Rehabilitation Counselor - Ottumwa

State of Iowa - Executive Branch; Ottumwa (IA); Hybrid; USD 45,000 - 64,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health, Dental, Vision Insurance

Paid time off + holidays

IPERS retirement plan

Job summary

State of Iowa - Executive Branch, via Iowa Vocational Rehabilitation Services, seeks a Rehabilitation Counselor in Ottumwa, IA. The role guides individuals with disabilities through career exploration, planning, and placement, collaborating with families, schools, providers, and employers to create pathways to competitive employment.

You will work full-time in a hybrid schedule, covering Warren and Clarke Counties, and travel statewide to schools and workplaces while ensuring compliance with

Qualifications

• Strong counseling and guidance skills to support career decisions.
• Excellent written and verbal communication and interpersonal abilities.
• Collaborative approach engaging families, schools and employers.
• Commitment to equity, accessibility, and inclusive employment practices.
• Ability to analyze information, exercise sound judgment, and document decisions clearly.

Responsibilities

• Deliver Pre-Employment Transition Services to students.
• Interview applicants and support teams; gather information.
• Determine eligibility and Significance of Disability classifications.
• Develop IPEs tailored to each participant’s goals.
• Coordinate services and ensure regulatory compliance.
• Maintain timely case documentation in the management system.

Skills

Counseling

Communication

Interpersonal skills

Collaboration

Equity & inclusion

Education

Human-services degree

Graduate coursework in rehabilitation counseling

Job description

Job Description

Make an Impact. Empower Careers. Strengthen Communities.

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 Vocational Rehabilitation branch office in Ottumwa, 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.

If you are motivated by purpose-driven work, collaboration, and helping others reach their full potential, we encourage you to apply.

This Rehabilitation Counselor position will cover Warren and Clarke Counties.

Position Details

• Location: 15230 Truman St, Ottumwa, IA
• Schedule: Full-time | Monday – Friday | 8:00 AM – 4:30 PM
• Work Flexibility: Hybrid telework and alternate schedules 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-the-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, trainings, and professional development activities
• Successfully complete a criminal background check through the Iowa Department of Public Safety

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 Iowa WORKS centers 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

• 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

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

The successful candidate must be able to pass a criminal background check conducted by the Iowa Department of Public Safety.

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.

Minimum Qualification Requirements

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

• 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.
• 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.

Additional Qualification Requirements

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