Supervisory Vocational Rehab Counselor.

Veterans Benefits Administration; San Diego (CA); On-site; USD 110,000 - 140,000; Full time

Job summary

Veterans Benefits Administration is seeking a Supervisory Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor to lead VR&E program operations. You will supervise eligibility determinations, vocational exploration, and comprehensive case management for veterans with disabilities, ensuring coordination with Central Office directives and field offices.

The role requires expert knowledge of VR&E rules, strong leadership, and a proven ability to allocate resources, set priorities, and drive outcomes for a

Qualifications

• One year of specialized experience at GS-13 level or higher with VR&E programs.
• Knowledge of laws, regulations, and procedures governing VR&E and related benefits.
• Experience supervising rehabilitation staff and managing cases for veterans with disabilities.

Responsibilities

• Directs and supervises VR&E eligibility and case management activities.
• Provides policy direction and oversight of staff and resources to meet evolving program priorities.
• Ensures compliance with applicable laws, regulations, and VA policies.

Skills

Rehabilitation counseling

Case management

Leadership

Program management

Education

Behavioral or social science degree

Job description

Duties

The primary duties of this position include but are not limited to:

• Directs and supervises the administration of work involving eligibility criteria, vocational exploration, conducting assessments of both the local labor market, plan development based on appropriate vocational goals, examination of medical information, making legally binding entitlement decisions, award adjustments, award authorization, and case management services.
• Delates authority on behalf of the VREO, to make decisions including basic eligibility for programs administers by the VR&E. Months of VR&E entitlement can result in monetary benefits for participants in training, payment of tuition and other forms of reimbursements, revolving fund loans, tutoring or reader services, individual instructor fees, financial responsibilities for the use and fiscal management of contracted counseling services, administrative travel, beneficial travel, tools, supplies, equipment, and Employment Adjustment Allowances. Additionally, the AVREO has oversight responsibilities for the VR&E items purchased through the VISA Purchase card program.
• Provide advice and recommendations to meet major goals and assists with the assessment of priorities. Makes decisions related to assigning and allocating program resources and directing and reviewing personnel within the assigned staff complement to accomplish the changing initiatives and emphasis established by Central Office program managers. Must be responsive to dynamic nature of Veteran and beneficiary populations and needs within the jurisdictional area. Assists with the development and implementation of plans to meet objectives; monitors progress toward the accomplishment of approved goals and takes steps to overcome any obstacles.
• Provides administrative expertise in all phases of rehabilitation activities, including counseling, case management, rehabilitation plan development, and job development placement. Coordinates and integrates these operations and policies with other divisions, agencies, employers, and rehabilitation facilities.
• Plans, formulates, and implements operational procedures and policies to maintain efficient operating performance of professional and support staff.
• Provides internal policy direction and supervision of the RO VR&E staff through on-site visits and inspections, review, and analysis of standard or specifically requested data and individualized or telephonic and written communication.
• Assumes final responsibility for proper interpretation and uniform application of laws, regulations, and instructions in conformance with mandatory policies, procedures, and practices, reconciling divergent opinions. AVREO may review personally the most difficult and most complex cases and elements such as fraud, high cost programs, and independent living cases to include home adaptation, category one and two self-employment cases, re-entrance into rehabilitation program cases, retroactive induction cases, and extension of entitlement cases. Approves cases involving Clear and Unmistakable Error (CUE), to include cases in which large sums of money may be involved. Oversees employees who do supplemental claim reviews and higher-level reviews procure counseling services and conduct formal hearings.
• Provides oversight of Privacy Act/FOIA requests
• Ensures staff responses timely to Congressional, White house and other special inquiries concerning VA benefits for Veterans and other claimants is another responsibility of the AVREO and VREO.
• Ensures performance plans for all VR&E employees are properly created and utilized.
• Gives advice, counsel, or instruction to individual employees on both work and administrative matters. Hears and resolves complaints from employees.
• Responsible for ensuring disciplinary actions are properly taken and employees are properly rewarded.
• Interviewing and selection of candidates for appointment, promotion or reassignment are responsibilities of the AVREO.
• Responsible for maintaining effective communication and working relationship with labor representatives.
• Responsible for the development of subordinate supervisors regarding administrative, managerial, and leadership skills.
• Serves as a Regional Office consultant and expert on employment issues for Veterans with disabilities.

Work Schedule

Full time, Monday through Friday, 07:00AM-03:30PM

Telework

This position is eligible for situational (ad hoc) telework only.

The selectee is required to report to the official duty station each scheduled workday.

Telework may be approved only on a case-by-case basis with supervisory approval.

Routine or recurring telework is not authorized for this position.

Virtual

This is not a virtual position.

Position Description/PD#

Supervisory Vocational Rehab Counselor; PD39403A

Relocation/Recruitment Incentives

Not Authorized.

Financial Disclosure Report

Required.

Bargaining Unit

No.

Requirements

Conditions of employment

Required

As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you will be required to serve a 1-year probationary period during which we will evaluate your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public interest. In determining if your employment advances the public interest, we may consider:

• your performance and conduct;
• the needs and interests of the Agency;
• whether your continued employment would advance organizational goals of the Agency or the Government;
• whether your continued employment would advance the efficiency of the Federal service.

