OIB Service Specialist (Lubbock)

For Texas to be GREAT, we need the best and brightest talent like you!

The public vocational rehabilitation (VR) program administered through the Texas Workforce Commission helps people with disabilities to prepare for, obtain, retain, and advance in employment.

MAKE A DIFFERENCE AND HELP PEOPLE WITH VR
According to the Department of Labor, the unemployment rate for people with disabilities was 12.6% in 2020. This jobless rate continues to be much higher than the rate for those without disabilities.

PUBLIC SERVICE IN VR IS FOR YOU...
-If you want to find meaningful work and contribute to a powerful mission. For more than 100 years VR has been helping individuals with disabilities achieve their employment goals!
-If you are looking for career and advancement opportunities. 38% of employees in VR have 15 years of seniority. There are various positions with career ladders and opportunities to specialize in areas of interest: Autism, Blind & Visual Impairments, Deaf & Hard of Hearing, Brain Injury, Foster Youth, Transition Students, Veterans.
-If you need a comprehensive benefits package that offers competitive pay & benefits from health plans, life insurance, retirement programs, paid leave and holidays, and longevity pay.
-If you have direct VR Counseling work experience, receive higher starting salary.
-If you want to advance your education with our tuition assistance program.
-FREE CEUs to maintain CRC credentials and reimbursement for CRC & LPC renewals.

The Texas Workforce Commission (TWC), a Family Friendly Certified Workplace, is seeking an Older Individuals who are Blind (OIB) Service Specialist III-IV to join the Vocational Rehabilitation Division in the Department of Blind Services, Older Individuals who are Blind (OIB) Program. This position will be located at 2002 W Loop 289, Lubbock, TX.

TWC is not considering applications from individuals who require sponsorship for an employment visa, including those with H1B visas or those currently on student or postgraduate visas. You must be a Texas resident to work for the Texas Workforce Commission or willing to relocate to Texas.


Benefits to working for TWC include:
- Competitive starting salary: $4,083.33 - $7,503.29/month.
- Salary and position level will be based on experience and demonstrated skills.
- This is a career ladder position which means each level is required to meet the established career ladder requirements in order to be promoted to the next level.
- Additional benefits for active employees:


The Older Individuals who are Blind (OIB) Service Specialist III-VI is hired by and reports to the OIB Manager. Performs complex (journey-level) to highly advanced and/or supervisory (senior-level) social service or case management work. Work involves collecting, preparing, and reviewing cases to facilitate access to medical, educational, social, and other services; and providing intervention and frequent contact with individuals, facilities, and service providers. Works under general to minimal supervision, with limited to extensive latitude for the use of initiative.

GENERAL DUTIES:
- Oversees, teaches and assists other OIB Service Specialists in teaching customers core skills in areas of adjustment to blindness, independent living skills, communication skills, basic travel skills, use of support systems, and quality of living.
- Independently assesses customers' level of functioning for the purpose of determining eligibility, develops the individuals' independent living plan, and coordinates other services necessary to achievement of goals.
- Establishes and coordinate business relationships with Center(s) for Independent Living (CILs) and other community resource contacts to ensure customers continue to receive service delivery for goods/services not available through the OIB program.
- Participates in unit administration and program development and develops internal policies and procedures.
- Serves as back-up to Manager for representation on workgroups and other OIB activities.
- Completes, maintains and monitors documentation of case service delivery.
- Provides training and mentoring to other OIB Service Specialists.
- Independently interacts with individuals and community agencies to explain OIB services.
- Participates in planning or leads planning for group skills activities in the region and provide instructions during group skills training for customers.
- Performs related work as directed.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:
- OIB Service Specialist III: Graduation from an accredited four-year college or university with major coursework in human services, social science, business, or a related field plus two years of full-time qualifying experience in social and rehabilitative services work; teaching and counseling persons with disabilities; social services; medical eligibility, or entitlement programs.
- OIB Service Specialist IV: Graduation from an accredited four-year college or university with major coursework in human services, social science, business, or a related field plus two years and six months of full-time qualifying experience in social and rehabilitative services work; teaching and counseling persons with disabilities; social services; medical eligibility, or entitlement programs.
- OIB Service Specialist V: Graduation from an accredited four-year college or university with major coursework in human services, social science, business, or a related field plus three years and six months of full-time qualifying experience in social and rehabilitative services work; teaching and counseling persons with disabilities; social services; medical eligibility, or entitlement programs.

For all levels, Twelve semester hours of graduate study from an accredited college or university may be substituted for each year of the required qualifying experience; One additional year of full-time qualifying experience may be substituted for each year (30 semester hours) of the required college.

This position involves up to 75% travel in order to provide services to customers in their homes and communities. Method of transportation is the responsibility of employee. Duty may also require the ability to lift/carry 10 pounds.

VETERANS:
Use your military skills to qualify for this position or other jobs! Go to to translate your military work experience and training courses into civilian job terms, qualifications and skill sets. Also, you can compare this position to military occupations (MOS) at the Texas State Auditor's Office by pasting this link into your browser:


HOW TO APPLY:
To be considered, please complete a State of Texas Application for Employment and apply online at or on Taleo ( Job Search ). TWC is not considering applications from individuals who require sponsorship for an employment visa, including those with H1B visas or those currently on student or postgraduate visas. In compliance with federal law, all persons hired will be required to verify identity and eligibility to work in the United States and to complete the required employment eligibility verification document form upon hire. A position utilizing this classification will be designated as security sensitive according to the Texas Labor Code, Section 301.042.