Clarification from the agency

NOTE: The 2-page Resume requirement does not apply to this position. For more information, refer to Required Documents below.

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The Supervisory Rehabilitation Counselor provides comprehensive oversight and discipline-specific clinical supervision to professional Rehabilitation Counselors and other vocational staff.

As an autonomous practitioner and manager, the supervisor translates national VHA directives into local policies, manages substantial budgetary resources, and ensures program compliance with accrediting bodies like CARF and The Joint Commission. The role requires a high degree of independent judgment in clinical and administrative matters, ultimately aiming to promote optimal functioning and community reintegration for Veterans.

Major Duties and Responsibilities
- Supervision and Personnel Management:
- Provides direct administrative and clinical oversight for a significant number of professional Rehabilitation Counselors and vocational staff.
- Interviews, selects, and recommends candidates for appointment, promotion, or reassignment.
- Evaluates employee performance, manages attendance and leave, and effects minor disciplinary actions such as warnings or reprimands.
- Identifies staff developmental needs and establishes continuing education opportunities and formal peer reviews.
- Resolves informal employee complaints and interacts with union representatives on personnel matters.
- Program Administration and Strategic Planning:
- Leads and manages all aspects of the clinical rehabilitation service delivery system, including the development of long-range strategic plans and multiyear work goals.
- Synthesizes national handbooks and legislation to develop and revise local policies, risk management plans, and operating procedures.
- Forecasts future work assignments, adjusts workloads, and establishes labor mapping to ensure organizational proficiency.
- Serves as the primary point for implementing and evaluating employment services within the medical facility.
- Financial and Resource Oversight:
- Exercises discretionary authority over the organization's budget, including the allocation and distribution of funds.
- Maintains accounting controls as an approving official for CWT expenditures, payroll, and fund control points.
- Estimates budgetary needs based on historical data, anticipated workloads, and resource requirements.
- Approves and signs Memorandums of Agreement for Transitional Work components.
- Clinical Leadership and Quality Assurance:
- Ensures program conformance to standards set by The Joint Commission and CARF.
- Utilizes qualitative and quantitative data-driven methods to implement program evaluation tools and process improvements.
- Provides individual and group training and consultation within the clinical specialization of rehabilitation counseling.
- Oversees or serves as a Primary Investigator for clinical research or process improvement projects in conjunction with the Internal Review Board.
- Liaison and Professional Representation:
- Represents VHA Vocational Rehabilitation at meetings with leadership, professional organizations, and community stakeholders.
- Establishes and maintains relationships with community organizations to provide competitive employment opportunities for Veterans.
- Chairs or participates in administrative task groups and professional peer review committees.
- Direct Clinical Services (As Needed):
- Provides rehabilitation services using evidence-based modalities, including biopsychosocial assessments and personal adjustment counseling.
- Assists Veterans with severe disabilities in overcoming barriers to achieve competitive employment and independent living goals.

Supervisory Probation: This position requires the completion of a one-year supervisory probationary period.

Work Schedule: Monday - Friday, 7:30am - 4:00pm
Telework: AD-HOC
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Functional Statement #: 22098F
Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized
Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized

Conditions of employment

• You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job.
• All applicants tentatively selected for VA employment in a testing designated position are subject to urinalysis to screen for illegal drug use prior to appointment. Applicants who refuse to be tested will be denied employment with VA.
• Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959.
• Must be proficient in written and spoken English.
• Subject to background/security investigation.
• Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process. Acceptable form(s) of identification will be required to complete pre-employment requirements (https://www.uscis.gov/i-9-central/form-i-9-acceptable-documents). Effective May 7, 2025, driver's licenses or state-issued dentification cards that are not REAL ID compliant cannot be utilized as an acceptable form of identification for employment.
• Must pass pre-employment physical examination.
• Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP).
• Complete all application requirements detailed in the "Required Documents" section of this announcement.

As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you will be required to serve a 1 or 2-year trial 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 the Federal service.

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

Qualifications

Applicants pending the completion of educational or certification/licensure requirements may be referred and tentatively selected but may not be hired until all requirements are met.

