This position is located in the Mental Health Department of the VA Medical Center in Lyons, New Jersey. The Vocational Rehabilitation Specialist possesses intensive knowledge of mental and physical disabilities or other handicaps, in terms of the practical effects of such handicaps on work tolerances, motivations, adjustment to training, and difficulty in employment placement. The focus of services will be to promote optimal occupational functioning of Veterans within the community.
To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 11/03/2025. You may qualify based on your experience and/or education as described below: Specialized Experience: You must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade GS-09 in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization. Examples of specialized experience would typically include, but are not limited to: 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; or 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. This experience must be detailed in your resume to receive credit. . OR, Education: Applicants may substitute education for the required experience. To qualify based on education for this grade level you must have Ph.D., equivalent doctoral degree, 3 full years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to such a degree, or an LL.M. with a major study in vocational rehabilitation, vocational or educational counseling, or other fields related to the position. Transcripts required.. OR, Combination: Applicants may also combine education and experience to qualify at this level. You must have an combination of specialized experience and education beyond 3 full years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to such a degree. 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: See VA Directive and Handbook 5019. 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/.
Major duties and responsibilities include but not limited to: Determining the vocational goals and objectives of the Veteran based on referral from a professional staff member or by interviewing the Veteran; Determining areas of vocational interest, and deciding what services such as job seeking skills training, resume development, or interview skills training the Veteran may require in order to successfully obtain employment; Analyzing mental and physical disabilities or other handicaps, in terms of the practical effects of such handicaps on motivations, adjustment to training, and difficulty in employment placement; Counseling and guiding Veterans through difficult transitions in the adjustment to employment; Helping employers understand the nature of the Veteran's abilities while maintaining a positive impression of the Veteran's capability of success; Approving any significant modifications to the placement contract, evaluating the results of the program, making sound professional arguments for recommended changes, and reporting program progress in accordance with established procedure; Assisting the Veteran to find suitable employment opportunities, monitoring progress, and promoting successful adjustment; Networking 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; Performing related duties as required. Work Schedule: Monday-Friday 8:00am-4:30pm Telework: Adhoc Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Position Description/PD#: Vocational Rehabilitation Specialist/PD02790A Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Critical Skills Incentive (CSI): Not approved Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not authorized