Rehabilitation Specialist I

State of Mississippi; Florence (MS); On-site; USD 38,000 - 44,000; Full time

Job summary

State of Mississippi is seeking a Rehabilitation Specialist I in Rankin County to help individuals with disabilities pursue employment opportunities. You will counsel, assess, refer to services, and develop individualized rehabilitation plans, coordinating with community resources to support client goals.

You will analyze educational, medical, and vocational information, conduct interviews, and monitor progress toward IPE completion, while guiding clients toward sustainable employment.

Qualifications

• Typically requires a Bachelor’s Degree and 0-2 years of experience.
• Master’s degree in Rehabilitation Counseling or CRC certification preferred.
• CRC certification, or willingness to obtain and sit for CRC exam, is preferred.

Responsibilities

• Counsel individuals with disabilities to achieve employment outcomes.
• Analyze educational, medical, social, and vocational information to determine aspirations and aptitudes.
• Conduct diagnostic interviews to aid career choices.
• Determine appropriate referrals to agencies and partners.
• Develop a rehabilitation plan aligned with client goals.
• Follow up to ensure progress toward IPE completion.
• Oversee staff assignments and coordinate activities.
• Complete documentation timely and accurately.

Skills

Counseling techniques

Vocational assessment

Job placement

Interviewing techniques

Community resources

Computer skills

Communication

Time management

Empathy

CRC pathway

Education

Bachelor’s Degree

Master’s Degree in Rehabilitation Counseling (preferred)

CRC certification (preferred)

Tools

General computer software

Job description

Rehabilitation Specialist I in 61 - RANKIN COUNTY, MS

State of Mississippi

$37,846.57 - $44,141.95 Annually

Location

61 - RANKIN COUNTY, MS

Job Type

Full-Time

Job Number

9806-0331-20261027R

Opening Date

10/27/2026

11/9/2026 at 11:59 PM Central Time (US & Canada)

Agency Minimum Salary

$37,846.57

$44,141.95

About the Agency

The Mississippi Department of Rehabilitation Services (MDRS) is a state agency dedicated to helping Mississippians with disabilities to live and work independently. MDRS serves through four major programs: Vocational Rehabilitation (VR), Vocational Rehabilitation for the Blind (VRB), Office of Special Disability Programs (OSDP), and Disability Determination Services (DDS). Services also include support through Assistive Technology, the Office of Business Development and much more. It is the mission of MDRS to provide appropriate and comprehensive services in a timely and effective manner. Programs and services assist individuals with disabilities to gain employment, retain employment, and to live independently. MDRS is always looking for qualified and passionate employees to help fulfill its mission.

Job Duties

• Counseling and guiding individuals with disabilities to assist them in achieving employment outcomes consistent with their strengths, resources, priorities, concerns, abilities, capabilities, interests and informed choice.
• Analyzes and interprets the pertinent educational, social, medical, psychological and vocational information of applicants or consumers in order to determine their aspirations, interests, motivations, aptitudes and scholastic achievements;
• Conducts diagnostic interviews to obtain medical, psychological, educational, social, vocational and personal information to assist people with disabilities in making appropriate career choices;
• Determines appropriate referrals to other agencies and community partners, including appropriate medical, psychological and psychiatric services;
• Completes a comprehensive assessment for each applicant and eligible VR consumer accessing appropriate external resources as necessary;
• Determines the consumer’s eligibility, the need for VR Services, and ensures VR Services are appropriate;
• Develops a rehabilitation plan with each consumer that is consistent with the consumer’s aptitudes, education levels, physical abilities and career goals;
• Follow-up and monitoring of a consumer’s services to ensure timely provision of services and progress to Individualized Plan of Employment (IPE) completion or employment outcome;
• Independently authorizes and approves expenditures of state/federal funds for individualized goods and services to consumers;
• Prepares case reports to monitor and record the consumer’s progress to ensure that goals and objectives are met;
• Participates in job development, job placement programs, and follow‑up on consumers who have been placed in employment;
• Develops community referral sources for providing services to consumers;
• Establishes the method of which educational, social, medical, psychological and vocational data is to be obtained from consumers, family and community programs; works with the community in establishing facilities and programs to assist the individual with a disability;
• Maintains records and prepares reports and correspondence related to work;
• May be assigned as a Vocational Rehabilitation liaison to one or more local schools
• Explores comparable benefits;
• Engages in conflict resolution, preserving good counselor‑consumer and/or counselor‑provider relationships;
• Reviews and interprets various evaluation results with consumers;
• Complies with required steps of the consumer appeal process;
• Completes documentation timely and accurately;
• Educates consumers on assignment of their "ticket" under the Ticket to Work Program;
• Establishes and maintains contact with schools (including post‑secondary), hospitals, doctors, other agencies and other referral sources;
• Educates referral sources about Vocational Rehabilitation programs and the referral process;
• Determines the need for post‑employment services for consumers on an individualized basis;
• Maintains engagement with consumers throughout their rehabilitation process;
• Oversees the work of staff by making and reviewing work assignments, establishing priorities, coordinating activities, and resolving work‑related problems;
• Performs related work as assigned.

What you'll need to be Successful

Knowledge of counseling techniques, vocational assessment, job placement and interviewing techniques, and community resources. Skill in the use of a computer and applicable software. Excellent communication, creativity, problem‑solving, evaluation of services and time management skills; Ability to be flexible, handle multiple tasks, maintain a professional demeanor, and show empathy; A willingness to obtain necessary continuing training/education for Certified Rehabilitation Counselor (CRC) certification maintenance; or if not a CRC certificate holder, a willingness to work toward becoming eligible to sit for the CRC examination. Additional duties: Oversees the work of staff by making and reviewing work assignments, establishing priorities, coordinating activities, and resolving related work problems.

Preferred Qualifications

Typically requires a Bachelor’s Degree and 0-2 years of experience. Agency preferred qualifications: Master’s degree in Rehabilitation Counseling or closely related area per federal regulations, and/or Certified Rehabilitation Counselor (CRC) certification. In lieu of a Master’s Degree or CRC, a Bachelor’s Degree in Rehabilitation Counseling or closely related area per federal regulations with course content that emphasized rehabilitation, counseling, disability, therapy, health, employment, wellness, or human development plus one (1) year experience as demonstrated through paid or unpaid employment in vocational rehabilitation or closely related field.

Employer State of Mississippi

Address 210 East Capitol Street
Suite 800
Jackson, Mississippi, 39201