Commonwealth Workforce Development System – Vocational Rehabilitation Specialist

Commonwealth of Pennsylvania; Pennsylvania; Hybrid; USD 62,000 - 76,000; Full time

Job summary

Commonwealth of Pennsylvania seeks a Vocational Rehabilitation Specialist to support statewide efforts in enhancing vocational rehabilitation systems and aligning technology with program needs. You will coordinate CWDS development with agencies and vendors, analyze data, and engage subject experts to drive improvements.

The role involves testing changes pre-deployment and assisting with staff training materials.

Qualifications

• Three years of professional experience in rehabilitation-related fields.
• Bachelor’s degree required; graduate study may substitute for experience.
• Equivalent combination of experience and training may be accepted.

Responsibilities

• Coordinate CWDS development efforts with bureaus, executive staff, partnering agencies, and vendors.
• Gather and review system enhancement requirements and evaluate their impact on system integrity.
• Identify and collaborate with vocational rehabilitation experts across multiple offices to support development needs.
• Analyze data and collaborate with analysts and vendors to address issues and support improvements.
• Conduct testing of system changes in various environments to ensure accuracy before deployment.
• Assist in developing and delivering CWDS training and materials for staff.

Skills

Rehabilitation experience

Vocational guidance

Employment counseling

Psychology

Social work

Education

Bachelor's degree

Graduate study in behavioral sciences

Job description

THE POSITION

The Vocational Rehabilitation Specialist with the Office of Vocational Rehabilitation plays a key role in improving systems that support individuals seeking employment opportunities. This position offers the chance to collaborate with partners across the state and contribute to meaningful program enhancements. It provides a positive environment where your technology skills and program knowledge make a real impact. Join a team that values innovation and career growth.

DESCRIPTION OF WORK

This position supports statewide efforts to enhance vocational rehabilitation systems and ensure that technology aligns with program needs. It requires coordination, communication, and expertise to support key development activities. As a Vocational Rehabilitation Specialist, you will perform the following duties:

• System Coordination: Coordinate CWDS development efforts with bureaus, executive staff, partnering agencies, and vendors
• Requirement Review: Gather and review system enhancement requirements and evaluate their impact on system integrity
• Subject Expert Engagement: Identify and collaborate with vocational rehabilitation experts across multiple offices to support development needs
• Data Analysis: Analyze data and collaborate with analysts and vendors to address issues and support improvements
• Testing Activities: Conduct testing of system changes in various environments to ensure accuracy before deployment
• Training Support: Assist in developing and delivering CWDS training and materials for staff

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 negotiable: 7.5-hour workday and lunch period is 30 minutes (or 60 minutes depending on work hours).
• The position is AWS (alternate work schedule) eligible.
• Telework: You may have the opportunity to work from home (telework) part-time, upon 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 in Harrisburg. 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 $69,086.00 (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

• Three years of professional experience in rehabilitation work, vocational guidance, employment counseling or placement, psychology, or social work, two years of which must have been in the field of vocational rehabilitation; and a bachelor’s degree; or
• Any equivalent combination of experience and training. Graduate study in the behavioral sciences may be substituted for the required general experience on a year-for-year basis up to a maximum of one year.

Other Requirements

• You must meet the PA residency requirement . For more information on ways to meet PA residency requirements, follow the link and click on Residency.
• 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.

Veterans

• Pennsylvania law (51 Pa. C.S.
  1. provides employment preference for qualified veterans for appointment to many state and local government jobs. To learn more about employment preferences for veterans, go to www.pa.gov/agencies/employment/how-to-apply.html and click on Veterans.

Telecommunications Relay Service (TRS)

• 711 (hearing and speech disabilities or other individuals).

If you are contacted for an interview and need accommodations due to a disability, please discuss your request for accommodations with the interviewer in advance of your interview date.

The Commonwealth is an equal employment opportunity employer and is committed to a diverse workforce. The Commonwealth values inclusion as we seek to recruit, develop, and retain the most qualified people to serve the citizens of Pennsylvania. The Commonwealth does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religious creed, ancestry, union membership, age, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, AIDS or HIV status, disability, or any other categories protected by applicable federal or state law. All diverse candidates are encouraged to apply.

EXAMINATION INFORMATION

• Completing the application, including all supplemental questions, serves as your exam for this position. No additional exam is required at a test center (also referred to as a written exam).

• Your score is based on the detailed information you provide on your application and in response to the supplemental questions.

• Your score is valid for this specific posting only.

• You must provide complete and accurate information or:

• your score may be lower than deserved.

• you may be disqualified.

• You may only apply/test once for this posting.

• Your results will be provided via email.