Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor (Multiple Vacancies)

THE POSITION

Are you searching for a rewarding career helping people with disabilities gain the skills necessary to live and work independently in their communities within a high-population area? The Office of Vocational Rehabilitation (OVR) is hiring Vocational Rehabilitation Counselors to join the fast-paced and dynamic team at our Bureau of Vocational Rehabilitation Services - Pittsburgh District Office. This role relies on an understanding of vocational rehabilitation services and applying that knowledge to assist individuals with disabilities in obtaining gainful employment. If you are interested in experiencing the satisfaction of public service while enjoying professional career growth, the Department of Labor and Industry wants you to apply!

DESCRIPTION OF WORK

In this Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor position, your focus will be determining and coordinating the delivery of vocational rehabilitation services to customers, as well as developing and maintaining referral sources to ensure potential vocational rehabilitation customers are identified. You will also determine and create appropriate vocational goals for each individual, provide counseling and guidance services, and assist in job placement for each customer. This includes scheduling and meeting with potential customers, gathering information needed to initiate the vocational rehabilitation process, evaluating and documenting customer progress, and adapting service plans as needed to help the customer in achieving their vocational goal. To coordinate service delivery, you will also liaise with agency and community service providers, make decisions to arrange and approve expenditures associated with each customer's plan, and contact employers to enhance placement opportunities for our customers.

Interested in learning more? Additional details regarding this position can be found in the position description.

Work Schedule and Additional Information:

• Full-time employment
• Work hours are typically 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM, Monday - Friday, with a 30-minute lunch. Work hours may be flexible based on operational need. The selected candidate may be eligible for Alternate Work Schedules.
• Telework: You may have the opportunity to work from home (telework) part-time, after successful completion of the training period. In order to telework, you must have a securely configured high-speed internet connection and work from an approved location inside Pennsylvania. If you are unable to telework, you will have the option to report to the headquarters office. The ability to telework is subject to change at any time. Additional details may be provided during the interview.
• Salary: Selected candidates who are new to employment with the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania will begin employment at the starting annual salary of $59,345 (before taxes).
• You will receive further communication regarding this position via email. Check your email, including spam/junk folders, for these notices.

REQUIRED EXPERIENCE, TRAINING & ELIGIBILITY

QUALIFICATIONS

Minimum Experience and Training Requirements:

• Successful completion of the Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor Intern program or the Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor Trainee program (Commonwealth job title or equivalent Federal Government job title, as determined by the Office of Administration); or
• A master's degree in vocational rehabilitation, mental health, special education, social work, human services, psychology, or a closely related field; or
• Possession of an active Certified Rehabilitation Counselor certificate issued by the Commission on Rehabilitation Counselor Certification; or
• Proof of approval to sit for the Commission on Rehabilitation Counselor Certification (CRCC) Certified Rehabilitation Counselor certification examination, provided by the CRCC, and completion of a master's degree.
• Applicants will be considered to have met the educational requirements once they are within three months of graduating with a qualifying degree.

Other Requirements:

• PA residency requirement is currently waived for this title.
• You must be able to perform essential job functions.

Legal Requirements:

• This position falls under the provisions of the Child Protective Services Law.
  • Under the Law, a conditional offer of employment will require submission and approval of satisfactory criminal history reports including, but not limited to, PA State Police clearance, PA Child Abuse history clearance, and FBI Fingerprint clearance.

How to Apply:

• Resumes, cover letters, and similar documents will not be reviewed, and the information contained therein will not be considered for the purposes of determining your eligibility for the position. Information to su