Title: Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor - #BVI00169

State Role Title: Counselor II

Hiring Range: Minimum salary starting $70,000 commensurate with experience

Pay Band: NV 4

Agency: Dept for Blind/Vision Impaired

Location: Blind & Vision Impaired (NOVA)

Agency Website: https://www.dbvi.virginia.gov

Recruitment Type: General Public - G

Join DBVI as a Vocational Rehab Counselor!

Make a difference on a mission-driven team helping individuals who are blind or vision impaired achieve independence and employment.

✅ Purposeful work
✅ Supportive, inclusive team
✅ Excellent state benefits

DBVI – Where your work changes lives.

Job Duties:

*This position is subject to close 10-business days (excluding holidays) from the opening date”.

The Division of Services will provide a quality program of individualized rehabilitation services, educational consultations, technical assistance, and instruction that will empower eligible individuals to achieve their desired levels of independence consistent with their abilities and informed choices.

We are seeking a Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor to provide Vocational Rehabilitation Services to eligible blind, visually impaired, and/ or deafblind individuals in order to facilitate competitive and integrated employment outcomes. To provide vocational guidance and counseling, to determine applicants’ eligibility for vocational rehabilitation services, and to plan, develop, implement, and manage a vocationally focused Individualized Plan for Employment for eligible individuals resulting in successful employment outcomes.

Other duties and/or special projects as assigned.
Completes duties and/or projects as needed or directed by supervisor.

Minimum Qualifications:

The ideal candidate will have:

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.

Demonstrated knowledge of theory, principles, and practices of rehabilitation guidance and counseling, interviewing, evaluation techniques, psycho-social assessment, medical terminology, crisis intervention, conflict resolution, behavioral management, career exploration/development, job placement, case management, rehabilitation/assistive technology, and alternative techniques that enhance the independence of blind or visually impaired individuals.

Additional Considerations

Demonstrated ability to:

• Understand tests and their measurements, validity, reliability, and statistical procedures.  
• Understand barriers to employment, regional labor market, employment trends. 
• Understand occupational skill requirements, community resources’ criteria and procedures, and diversity factors.
• Understand economic development resources, job analyses, procurement practices, and school to work transition.
• Understand Social Security Administration guidelines and work incentives, and the Americans with Disability Act. 
• Manage a caseload, meet multi-tasked job demands, represent the agency in a variety of settings, function without close daily supervision, set daily schedule, integrate and effectively use data. 
• Effectively make presentations to groups.

Demonstrated skills:

• Arrange and interpret diagnostic evaluations, apply counseling theories and principles, apply program, agency, and state policies and procedures.
• Communication to establish effective relationships with individuals, the public, and agency staff.
• Current CRC credential or eligible to sit for CRC preferred.

Special Instructions

Master’s level transcripts or copy of current certification, if applicable, must accompany the application. Please note that the transcripts must display the date that the degree was awarded.

• 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.
• The selected candidate must complete a Statement of Personal Economic Interests as a condition of employment (Va. Code § 2.2-3114.

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, AmeriCorps, 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. Mailed, emailed, faxed, or hand delivered applications and/or résumés will not be accepted. PageUp will provide you with 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.

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.