment opportunities in the community that will be suitable for the individual program participant from the standpoint of their individual needs and problems. The Vocational Rehabilitation Specialist works with established programs to provide significant modifications to accommodate the program participant's severe limitations. Conducting Job Placement/Job Carving Activities: The Vocational Rehabilitation Specialist will engage the program participant in activities such as resume development, job seeking training, and interviewing skills instruction as soon as possible. The Vocational Rehabilitation Specialist will assist the program participant in networking with contacts within the community, and members of their personal support group. The Vocational Rehabilitation Specialist will provide ongoing support and guidance to the program participant throughout all phases of the job search. The Vocational Rehabilitation Specialist will provide support and encouragement to the program participant including assistance with submitting resumes, completing applications, and job interview preparation. Providing Job Retention Services: The Vocational Rehabilitation Specialist will continue to provide ongoing supports such as assistance with problem solving, developing interpersonal work relationships, maintaining work performance and quality, and life management activities. The Vocational Rehabilitation Specialist is responsible to ensure that the program participant is aware of employer's expectations, and the participant has the skills and supports to meet those expectations. The Vocational Rehabilitation Specialist counsels and guides employee through difficult transition or rough spots in the adjustment to the job. Work Schedule: Monday - Friday, 8:00am - 4:30pm Compressed/Flexible: Not Authorized Recruitment Incentive (Sign-on Bonus): Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (Relocation Assistance): Not Authorized Pay: Competitive salary and regular salary increases Paid Time Off: 37-50 days of annual paid time offer 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 401K with up to 5% in contributions by VA Insurance: Federal health/vision/dental/term life/long-term care (many federal insurance programs can be carried into retirement) Telework: No Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 91609-A Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized PCS Appraised Value Offer (AVO): Not Authorized