Upon completion of your probationary period, your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest.

Additional Conditions Of Employment Are As Follows

• You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job
• Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959
• You may be required to serve a probationary or trial period
• Selectees are required to serve a one-year supervisory probationary period if not previously completed in a Federal position.
• Subject to Public Trust-High Risk background investigation
• Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process. Acceptable form(s) of identification will be required to complete pre-employment requirements
• Effective May 7, 2025, driver's licenses or state-issued identification cards that are not REAL ID compliant cannot be utilized as an acceptable form of identification for employment.

Qualifications

To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement:11/04/2026.

TIME-IN-GRADE REQUIREMENT

• For a GS-14 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-13 level.
• If you are a current VBA employee requesting reassignment or change to lower grade via this vacancy announcement, you must currently hold the GS-14 or higher and the promotion potential of your current position must be at least None.

The grade may have been in any occupation, but must have been held in the Federal service. An SF-50 that shows your time-in-grade eligibility must be submitted with your application materials. If the most recent SF-50 has an effective date within the past year, it may not clearly demonstrate you possess one-year time-in-grade, as required by the announcement. In this instance, you must provide an additional SF-50 that clearly demonstrates one-year time-in-grade.

• BASIC REQUIREMENTS: To be eligible for this position, candidates must meet the following basic requirements: Degree: behavioral or social science; or related disciplines appropriate to the position.

OR

Combination of education and experience

that provided the applicant with knowledge of one or more of the behavioral or social sciences equivalent to a major in the field.

OR

Four years of appropriate experience

that demonstrated that the applicant has acquired knowledge of one or more of the behavioral or social sciences equivalent to a major in the field.

Reference:

Additional information on the qualification requirements for this position can be located on the OCHCO VA Qualifications Standards website found

• SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE REQUIREMENTS: In addition to the time-in-grade and IOR requirements, you must also have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade GS-13.

GS-14 Grade Level

Applicants must have one (1) year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade (GS-13) in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization.

• Specialized Experience: to qualify at the GS-14 grade, you must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-13 level or higher. Specialized Experience is defined as 1) One year of post-graduate level experience in rehabilitation counseling or as a professional counseling psychologist equivalent to at least the next lower grade (GS-1) level; 2) Experience using knowledge of laws, regulations, and procedures governing Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment (VR&E) programs; 3) Worked in a professional lead capacity in a vocational rehabilitation or counseling psychologist program and/or possess experience managing cases of individuals with disabilities; and must be able to demonstrate through the work experience or training that you possess, or have the potential to develop, the qualities to successfully supervise.
• Education Substitution: Education cannot be used to qualify for the GS-14.

Volunteer Experience

Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religions; spiritual; community; student; social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.

Full vs. Part-Time Employment

Full-time employment is considered to be at least 35 hours per week. Part-time experience will be credited on a pro-rated basis; when including part-time employment in your resume you must specify the average hours worked per week.

Physical Requirements

The position is primarily in an office setting. Some travel may be necessary on occasion for training, meetings, or customer interactions.

For more information on these qualification standards, please visit the United States Office of Personnel Management's website at

Education

A transcript must be submitted with your application.

Note: You may submit unofficial transcripts when applying. However, if you are selected for the position, you will be required to provide an official transcript or a statement from the institution (e.g., from the registrar, dean, or other appropriate official) or equivalent documentation prior to the start date.

Additional information

The Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP) provide eligible displaced VA competitive service employees with selection priority over other candidates for competitive service vacancies. To be qualified you must submit appropriate documentation (a copy of the agency notice, your most recent performance rating, and your most recent SF-50 noting your current position, grade level, and duty location) and be found well-qualified (have a final rating of 85 or more) for this vacancy. Information about ICTAP and CTAP eligibility is on OPM's Career Transition Resources website at

Placement Policy

The posting of this announcement does not obligate management to fill a vacancy or vacancies by promotion. The position may be filled by reassignment, change to lower grade, transfer, appointment, or reinstatement. Management may use any one or any combination of these methods to fill the position.

It is the policy of the VA to not deny employment to those that have faced financial hardships or periods of unemployment.

This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies.

Veterans and Transitioning Service Members

Please visit the

Under the Fair Chance to Compete Act, the Department of Veterans Affairs prohibits requesting an applicant's criminal history prior to accepting a tentative job offer (TJO). Please visit the Human Resources and Administration/Operations, Security, and Preparedness (HRA/OSP),

Reasonable Accommodation (RA) Requests:

If you believe you have a disability (i.e., physical or mental), covered by the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 as amended that would interfere with completing the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments, you will be granted the opportunity to request a RA in your online application. Requests for RA for the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments and appropriate supporting documentation for RA must be received prior to starting the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments. Decisions on requests for RA are made on a case-by-case basis. If you meet the minimum qualifications of the position, after notification of the adjudication of your request, you will receive an email invitation to complete the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments, based on your adjudication decision. You must complete all assessments within 48 hours of receiving the URL to access the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments if you received the link after the close of the announcement.

To determine if you need a RA, please review:

Candidates should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government, passionate about the ideals of our American republic, and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution.

A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding.

Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full‑time, part‑time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.