Rehab Counselor II - Augusta

State of Maine; Maine; On-site; USD 35,000 - 44,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health Insurance Coverage

Retirement Plan

Paid holidays

Sick leave

Vacation leave

Job summary

The State of Maine seeks a professional Rehabilitation Counselor II to serve adult clients with disabilities in Knox and Lincoln counties, based at the Augusta Vocational Rehabilitation office. You will collaborate with employers, families, and community partners to place clients in meaningful employment.

The role focuses on counseling, partnership building, and comprehensive rehabilitation planning, with remote work strategies and strong documentation using the AWARE system.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in vocational rehabilitation or related field.
• Experience assisting individuals with disabilities with employment needs.
• Strong communication and collaboration abilities.

Responsibilities

• Establish counseling relationship and partnership with consumers.
• Contact business and industry groups, advocate for clients, and assist with job placements.
• Build partnerships within the workforce development system.
• Evaluate medical/psychological information and develop a rehabilitation plan leading to employment.
• Maintain accurate documentation using the AWARE system.

Skills

Interpersonal skills

Oral communication

Written communication

Remote work strategies

Time management

Detail oriented

Education

Bachelor's degree in vocational rehabilitation

Job description

If you are a current State of Maine employee, please submit your application through the internal application process using the Find Jobs report in PRISM. Seasonal employees who do not have PRISM access should apply through the State's career page and indicate on the application that they have previously worked for the State.

Department of Labor, Bureau of Rehabilitation Services, Division of Vocational Rehabilitation

Job Class Code: 3082

Grade: 22 (Professional/Technical)

Salary: $25.23 - $32.28 (Hourly- includes a 2% stipend)

Location: Augusta, ME

Opening Date: September 3, 2026

Closing Date: September 18, 2026

Currently, this position is not eligible for visa sponsorship or STEM OPT extensions.

Who is this role for?

• Are you a professional seeking an opportunity to work in a supportive team environment?


• Are you a skilled communicator who enjoys thinking creatively, having autonomy in your work, and developing strong partnerships?


• Are you able to effectively organize and prioritize multiple tasks and manage details successfully?

If so, the Rehabilitation Counselor II position may be a great match for you!

The Division of Vocational Rehabilitation seeks qualified candidates for a full-time Rehabilitation Counselor II position. The candidate selected for this position will work from the Vocational Rehabilitation office co-located with the Augusta CareerCenter.

This professional will serve adult clients with various disabilities in Knox and Lincoln counties to achieve their employment goals and conduct extensive work with partners including individuals with disabilities, families, employers, Clubhouse, and community providers.

Primary responsibilities include:

• Establishing a counseling relationship and partnership with consumers.


• Contacting business and industry groups, advocating for clients, and offering incentives and assistance to place clients in jobs.


• Building partnerships within the workforce development system.


• Evaluating and interpreting medical and psychological information, then assessing client needs and available resources to develop and implement a comprehensive rehabilitation plan leading to employment.


• Maintaining accurate documentation using AWARE computer-based client data system.

Skills or knowledge required:

• Strategies to effectively work remotely.


• Strong interpersonal, oral and written communication skills.


• Flexibility and problem-solving skills.


• Knowledge of the local labor market.


• Ability to work well as a member of a team.


• Excellent prioritization, organization and time management skills.


• Detail-oriented documentation.


• Frequent local and occasional statewide travel.

Minimum qualifications:

A bachelor's degree in a field related to vocational rehabilitation and 2 years of experience demonstrating knowledges and abilities in assisting individuals with disabilities, employers and other stakeholders with their employment and workforce needs.

Contact information:

Questions about this position should be directed to Samantha Fenderson, [e-mail]

Benefits of working for the State of Maine:

• Work-Life Balance - Rest is essential. Take time for yourself using 13 paid holidays, 12 days of sick leave, and 3+ weeks of vacation leave annually. Vacation leave accrual increases with years of service, and overtime-exempt employees receive personal leave.


• Health Insurance Coverage - The State of Maine pays 85%-100% of employee-only premiums ($11,857.68-$13,950.24 annual value), depending on salary. Use this chart to find the premium costs for you and your family, including the percentage of dependent coverage paid by the State.


• Health Insurance Premium Credit - Participation decreases employee-only premiums by 5%. Visit the Office of Employee Health and Wellness for more information about program requirements.


• Dental Insurance - The State of Maine pays 100% of employee-only dental premiums ($365.28 annual value).


• Retirement Plan - The State of Maine contributes 14.06% of pay to the Maine Public Employees Retirement System (MainePERS), on behalf of the employee.


• Gym Membership Reimbursement - Improve overall health with regular exercise and receive up to $40 per month to offset this expense.


• Health and Dependent Care Flexible Spending Accounts - Set aside money pre-tax to help pay for out-of-pocket health care expenses and/or daycare expenses.


• Public Service Student Loan Forgiveness - The State of Maine is a qualified employer for this federal program. For more information, visit the Federal Student Aid office.


• Living Resources Program - Navigate challenging work and life situations with our employee assistance program.


• Parental leave is one of the most important benefits for any working parent. All employees who are welcoming a child-including fathers and adoptive parents-receive forty-two (42) consecutive calendar days of fully paid parental leave. Additional, unpaid leave may also be available, under the Family and Medical Leave Act.


• Voluntary Deferred Compensation - Save additional pre-tax funds for retirement in a MaineSaves 457(b) account through payroll deductions.

State employees are eligible for an extensive and highly competitive benefits package, covering many aspects of wellness. Learn about additional wellness benefits for State employees from the Office of Employee Health and Wellness.

Note: Benefits may vary somewhat according to specific collective bargaining agreements and are prorated for anything less than full-time.

There's a job and then there's purposeful, transformative work. Our aim is to create a workplace where you can learn, grow, and continuously refine your skills. Applicants demonstrate job requirements in differing ways, and we appreciate that many skills and backgrounds can make people successful in this role.

As an Equal Opportunity employer, Maine State Government embraces a culture of respect and awareness. We are committed to creating a strong sense of belonging for all team members, and our process ensures an inclusive environment to applicants of all backgrounds including diverse race, color, sex, sexual orientation or gender identity, physical or mental disability, religion, age, ancestry, national origin, familial status or genetics.

If you're looking for a great next step, and want to feel good about what you do, we'd love to hear from you. Please note reasonable accommodations are provided to qualified individuals with disabilities upon request.

Thinking about applying? Research shows that people from historically excluded communities tend to apply to jobs only when they check every box in the posting. If you're currently reading this and hesitating to apply for that reason, we encourage you to go for it! Let us know how your experience and passion set you apart.