The Vocational Rehabilitation Specialist position located at the VA Medical Center in Perry Point, MD, 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, 11/17/2025. 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 GS11 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS9. 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. Vocational Rehabilitation Series 1715 Individual Occupational Requirements: Education: Undergraduate and Graduate Education: Major study -- vocational rehabilitation, vocational or educational counseling, or other fields related to the position. 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. In addition to meeting the IOR requirements above. You must meet the specialized experience/education below: 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 GS9 in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization. Examples of specialized experience would typically include, but are not limited to: Applying specialized technical knowledge and methods related to vocational rehabilitation. The work affects the livelihood and quality of life of the individuals and the operation of the agency programs. Responsible for placement of patients in vocational programs, contracted community work sites and community. The specialist is integral to Rehabilitation Services and other health care services within the VAMHCS, and the independent employment. Serves as a liaison between MHCC Vocational functioning of programs for the rehabilitation of the veteran. OR, Education: Applicants may substitute education for the required experience. To qualify based on education for this grade level you must have a Ph.D., equivalent doctoral degree, or, 3 full years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to such a degree, or an LL.M. 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 as described that demonstrates your ability to perform the duties of this position. Physical Requirements: Light lifting (under 15 lbs.); light carrying (under 15 lbs.); reaching above shoulder; use of fingers; walking (intermittent); standing (intermittent); hearing (aid permitted); clear speech. The work is sedentary. Typically, the employee may sit comfortably to do the work. However, there may be some walking, standing, bending and carrying of light items like papers or books. No special physical demands are required to perform the work. Work Environment: Work is typically performed in an adequately lighted and climate controlled office in a medical center setting or in a community setting. Emphasis will be on dealing with Veterans, employers and contacts in the community. The work environment involves everyday risks or discomforts associated with traveling in the community or working in an office environment. There may be occasional risk of harm from a violent patient, which requires special precautions and training to deal with. Specialist may use government vehicle to transport Veterans to work sites, community resources, etc. and must have a valid driver's license. Specialist performs duties at any of the sites comprising the VA Maryland Healthcare System. You may qualify based on your experience and/or education as described below: 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 will include: Based on referral from a professional staff member and by conducting an assessment, determines the vocational goals and objectives of the client. Providing vocational and readjustment counseling to Veterans. Plans and conducts individual and group counseling sessions. May meet with Veterans' families to assist in counseling activities. Conducts interviews designed to evaluate the Veteran's vocational aptitudes and potential; educational and work history and psychiatric and physical limitations, which may impede the educational process. Coordinates and/or administers and interprets a full range of standardized objective tests of scholastic aptitude, interests, achievement, motor performance and personality measures. Completes vocational counseling consultation requests integrating all data derived from interviews, tests administered, medical records and counseling. Develops individual vocational plans based on information derived from assessment and counseling activities to achieve an educational or occupational goal. Coordinates with various resources to locate a training facility in the community that will be specifically suitable from the standpoint of the particular needs and problems of the individual. Conduct vocational skills development sessions for those Veterans who require remedial training prior to participating in educational or vocational training or job placement. Counseling focuses on developing job interviewing skills, use of community resources, maintaining appropriate personal appearance, interpersonal communications, completing job applications, resumes, etc. Maintains current knowledge of labor market conditions, employment trends, skill requirements of occupations and community resources to assure full utilization of all opportunities in the rehabilitation of the veteran. Work Schedule: M-F 8am-4:30pm Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Position Description/PD#: Vocational Rehabilitation Specialist/PD07502A Critical Skills Incentive (CSI): Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized