Early Reach Coordinator (Social Worker 2)

Commonwealth of Pennsylvania; Johnstown (Cambria County); Hybrid; USD 52,000 - 64,000; Full time

Job summary

Commonwealth of Pennsylvania seeks an Early Reach Coordinator to support students with disabilities as they transition from school to work. You will counsel students, advocate for services, and coordinate resources with schools and community partners.

Role includes public outreach, collaboration with families, completing eligibility documentation, and promoting vocational rehabilitation services. Telework options may be available after training.

Qualifications

• Two years of experience as Social Worker 1 or Forensic Social Worker 1 (commonwealth titles).
• Bachelor’s degree in social work or social welfare can substitute for two years experience.
• Master’s degree in social work or social welfare qualifies you.
• Must meet PA residency requirements and be able to perform essential job functions.

Responsibilities

• Provide vocational counseling, referrals, and advocacy supporting transitions to employment.
• Collect information to identify student service needs and goals.
• Connect students and families with community agencies and services.
• Collaborate with educators, agencies, and families to strengthen transition plans.
• Assist with rehabilitation service applications and document preparation for eligibility.
• Deliver presentations and promote awareness of vocational rehabilitation services.

Skills

Counseling

Advocacy

Public outreach

Resource coordination

School partnerships

Education

Master's degree in social work/welfare

Bachelor's degree in social work/welfare

Two years experience as Social Worker 1

Job description

Turn your passion for advocacy and student success into a meaningful career as an Early Reach Coordinator with the Bureau of Vocational Rehabilitation Services. This position gives you the opportunity to work directly with students with disabilities and help them explore future employment possibilities. Every interaction can support growth, independence, and long‑term success. Join a team dedicated to empowering the next generation of workers.

This position provides coverage in Cambria, Indiana, Somerset, and Westmoreland counties.

This position supports students with disabilities as they prepare to move from school into employment and vocational rehabilitation services. The role involves counseling, advocacy, community outreach, resource coordination, and collaboration with schools, families, and service providers. As an Early Reach Coordinator, you will perform the following duties:

• Student Counseling: Provide vocational counseling, guidance, referrals, and advocacy services that support successful transitions to employment
• Needs Assessment: Gather and evaluate educational, medical, vocational, and personal information to identify student service needs and goals
• Resource Coordination: Connect students and families with community agencies, educational programs, and disability‑related services that support future success
• School Partnerships: Collaborate with educators, agency staff, and families to develop plans and strengthen transition services for students with disabilities
• Application Support: Assist with rehabilitation service applications, compile required documentation, and prepare information for eligibility determinations
• Public Outreach: Deliver presentations, participate in meetings and events, and promote awareness of vocational rehabilitation services within the community

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

Work Schedule and Additional Information:

• Full‑time employment, 37.5 hours per week, Monday - Friday
• Work hours are typically 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM with a 30‑minute lunch. Work schedule may be negotiable within a 7.5 hour work day. The position is eligible for AWS (alternate work schedule).
• 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 Johnstown or an approved office in the caseload territory. The ability to telework is subject to change at any time. Additional details may be provided during the interview.
• Salary: In some cases, the starting salary may be non‑negotiable.
• You will receive further communication regarding this position via email. Check your email, including spam/junk folders, for these notices.

QUALIFICATIONS

Minimum Experience and Training Requirements:

• Two years of experience as a Social Worker 1 or Forensic Social Worker 1 (commonwealth titles) (must have been employed in a commonwealth social worker job title on September 8, 2008, with continuous commonwealth employment); or
• Two years of experience as a Social Worker 1 or a Forensic Social Worker 1 and a bachelor’s degree in social work or social welfare; or
• Two years of professional experience providing direct public or private social work services, and a bachelor’s degree in social work or social welfare; or
• A master's degree in social work or social welfare.
• Applicants will be considered to have met the educational requirements once they are within 3 months of graduating with a qualifying degree.

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 Guidelines.
• 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.

This position is subject to the provisions of a collective bargaining agreement or memorandum of understanding.

You must be eligible for selection in accordance with merit system employment regulations.

Recruitment Methods:

• Applicants must meet one of the following methods to be considered for this vacancy:
  • Promotion Without Exam
  • Reassignment(Only current civil service employees in the same agency who hold the same or similar job title, with the same maximum salary, within the same occupational group or where there is a logical career movement, will qualify for reassignment.)
    • Meritorious service is defined as the absence of any discipline above the level of written reprimand during the 12 months preceding the closing date of the posting, and the last regular or probationary performance evaluation showing an overall rating of satisfactory or higher.
  • Transfer (Only current civil service employees who hold the same job title will qualify for transfer to another agency.)
    • Meritorious service is defined as the absence of any discipline above the level of written reprimand during the 12 months preceding the closing date of the posting, and the last regular or probationary performance evaluation showing an overall rating of satisfactory or higher.
  • Voluntary Demotion
  • Reinstatement(Former civil service employees may only be reinstated to the job title from which they resigned. Current civil service employees are not eligible through reinstatement.)

Promotion Without Examination (PWOE):

• Class Restrictions for Promotion Without Examination Only - You must have or have held regular civil service status in one of the following classifications:
  • Forensic Social Worker 1
  • Social Worker 1
  • We will also consider applications from current Commonwealth employees in pay scale group ST06 for which there is a logical occupational, functional, or career developmental relationship to this position. All applicants must meet the minimum experience and training requirements.
• Employees who previously held regular civil service status in the job title of the position being filled are also eligible for promotion without examination.
• The promotion without examination requirements are issued in accordance with merit system employment regulations.
• Meritorious service is defined as (a) the absence of any discipline above the level of written reprimand during the 12 months preceding the closing date of the posting, and (b) the last regular or probationary performance evaluation showing an overall rating of satisfactory or higher.
• Applicants must have a minimum of one year in the next lower classes by the posting closing date with no break in service.

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.