Clarification from the agency

The area of consideration will be referred in the following order: 1) Current permanent Puget Sound VA HCS employees 2) Current permanent Agency (Department of Veterans Affairs) employees. NOTE: The 2-page Resume requirement does not apply to this position. For more information, refer to Required Documents below.

Videos

Duties include, but are not limited to:

• Supervise a group of interdisciplinary employees including Vocational Rehabilitation Specialists and Vocational Rehabilitation Counselors located in two different work locations.
• Manage all aspects of a fund control point and biweekly payroll for Veteran clients.
• Provide administrative, technical, and clinical supervision necessary for accomplishing the work of the units.
• Develop and maintain standard operating procedures to provide clear guidelines and facility expectations for staff.
• Perform the administrative and personnel management function relative to staff supervised.
• Established guidelines and performance expectations for staff, clearly communicated through the formal employee performance management system.
• Provide advice and counsel to workers related to work and administrative matters.
• Review and approve or disapprove leave requests.
• Assures that subordinates are trained and fully comply with the provisions of the safety regulations.
• Provides staff training and development at multiple grade levels.
• Monitor activities and program reviews, and the development and analysis of information. In addition, uses sound judgment in the interpretation of trends and patterns; the application of guidelines; and the recommendation of program enhancements.
• Perform program analysis, development, review, research, design, and contact work as possible with various agencies (public, DOD, state, etc.).
• Lead and/or facilitate clinical, facility-wide process improvements to address length of stay reflected in the Strategic Analytics for Improvement and Learning (SAIL) report and hospital performance measures as related to inpatient and specialty care.
• Responsible for oversight and completion of required suspense actions. Will provide briefing reports to local facility, VISN and National leadership.
• Provide regular reports and is actively involved with Mental Health and Executive leadership.

Work Schedule: 8AM - 4:30PM, Monday - Friday
Telework: Available (Ad-hoc only)
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Functional Statement #: 00000
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.
• 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.
• A valid state issued driver's license with a clean driving history in accordance with VA Policy to drive a government vehicle.
• Ability to operate and drive a government vehicle as determined by an Occupational Health driving 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

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.
• English Language Proficiency. Candidates must be proficient in spoken and written English to be appointed as authorized by 38 U.S.C. § 7403(f).
• 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 3 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.

Grade Determinations:
Supervisory Rehabilitation Counselor, GS-12

Experience. Completion of one year of professional experience equivalent to the next lower grade level (GS-11) directly related to the position being filled.

Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills and Abilities. In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate all of the following KSAs:
(a) Ability to supervise (e.g. plan, direct, oversee, review work of subordinate staff), assess employee strengths, opportunities for growth, and qualifications to accomplish program goals, adapt work operations, and guide staff.
(b) Knowledge of labor/management agreements to effectively manage issues and concerns.
(c) Knowledge of applicable accreditation bodies (i.e. Joint Commission and Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities) and their standards to ensure continuous compliance.
(d) Theoretical and practical knowledge of a range of rehabilitation delivery systems for the development, implementation, management and growth of rehabilitation programs and services.
(e) Knowledge of business administration practices such as managing participant payroll, accounting, budget planning, to successfully operate a rehabilitation program.

Preferred Experience: At least 1 year of supervisory experience for Vocational Rehabilitation.

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

The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-12.

Physical Requirements: Light lifting and carrying (under 15 lbs.) operation of motor vehicle, ability for rapid mental and muscular coordination simultaneously, and ability to complete PMDB training. Environmental factors include working closely with others, and working alone.

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.