About this role
Job Summary
This position is located in Mental Health Service Line, at Bedford VA Medical Center, Bedford, MA. The primary purpose of this position is to provide highly individualized and complex rehabilitation, support and services to Veterans seeking to improve their vocational functioning.
Qualifications
IN ORDER TO QUALIFY FOR THIS POSITION AT THE GS-9 LEVEL YOU MUST MEET THE FOLLOWING REQUIREMENTS: SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE GS-9: You must have at least one (1) full year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade level (GS-7) in the Federal Service that has given you the particular knowledge, skills and abilities required to successfully perform the duties of a Vocational Development Specialist and that is typically in or related to the work of the position to be filled.
Specialized experience includes: 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. ADDITIONAL SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE REQUIRED AT THE GS-9
LEVEL INCLUDES
assisting with individualized assessments to determine level of support necessary for patients; assisting with the development of employment opportunities through community-based job development; locating, evaluating, and recommending approval of training facilities for vocational rehabilitation participants. NOTE: THIS EXPERIENCE MUST BE SUPPORTED BY YOUR RESUME TO BE CREDITABLE. ~OR~ SUBSTITUTION OF EDUCATION FOR EXPERIENCE GS-9: You must have successfully completed a master's or equivalent graduate degree or 2 full years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to such a degree with a major study in vocational rehabilitation, vocational or educational counseling, or other fields related to the position or an LL.B. or J.D., if related to the position.
Education must have been obtained from an accredited college or university. (COPY OF TRANSCRIPTS ARE REQUIRED AT TIME OF APPLICATION) ~OR~ COMBINATION OF EXPERIENCE AND EDUCATION GS-9: You must have equivalent combinations of successfully completed graduate level education (beyond the second year) and specialized experience, as described above, which may be used to meet total experience requirements for this grade level. The education must have been obtained in an accredited college or university.
(THIS EXPERIENCE MUST BE SUPPORTED BY YOUR RESUME TO BE CREDITABLE AND COPY OF TRANSCRIPTS ARE REQUIRED AT TIME OF APPLICATION) IN ORDER TO QUALIFY FOR THIS POSITION AT THE GS-11 LEVEL YOU MUST MEET THE FOLLOWING REQUIREMENTS: SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE GS-11: You must have at least one (1) full year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade level (GS-9) in the Federal Service that has given you the particular knowledge, skills and abilities required to successfully perform the duties of a Vocational Rehabilitation Specialist and that is typically in or related to the work of the position to be filled. ADDITIONAL SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE REQUIRED AT THE GS-11
LEVEL INCLUDES
creating individualized assessments to determine level of support necessary for patients; developing employment opportunities through community-based job development; monitoring performance and progress through case reviews; maintaining a database of referral and placement outcomes used to identify aspects of successful program operations and recommended improvements. NOTE: THIS EXPERIENCE MUST BE SUPPORTED BY YOUR RESUME TO BE CREDITABLE. ~OR~ SUBSTITUTION OF EDUCATION FOR EXPERIENCE GS-11: You must have successfully completed a Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree or 3 full years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to such a degree with a major study in vocational rehabilitation, vocational or educational counseling, or other fields related to the position.
(COPY OF TRANSCRIPTS ARE REQUIRED AT TIME OF APPLICATION) ~OR~ COMBINATION OF EXPERIENCE AND EDUCATION GS-11: You must have equivalent combinations of successfully completed graduate level education (beyond the second year) and specialized experience, as described above, which may be used to meet total experience requirements for this grade level. (THIS EXPERIENCE MUST BE SUPPORTED BY YOUR RESUME TO BE CREDITABLE AND COPY OF TRANSCRIPTS ARE REQUIRED AT TIME OF APPLICATION) 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
- THIS IS NOT A VIRTUAL POSITION, YOU MUST LIVE WITHIN OR BE WILLING TO RELOCATE WITHIN A COMMUTABLE DISTANCE OF THE DUTY LOCATION This position involves a multi-grade career ladder.
- The major duties listed below represent the full performance level of GS-11.
- At the GS-09 grade level, you will perform assignments of a more limited scope and with less independence.
- You will progressively acquire the background necessary to perform at the full performance level of GS-11.
- Promotion is at the discretion of the supervisor and is contingent upon satisfactory performance, availability of higher level work, and availability of funds.
- Major duties and responsibilities include: Providing highly individualized and complex rehabilitation, support and services to veterans seeking to improve their vocational functioning.
- Determining the vocational goals and objectives of the client.
- Coordinating with various resources to locate a training facility that will be specifically suitable from the standpoint of the particular needs and problems of the individual.
- Establishing training programs to satisfy common needs of the client base (i.e., literacy training, customer service training, effective communications, etc.).
- Monitoring placement while promoting successful adjustment.
- Providing ongoing support, counseling and guiding them through difficult transitions or rough spots in the adjustment to the job and helping them maintain employment on an on-going basis as long as client seeks assistance.
- Understanding the nature of the client's limitations while maintaining a positive impression of the client's capability to succeed.
- Assisting in the evaluation of the results of the program and make sound professional arguments for recommended changes.
- Performing other duties as assigned.
Work Schedule: Monday-Friday, 5:30am-2:00pm Recruitment & Relocation Incentives: Not authorized Critical Skills Incentive (CSI): Not approved
Requirements
You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job To be considered for this position, you must complete all required steps in the process. In addition to the application and questionnaire, this position requires an online assessment. The online assessment measures critical general competencies required to perform the 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 Physical
Requirements
Work is typically performed in a wide range of setting, including in the community at various job sites, and within the medical center. The main work environment within the hospital is an adequately lighted and climate controlled office. 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 identification cards that are not REAL ID compliant cannot be utilized as an acceptable form of identification for employment.
Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP) - See "Required Documents" below for details. 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; and whether your continued employment would advance the efficiency of the Federal service. Upon completion of your probationary, your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest.