Vocational Rehabilitation Specialist

Full Job Description

The Vocational Rehabilitation Specialist position is located at VA Maine Healthcare System, at the Augusta, ME campus. This position is Full time, 40 hours a week.

To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 02/12/2026.

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 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: 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: Experience providing vocational rehabilitation services to individuals with mental health conditions and co-occurring physical impairments.

This includes assisting with the development and implementation of individualized vocational plans; conducting assessments of interests, abilities, and work limitations; and providing vocational counseling to support employment and educational goals.

Experience collaborating with interdisciplinary teams and external organizations to facilitate training, job placement, and reasonable accommodations.

Skilled in monitoring progress toward treatment goals, administering career assessments, and delivering counseling to promote adjustment to disability and achievement of vocational objectives.

NOTE: Experience must be fully documented on your resume and must include job title, duties, month & year starting and ending dates AND hours worked per week.

OR, Education: Applicants may substitute education for the required experience. To qualify based on education for this grade level you must have completed a Ph.D.

or equivalent doctoral degree OR I have successfully completed 3 full years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to such a degree in vocational rehabilitation, vocational or educational counseling, or other fields related to the position.

OR I have successfully completed a LL.M., if related. TRANSCRIPTS REQUIRED.. OR, Combination: Applicants may also combine education and experience to qualify at this level.

You must have a combination of specialized experience and education beyond a master's degree or more than 2 full years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to such a degree in vocational rehabilitation, vocational or educational counseling, or other fields related to the position.

TRANSCRIPTS REQUIRED Have you successfully completed this requirement? (To be creditable, this must be supported by your application materials).

You will be rated on the following Competencies for this position: Customer Service Interpersonal Skills Communication and Media 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: Work is primarily of a sedentary nature; however, there may be extensive walking involved when visiting other services in the medical center as well as on-site employment/community resource visits.

Work Environment: Work will primarily be in an office setting with occasional department rounds to include indoor and outdoor activities of assigned CWT workers.

The VRS Specialist will utilize appropriate safety precautions conducive to the work environments outside of the office, i.e. application of sunscreen, safety googles and personal protective equipment.

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:

The Vocational Rehabilitation Specialist (VRS) serves as the Coordinator for Compensated Work Therapy (CWT) services, including Transitional Work (TW) and Supported Employment (SE).

This role provides vocational rehabilitation services to Veterans with mental health conditions or co-occurring physical impairments, helping them achieve employment and educational goals through individualized treatment planning, counseling, and program coordination.

Major duties may include but are not limited to: Coordinate CWT programs (TW and SE) and manage referrals.

Perform administrative and managerial tasks, including program planning, policy updates, and resource justification. Participate in interdisciplinary performance improvement activities.

Screen Veterans for vocational interests, skills, and limitations. Develop individualized vocational rehabilitation plans in collaboration with treatment teams.

Provide ongoing vocational counseling and monitor progress toward treatment goals. Advise Veterans on educational and vocational training opportunities.

Assess learning styles, academic levels, and recommend accommodations. Collaborate with educational institutions, training providers, and financial aid resources.

Identify and coordinate suitable community employment opportunities. Establish and monitor work assignments; promote successful job adjustment.

Maintain employer relationships and oversee placement programs. Track Veterans' progress and provide counseling during transitions.

Resolve workplace challenges and ensure positive employer relationships. Document evaluations, progress notes, and discharge summaries in Computerized Patient Record System (CPRS).

Manage CWT funds, prepare vouchers, reconcile accounts, and ensure fiscal compliance.

Prepare and submit required reports (Northeast Program Evaluation Center (NEPEC) forms, staffing reports, annual program reports). Consult with Veterans, families, and interdisciplinary teams.

Participate in treatment planning meetings and performance improvement activities. Work Schedule: Monday-Friday; 7:30am-4:00pm. Telework: This position may be authorized for ad-hoc telework.

Telework eligibility will be discussed during the interview process. Virtual: This is not a virtual position.

Position Description/PD#: Vocational Rehabilitation Specialist/PD038070 Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Critical Skills Incentive (CSI): Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized Notifications: This position is in the Competitive Service.

This position is covered by locality-based comparability pay. Veterans' preference does not apply for internal or other current permanent Federal agency employees.

Interchange Agreements with Other Merit System: Employees who occupy medical or medical-related positions and were appointed under 38 U.S.C. 4701

or

[formerly 38 U.S.C. 4104

and

] must be serving in a full-time position without time limit and have served continuously for at least one year in this other merit system to be eligible to convert to the Title 5 System.

Some exceptions to this rule may apply if you have previously acquired tenure under a Title 5 appointment.

Current and former Federal employees must submit copies of their most recent SF-50, (Notice of Personnel Action).

The SF-50 must identify the position title, series, grade, step, tenure and type of service (Competitive or Excepted).

In some cases, more than one SF-50 may be required to show a higher grade previously held. This position is not a Bargaining Unit position.

Time-in-Grade Restriction: 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.

The grade may have been in any occupation but must have been held in the Federal service. Selectee may be required to work at any VA Maine Healthcare System campus, as needed.

May be required to attend conference at other facilities or other VA sites on occasion. The incumbent may be required to travel to other VA campuses and CBOC's.

Incomplete applications will not be considered.