Basic Requirements:

• United States Citizenship: Non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy.
• Education.
  1. A master's degree in rehabilitation counseling or clinical rehabilitation counseling from a rehabilitation counseling program accredited by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP). If the applicant's degree was granted prior to July 1, 2017, the program must be accredited by the Council on Rehabilitation Education. OR
  2. A master's degree in counseling or clinical rehabilitation counseling from a college or university accredited by a national or regional accrediting body accredited by Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA). OR
  3. A master's or doctoral degree in a related field of study with course content that emphasized rehabilitation, counseling, disability, therapy, health, employment, wellness, or human development from a college or university accredited by a national or regional accrediting body accredited by CHEA. OR
  4. Foreign graduates with a degree acceptable by the Commission on Rehabilitation Counselor Certification (CRCC).
• Certification. Current, full and unrestricted certification as a certified rehabilitation counselor (CRC) from the CRCC to practice vocational rehabilitation counseling.
• Physical Requirements. See VA Directive and Handbook 5019, Employee Occupational Health Service.
• English Language Proficiency. Candidates must be proficient in spoken and written English to be appointed as authorized by 38 U.S.C. § 7403(f).
• Driver's License: A current, valid state-issued Driver's License is required for this position. NOTE: We cannot accept photographs, therefore; please do not submit a copy of your license with your application package.

May qualify based on being covered by the Grandfathering Provision as described in the VA Qualification Standard for this occupation (only applicable to current VHA employees who are in this occupation and meet the criteria).

Grade Determination: In addition to the basic requirements for employment, the following criteria must be met when determining the grade of candidates.

Supervisory Rehabilitation Counselor, GS-13

Experience. Completion of one year of professional experience equivalent to the next lower grade level directly related to the position being filled.

Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills and Abilities (KSAs). In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate all of the following KSAs:

• Skilled in program management/administration of a wide range of rehabilitation programs, including such areas as clinical specialties, finance, accountability, oversight of work performed by program staff, consultation, negotiation and monitoring to successfully operate and enhance all programs.
• Ability to provide individual and group training, orientation, consultation and guidance within clinical specialization of rehabilitation counseling practice to develop, improve and maintain programming.
• Ability to monitor program outcomes using a data driven quality assurance process to make decisions associated with program management and the development of productivity standards appropriate to the service provided.
• Ability to translate leadership goals and objectives into well-coordinated and controlled work processes for effective program operations.
• Extensive knowledge of all legal guidelines governing the operation of CWT programs, their scope and their effect on clinical programming and service delivery.
• Skill in leading others, assess employee strengths, opportunities for growth and qualifications to accomplish program goals, adapt work operations and guide staff.

Assignment. For all assignments above the full performance level, the higher-level duties must consist of significant scope, administrative independence, complexity (difficulty) and range of variety as described in this standard at the specified grade level and be performed by the incumbent at least 25% of the time. Serve as supervisor and program manager. Manage the administrative and clinical aspects of a major specialty treatment program, such as CWT, physical medicine & rehabilitation program, CWT-transitional residence (CWT-TR), homeless Veterans program, mental health residential rehabilitation treatment program or a psychosocial rehabilitation and recovery center located at one facility or multiple divisions of a facility. Coordinate interdisciplinary staffing, work assignments, budget, treatment services provided and admission, transition and discharge criteria for the programs. Supervise employees assigned to the program. Serve on local, VISN, and/or national VA committees or task forces and/or represents VA at professional/program community group/events and committees. Manage allocated budgetary resources and supervises the expenditure of funds; e.g., administrative travel, supplies, equipment and staff development in an efficient and economical manner. Utilize wide latitude and independent judgment in exercising line and staff authority for administrative and programmatic resource allocations (e.g., budgets, purchasing, labor mapping) within major specialty programs. Integrate major specialty treatment programs and services into the entire mental health continuum of care in collaboration with the senior leadership. Conduct surveys of rehabilitation facilities and agencies to promote the establishment of suitable medical and rehabilitation services not currently available, or to develop and implement pilot rehabilitation projects.

The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-13.

Physical Requirements: The physical demands of this position involve primarily walking, talking, driving, use of the telephone, etc. Strenuous physical activity is not required although the incumbent is expected to withstand pressure and stress as part of their day-to-day activities.

Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/.

How you will be evaluated

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

IN DESCRIBING YOUR EXPERIENCE, PLEASE BE CLEAR AND SPECIFIC. WE MAY NOT MAKE ASSUMPTIONS REGARDING YOUR EXPERIENCE. Your application, resume, C.V., and/or supporting documentation will be verified. Please follow all instructions carefully. Errors or omissions may affect consideration for employment.

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.

The Department of Veterans Affairs performs pre-employment reference checks as an assessment method used in the hiring process to verify information provided by a candidate (e.g., on resume or during interview or hiring process); gain additional knowledge regarding a candidate's abilities; and assist a hiring manager with making a final selection for a position.

It is the policy of the VA to not deny employment to those that have faced financial hardships or periods of unemployment.

Veterans and Transitioning Service Members: Please visit the VA for Vets site for career-search tools for Veterans seeking employment at VA, career development services for our existing Veterans, and coaching and reintegration support for military service members.