Supervisory Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor

Clarification from the agency

This vacancy announcement is open to current, permanent Veterans Benefits Administration (VBA) employees and current/former VA employees who are CTAP eligible.

Specific duties include:

• The Supervisory Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor (SVRC) duties include oversite of VRCs performing initial evaluations, transferable work skills analysis, employability assessments, entitlement determination, rehabilitation planning, problem-solving counseling, adjustment counseling, case documentation, and administration and interpretation of vocational testing when appropriate. Analyzes and interprets laws, regulations, and rules as they affect the establishment of new policies, procedures, and methods of operation. Gathers and interprets a wide range of data addressing service concerns. Further, they can recommend appropriate action based on the data. Interviews claimants in-person or over the telephone and to elicit information essential to resolve a concern or obtain necessary evidence so that a pending claim may be properly adjudicated.

• The SVRC is responsible for administrative actions affecting VR&E activity and provides advice, counsel, and instruction to individual employees on both technical and administrative matters. Responsible for personnel administration and actions (e.g., evaluates subordinates' performance, interviews, and makes recommendations for position appointments, promotions, or reassignments; hears and resolves employee and Veteran complaints, effects disciplinary measures, and identifies training needs). Incumbent is responsible for training and monitoring performance of employees within the unit; prepares performance ratings, resolves disciplinary and performance problems, and assesses the on-going training needs of the employees supervised.

• The SVRC plans work to be accomplished by subordinates, sets, and adjusts short-term priorities, and prepares schedules for completion of work; assigns work to subordinates based on priorities; gives advice, counsels, or instructions to employees on work matters; interviews candidates for positions in the unit; recommends awards or bonuses for staff employees. Incumbent will work with a team of Counseling Psychologists, Vocational Rehabilitation Counselors, Employment Coordinators, and Program Support Specialists.

• The SVRC recommends the use of overtime, training, and travel for attendance at meetings. Incumbent is responsible for furthering the goals of Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) by taking positive steps to assure the accomplishment of affirmative action objectives, and by adhering to nondiscriminatory employment practices regarding race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, or handicap. Specifically, incumbent initiates nondiscriminatory practices and affirmative action for the area under his/her supervision in the following: (1) merit promotion of employees and recruitment and hiring of applicants; (2) fair treatment of all employees; (3) encouragement and recognition of employee achievements; (4) career development of employees; and (5) full utilization of their skills.

• The SVRC reviews case files for Quality Assurance, and contributes to the development of reports, including Strategic Oversight and Analysis Reviews (SOAR's), Quarterly Reports, Congressional and IRIS inquiries, White Papers, and other special projects. Ensures that performance goals related to timeliness, accuracy, cost, customer service, and employee development are met and takes action to help the organization achieve said goals. This includes assessment of office issues, client and organizational needs, directives, and ensuring that the quality, timeliness and cost-effectiveness of resources align with VBA expectations.

• The SVRC acts as a program consultant to federal and state rehabilitation agencies to coordinate services. The incumbent facilitates operations with major public and private universities, community colleges, and vocational/technical institutes in the state to resolve training issues. The incumbent may serve as technical representative in developing, awarding, implementing, and evaluating contracts to provide professional counseling, evaluation, case management, and employment services. Additional duties include coordinating intra and inter-state transfer of cases, and consulting with VR&E Officers throughout the field.

• Other additional duties as assigned.

Promotion Potential: None - Position is at Full Promotion Level

Work Schedule: Full time, Monday through Friday, 8am - 430pm
Compressed/Flexible: Not Available
Telework: Yes - This position is eligible for situational (ad hoc) telework only. The selectee is required to report to the official duty station each scheduled workday. Telework may be approved only on a case-by-case basis with supervisory approval. Routine or recurring telework is not authorized for this position.
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Position Description/PD#: Supervisory Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor; PD39814A
Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized
Financial Disclosure Report: Not Required

Conditions of employment

• As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you will be required to serve a 1-year probationary period during which we will evaluate your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public interest. In determining if your employment advances the public interest, we may consider:
• your performance and conduct;
• the needs and interests of the Agency;
• whether your continued employment would advance organizational goals of the Agency or the Government; and
• whether your continued employment would advance the efficiency of Federal service.

Upon completion of your probationary period, your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest.

• You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job
• Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959
• Subject to background/security investigation
• Selectees are required to service a one-year supervisory probationary period if not previously completed in a Federal position.
• Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process.
• Acceptable form(s) of identification will be required to complete pre-employment requirements I-9 Acceptable Documents.
• Effective May 7, 2025, driver's licenses or state-issued identification cards that are not REAL ID compliant cannot be utilized as an acceptable form of identification for employment.

Qualifications

To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement: 09/01/2026.

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.

• For a GS-13 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-12 level.

If you are a current VBA employee requesting a reassignment or change to lower grade via this vacancy announcement, you must currently hold the GS-13 (or higher) and the promotion potential of your current position must be at least GS-13.

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: The Supervisory Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor series requires that all applicants meet both the basic requirement per the Individual Occupational Requirement (IOR) AND the specialized experience described below:

INDIVIDUAL OCCUPATIONAL REQUIREMENTS (IOR): To qualify for the SVRC position, candidates must meet the following basic requirements:

Degree: behavioral or social science; or related disciplines appropriate to the position.

