Clarification from the agency

This vacancy is open to current, permanent employees of the Waco/Houston VBA Regional Office and CTAP eligibles only.

Specific duties include:

• The principal work duties of VBA Supervisory Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor (SVRC) 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.

• 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.

• 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, evaluates work performance of subordinates; gives advice, counsels, or instructions to employees on both work and administrative matters; interviews candidates for positions in the unit; recommends appointments, promotions, or reassignments; hears and resolves complaints and grievances from employees. Recommend awards or bonuses for staff employees. Incumbent will work with a team of Counseling Psychologists, Vocational Rehabilitation Counselors, Employment Coordinators, and Program Support Specialists.

• 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.

• 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: Eligible
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Position Description/PD#: Supervisory Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor; 39814-A
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.

Upon completion of your probation, 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
• You may be required to serve a probationary period
• 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

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.

Qualifications

To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement:06/05/2026.

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.

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.

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:

a. EDUCATION: Successful completion of a master's degree (or higher) in rehabilitation counseling, rehabilitation services, clinical rehabilitation counseling, counseling psychology, mental health counseling, career counseling or social work from an accredited college or university.

**NOTE: ALL transcripts (not diploma) MUST have a conferred date. Failure to submit a transcript without a conferred or graduation date will result in non-consideration for the position.**

b. INTERNSHIP OR EXPERIENCE REQUIREMENT: The required (1) supervised internship or (2) post-master's degree experience is described as follows:

(1) Supervised Internship: The education in paragraph 3a must have included a supervised internship in rehabilitation counseling or case management specialization. The internship must have been supervised by a professional in vocational rehabilitation or a closely related professional field that typically has oversight for vocational rehabilitation programs.

OR

(2) Experience: One-year post-master's degree experience in direct delivery of professional vocational rehabilitation services to individuals with disabilities.

OR

c. GRANDFATHERING PROVISION: Vocational Rehabilitation Counselors employed within the VBA on the effective date of (July 28, 2023) this qualification standard are considered to have met all qualification requirements for the title, series and grade held, including certifications that are part of the basic requirements of the occupation. For employees who do not meet all the basic requirements in this standard but met the qualifications applicable to the position at the time they were appointed, the following provisions apply:

1. VRCs who are grandfathered into the GS-0101 occupational series may be reassigned, promoted up to and including the full performance level of a career ladder or changed to a lower grade within the occupation or placed in a supervisory or managerial position.
2. VRCs who are appointed on a temporary basis prior to the effective date of this qualification standard may not be extended or reappointed on a temporary or permanent basis until they fully meet the basic requirements of this standard.
3. If VRCs who are grandfathered under this provision leave the occupation, they lose protected status and must meet the full qualification standard requirements in effect at the time of re-entry to the occupation.

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 GS-12 LEVEL:

• Working with employment and vocational rehabilitation programs;
• Possessing knowledge and expertise in the procedures for vocational and rehabilitation law;
• Administering counsel in the areas of career development, job placement, psychology, rehabilitation and counseling; AND
• Provide individual and group training, orientation, consultation and guidance within specialization of rehabilitation counseling practice to develop, improve and maintain programming.

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 to 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.

You will be evaluated based on how well you meet the qualifications listed in this vacancy announcement. 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
• Writing 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.