Title: PERT Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor (Exploration) - #WWRW0484

State Role Title: Counselor II

Hiring Range: Min Salary $53,136 comm w/exp

Pay Band: 4

Agency: Dept for Aging & Rehab Svcs

Location: Wilson Wkfc Rehab Ctn

Agency Website: HTTPS://WWW.WWRC.VIRGINIA.GOV/

Recruitment Type: General Public - G

Job Duties:

Wilson Workforce and Rehabilitation Center (WWRC) provides people with disabilities comprehensive, individualized services to realize optimal personal independence and employment. We strive to be the preferred provider of comprehensive vocational rehabilitation for Virginians with Disabilities. We apply our shared values; Ethical, Engaged, and Effective, to everything we do.

The Postsecondary Education Rehabilitation Transition (PERT) Program of WWRC is recruiting for a PERT Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor (Exploration). In partnership with persons with disabilities the incumbent in this position will:

• Develop the new PERT Exploration program that will allow younger students (10th graders) access to expanded job exploration opportunities in line with tenants in WIOA.
• Provide Case Management/Counseling/Exploration services to support a program of individualized rehabilitation services.
• Provide services include but are not limited to; education, technical assistance, and vocational training and instruction, vocational exploration, medical and therapeutic services, and assistive technology services that will empower WWRC consumers to achieve their desired levels of economic self-sufficiency and independence consistent with abilities and informed choices.
• Plan, develop, implement, and manage vocationally focused job exploration services at WWRC.
• Help client identify vocational and independent living goals; coordinates exposure of clients to job exploration activities on-site at WWRC.
• Provide guidance to clients to minimize, eliminate, or adjust to the impact of their specific disability; identify client goals, services, costs, and sponsors to help clients and achieve an employment objective which includes maintaining employment, career advancement, and/or upward mobility.
•Coordinate and integrate PERT On-site exploration and transition services within WWRC to include virtual program instruction, consistent with PERT goals and Agency priorities.
• Advocate and encourage a proactive, collaborative, client focused approach to the PERT transition process.

To meet the expectations of the job, the incumbent must have access to personally identifiable and confidential information about agency consumers and/or agency staff.

Minimum Qualifications:

The ideal candidate will have:

In accordance with 34 CFR 361.10, 34 CFR 361.11, and Virginia’s Combined State Plan under the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA), applicants are required to have a Masters’ degree to be qualified for this position. Applicants within a semester of completing their master's may also be considered.

Master’s degree in Rehabilitation Counseling or closely related field required. Transcripts must accompany the application and they must display the date that the degree was awarded. Applicants who are within a semester of completion of a master’s degree in Rehabilitation Counseling or a closely related field will be considered if the application is accompanied by a transcript that verifies the anticipated graduation date. 

Knowledge/Experience:

• Considerable knowledge of the social, economic, medical, vocational, and emotional issues impacting persons with disabilities.
• Considerable knowledge of interviewing, evaluation, and counseling techniques; methods and tools for career counseling, exploration, community resources, rehabilitation/assistive technology; ADA compliance requirements.
• Knowledge of the transition process and related programs.
• Knowledge of education and rehabilitation needs of youth and young adults with disabilities and their families in the transition process.


Skills/Abilities:

• Collaborative problem-solving skills and abilities.
• Proficient in the use of PC software applications.
• Ability to communicate effectively and write concise and comprehensive vocational evaluation reports.
• Demonstrated ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with individuals from varying social and economic environments.
• Ability to prioritize duties, exercise good judgment with minimal supervision, and represent the agency professionally. Ability to select, administer, and interpret vocational interest tools/techniques and work samples aptitudes, interests, physical abilities, and related knowledge, skills, and abilities.
• Ability to design new or modify existing exploration samples.

Additional Considerations:

• CRC credential, CVE credential
• Considerable knowledge of various occupations and occupational requirements, the regional employment market, and job analysis techniques.

Special Instructions:

You will be provided a confirmation of receipt when your application and/or résumé is submitted successfully. Please refer to “Your Application” in your account to check the status of your application for this position.

This has been designated a sensitive position under Va. Code § 2.2-1201.1.

A fingerprint-based criminal history check will be required of the finalist candidate.

Reasonable accommodations are available to persons with disabilities during the application and/or interview processes per the Americans with Disabilities Act. Contact recruitment@dars.virginia.gov for assistance.

Minorities, Individuals with disabilities, Veterans, Americorp, Peace Corps, and other National Service Alumni are encouraged to apply.

To Apply:

Equal Opportunity Employer State applications will only be accepted as submitted online by 11:55 p.m. on the closing date through the Commonwealth of Virginia’s New Recruitment Management System. PageUp provides a confirmation of receipt when your application is submitted successfully. Please refer to “Your Application” in your account to check the status of your application for this position.

Contact Information

Name: Human Resources

Email: Recruitment@dars.virginia.gov

In support of the Commonwealth’s commitment to inclusion, we are encouraging individuals with disabilities to apply through the Commonwealth Alternative Hiring Process. To be considered for this opportunity, applicants will need to provide their AHP Letter (formerly COD) provided by the Department for Aging & Rehabilitative Services (DARS), or the Department for the Blind & Vision Impaired (DBVI). Service-Connected Veterans are encouraged to answer Veteran status questions and submit their disability documentation, if applicable, to DARS/DBVI to get their AHP Letter. Requesting an AHP Letter can be found at AHP Letter or by calling DARS at 800-552-5019.

Note: Applicants who received a Certificate of Disability from DARS or DBVI dated between April 1, 2022- February 29, 2024, can still use that COD as applicable documentation for the Alternative Hiring Process.