OR

Combination of education and experience that provided the applicant with knowledge of one or more of the behavioral or social sciences equivalent to a major in the field.

OR

Four years of appropriate experience that demonstrated that the applicant has acquired knowledge of one or more of the behavioral or social sciences equivalent to a major in the field.

SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE REQUIREMENT: In addition to meeting the basic requirements, applicants must possess one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade of GS-12 LEVEL:

Specialized experience is defined as one (1) full year of performance of technical assignments affecting the entire field of VA's Veteran Readiness & Employment (VR&E) division. Your resume/application must support your response. To meet the specialized experience, your resume should reflect:

• Experience in conducting assessments of veteran's employability.
• Involvement in the development of appropriate vocational goals and subsequent objectives outlined in rehabilitation plans.
• Providing case management services to veterans while pursuing their rehabilitation plans (e.g. personal contact regarding achievement of vocational goals, referral for medical or ancillary services, and responding efficiently to veterans' concerns);
• Experience in training, understanding, and clearly explaining to veterans, the benefits and services available through the VR&E program.

SUPERVISORY/MANAGERIAL ABILITIES: Candidates must also demonstrate experience or training they possess, or have the potential to develop the qualities of successful supervision as follows:

• Assign and review work of subordinates, train and work effectively with subordinates from a variety of backgrounds and with different levels/areas of training.
• Accomplish the quality and quantity of work expected within set limits of cost and time.
• Plan own work and carry out assignments effectively.
• Communicate with others effectively both orally and in writing in working solutions to problems or questions relating to the work.
• Understand and further management goals as these affect day-to-day work operations; AND
• Develop improvements in or design new work methods and procedures.

For more information on these qualification standards, please visit the United States Office of Personnel Management's website at http://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-standards/.

How you will be evaluated

You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.

Your qualifications will be evaluated based on your application materials (e.g., resume, supporting documents), your responses on the application questionnaire, and your responses to all assessments required for this position.

You will be assessed on the following competencies (knowledge, skills, abilities, and other characteristics):

• Conflict Management
• Influencing/Negotiating
• Manages Resources
• Partnering
• Planning and Evaluating

• Leadership
• Analytical Reasoning
• Technical Competence
• Oral Communication
• Written Communication

Supervisory Situational Judgement Test: Applicants will be required to complete a Supervisory Situational Judgment Test (SSJT) as part of the assessment process for this position. The SSJT evaluates judgment, decision-making, and leadership competencies associated with effective supervision in a Federal work environment. This is not a timed test, however, the assessment is expected to take approximately 45 minutes or less to complete. This assessment is required for all applicants. If you do not complete the assessment, it will result in an incomplete application and you will receive no further consideration.

Overstating your qualifications and/or experience in your application materials or application questionnaire may result in your removal from consideration. Cheating on an assessment may also result in your removal from consideration.

To apply for this position, you must provide a complete Application Package to include the documents detailed below. Resumes may not exceed two pages and must be legible for review of eligibility, minimum qualifications and other position requirements listed in the job announcement. Your resume and supporting documentation will be verified. Failure to submit the documents as specified may result in loss of consideration for this job announcement.

• Resume:
  • Contact Information:
    • Name and how best to contact you, including email address and phone number
  • Relevant Work Experience:
    • For each relevant work experience, make sure you include:
      • Job Title and Employer (including series and grade for any Federal positions)
      • Start and end dates with month/year (e.g., 05/2019 - 08/2022)
      • The number of hours you worked per week
    • Ensure work experience descriptions are aligned with the job announcement and address all required qualifications. Brief descriptions should demonstrate your ability to perform the tasks at the required level as stated in the job announcement
  • Education/Certification/ Licensure:
    • When relevant or required for the position, include your possession of education/ certification/license and provide any required documentation such as transcripts, and/or details (type and date) of certifications and/or licenses
      • Education information should include:
        • Name of school/institution
        • Completion date
        • Degree type
        • Cumulative Grade point average (GPA)
  • Optional Details:
    • When relevant, include:
      • Current Security Clearance
      • Job-related training
      • Language skills
      • Organizations and affiliations
      • Professional publications
      • Eligibility for special programs (e.g., military spouses, individuals with disabilities, etc.)
• Current Federal Employees:
  • Your most recent APPOINTMENT SF-50. The most recent 1XX or 5XX SF-50 proving status. This SF-50 should identify your appointing legal authority, position title, series, grade, step, salary, tenure, and type of service (Competitive or Excepted). Note: This will show the Location of Position's Organization and Duty Station.
  • Your SF-50 reflecting when you entered your highest grade and step (e.g., Within Grade Increase, Promotion, Appointment, etc.) in order to verify time-in-grade requirements. Note: Multiple SF-50's may be required to confirm time-in-grade.
• Current VBA Employees: If you are seeking a reassignment/change to lower grade, you must submit a copy of your most recent SF-50 that reflects when you entered your highest grade and step as described above.

Additional Documents accepted:

• Most recent Performance Appraisal (VA Form 0750)
• Award SF-50s
• CTAP documentation - RIF notice, SF-50 showing VA employee, and performance appraisal

Next steps