Rehabilitation Counselor - Ames

State-of-Iow; Ames (IA); Hybrid; USD 52,000 - 68,000; Full time

Job summary

Iowa Vocational Rehabilitation Services (IVRS) is seeking a Rehabilitation Counselor to join our Ames team. The role supports individuals with disabilities to build meaningful, sustainable employment and independence.

Responsibilities include counseling, developing IPEs, and collaborating with schools, providers, and employers to remove barriers to competitive employment. Travel statewide with a hybrid schedule and ongoing professional development.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in a human-services-related field and one year of graduate-level education and/or full-time work in professional vocational rehabilitation counseling or related field.
• Bachelor’s degree plus twenty-four semester hours of rehabilitation counseling, human services, or related coursework.

Responsibilities

• Provide counseling, coordination, and comprehensive vocational rehabilitation services.
• Guide participants through career exploration, planning, and placement with families, schools, providers, and employers.

Skills

Counseling

Communication

Interpersonal skills

Documentation

Analysis

Education

Bachelor's degree in human-services-related field

Graduate-level coursework in rehabilitation counseling or related field

Job description

Make an Impact. Empower Careers. Strengthen Communities.

Iowa Vocational Rehabilitation Services (IVRS) is seeking a Rehabilitation Counselor to join our team at the IVRS branch office in Ames, Iowa. This role is more than a job- it is an opportunity to partner with individuals with disabilities as they build meaningful, sustainable employment and greater independence.

Position Details

• Location: 819 Wheeler St Ste 6, Ames IA
• Schedule: Full-time | Monday – Friday | 8:00 AM – 4:30 PM
• Work Flexibility: Hybrid telework and alternate schedule available after six months of employment and training have been completed.

What You’ll Do

As a Rehabilitation Counselor, you will provide counseling, coordination, and comprehensive vocational rehabilitation services to individuals with disabilities. You will guide participants through career exploration, planning, and placement while collaborating with families, schools, providers, and employers to remove barriers and create pathways to competitive, integrated employment.

Core Responsibilities

• Deliver Pre-Employment Transition Services to potentially eligible students
• Interview applicants and support teams; gather medical, psychological, educational, and social information
• Determine eligibility and Significance of Disability classifications
• Develop Individualized Plans for Employment (IPEs) tailored to each participant’s goals, interests, and abilities
• Provide counseling and guidance to support informed career decisions and long-term employment success
• Coordinate and authorize services necessary to achieve employment goals
• Interpret and apply federal regulations and agency policies consistently across cases
• Maintain accurate and timely case documentation within the case management system
• Collaborate with internal teams to meet compliance standards, timeframes, and agency goals

Business & Community Engagement

• Build partnerships with employers, community providers, schools, and workforce organizations
• Educate businesses on disability inclusion and reasonable accommodations
• Develop on-job training, work-based learning, and apprenticeship opportunities
• Collaborate with the Iowa Workforce Development Business Engagement Team for employer outreach
• Support job carving and customized employment aligned with participant strengths and goals

Additional Expectations

• Travel statewide to schools, rehabilitation facilities, businesses, and community locations
• Participate in staff meetings, training, and professional development activities

What We’re Looking For

• Strong counseling, communication, and interpersonal skills
• Ability to analyze information, exercise sound judgment, and document decisions clearly
• Commitment to equity, accessibility, and inclusive employment practices
• Collaborative mindset and comfort working with diverse stakeholders
• Organizational skills and attention to compliance and timelines

About the Agency

Iowa Vocational Rehabilitation Services (IVRS) operates within Iowa Workforce Development (IWD) and is dedicated to helping individuals with disabilities achieve independence through employment.

IWD is a statewide agency focused on connecting job seekers with opportunities and supporting employers in building strong, skilled workforces. Through IowaWORKScenters and partner offices across the state, IWD delivers demand-driven workforce services that strengthen Iowa’s economy and communities.

Benefits of Working for the State of Iowa

Joining IVRS means becoming part of a mission-driven public service team with a comprehensive benefits package:

• Health, Dental, and Vision Insurance
• Generous Paid Time Off- vacation, sick leave (no accrual cap), and nine paid holidays
• IPERS Retirement Plan plus optional deferred compensation savings
• Flexible Spending Accounts for medical and dependent care
• Life Insurance & Long-Term Disability Coverage
• Employee Assistance & Discount Programs
• Professional development and career growth opportunities

Click here to learn more about all of the amazing benefits the State of Iowa offers.

The current Rehabilitation Counselor pay grade is 28. For Rehabilitation Counselor positions with a bachelor’s degree, the position will be capped at 85%.

Why This Role Matters

Every plan you build, every partnership you create, and every individual you support contributes to a more inclusive workforce and stronger Iowa communities. This position offers the chance to see direct, lasting impact in the lives of others while building a meaningful public service career.

If you’re ready to combine purpose with profession, we’d love to meet you.

The State of Iowa participates in E-Verify; a federal program that helps employers confirm the employment eligibility of all newly hired employees. Within the required timeframe, new hires will be verified through the E-Verify system to ensure authorization to work in the United States. The State of Iowa also complies with the federal Right to Work laws, which protect employees’ rights to work without being required to join a labor organization. For more information, please visit www.e-verify.gov.

No applicant for employment with the Iowa Department of Workforce Development can have a current, ongoing overpayment balance with Iowa Workforce Development without a payment plan in place. Selected positions will be subject to a criminal background check.

Applicants must meet at least one of the following minimum requirements to qualify for positions in this job classification:

1. All of the following (a and b): (a) Graduation from an accredited four-year college or university with a degree in a human-services-related field; and (b) A total of one year of graduate-level education and/or full-time work in professional vocational rehabilitation counseling services or human services field, where twenty-four semester hours of accredited graduate college or university coursework in rehabilitation counseling, human resources, school counseling, mental health counseling, social work, psychology, education, or a closely-related field equals one year of full-time experience.
2. All of the following (a and b): (a) Graduation from an accredited four-year college or university with a degree in any field; and (b) A total of twenty-four semester hours of accredited graduate college or university coursework in rehabilitation counseling, human resources, school counseling, mental health counseling, social work, psychology, education, or a closely-related field.

For additional information, please click on this link to view the job description.

Travel may be required for positions in this class. Employees must arrange transportation to and from assigned work areas.