SENIOR VOCATIONAL REHAB COUNSELOR

Requisition No: 880941


Agency: Department of Education

Working Title: SENIOR VOCATIONAL REHAB COUNSELOR - 48004863

Pay Plan: Career Service

Position Number: 48004863


Salary: $3,986.67 Monthly


Posting Closing Date: 08/14/2026


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Florida Department of Education

Division of Vocational Rehabilitation

Bureau of Field Services

Location: Miami, Florida

Position Title: Senior Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor (CS)

Salary: Monthly $3,986.67 / Annually $47,840.00

CANDIDATES ARE TYPICALLY HIRED AT THE MINIMUM SALARY

This advertisement may be used to fill multiple vacancies up to six months.

APPLICATION INFORMATION & HIRING REQUIREMENTS

Application Information:

• Work History (in easy to review chronological order) Consists of:

• • Any position held by a State of Florida Agency
  • Any position held by a Florida University
  • All periods of employment from high school graduation
  • All periods of current or prior unemployment
  • Gaps 3 months or more must be accounted for*
  • Any Education
  • Any Volunteer Experience
  • Your resume and application must match
• * Gaps 3 months or more must be addressed - you will need to account for and explain any gaps in employment including unemployment. You can either list these in your application under Period of Employment or attach a word document listing your gaps.
• It is unacceptable to use the statement "See Resume" in place of entering work history. Your candidate profile will be converted to your official application.
• Include supervisor names and phone numbers for reference checks or the contact information for your Human Resources office to verify current or former employment.
• Experience, education, training, knowledge, skills and/or abilities as well as responses to pre-qualifying questions must be verifiable to meet the minimum qualifications.

Hiring Information and Requirements:

• The Bureau of Personnel Management reviews every application for prior State of Florida and Florida University work history in the People First system.

• If claiming Veteran's Preference, the candidate MUST attach supporting documentation such as the DD214 and your VA Letter that reflects level of disability if applicable. Applicable to career service positions only.
• If claiming Right to First Interview, the candidate MUST attach a copy of your official layoff letter when applying. This only applies to employees laid off from Career Service positions. Applicable to career service positions only.

If you are missing any of the items above, your packet may be held up at the final review step.

NOTE: Responses to qualifying questions must be clearly supported by the state application and any omission, falsification, or misrepresentation in the answering of the qualifying questions will be cause for immediate elimination from the selection process.

OFFICE CONTACT:

VR Supervisor Elaine Gonzalez, at View phone number on click.appcast.io, or View email address on click.appcast.io


JOB DESCRIPTION:

This position is responsible for providing independent professional vocational rehabilitation counseling to identified individuals with disabilities, which may include those identified as potentially eligible Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) youth customers ages 14-21, to support the overall goal of employment. This includes providing and coordinating complex services and providing technical assistance on vocational rehabilitation internal and external stakeholders and requires accessing client information, maintaining case records, tracking open authorizations and other case-specific activities and reviewing caseload data regularly. Provides technical assistance to internal and external stakeholders.

DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES:

(Note: The omission of specific job duties does not preclude management from assigning specific duties not listed herein if such duties are a logical assignment to the position.)

The Florida Department of Education (FDOE) has an open position that is responsible for executing the following functions:

• Maintains active and meaningful engagement throughout the life of the VR case.
• Meets with the individual to review referrals and complete the application and Initial Interview for VR services in compliance with federal regulations and/or documents a good faith effort to meet the requirements.
• Assesses medical, psychological, and vocational information to determine eligibility for services.
• Accurately determines and documents eligibility for VR Services, at the earliest point possible, in compliance with the federal regulations, unless an extension is completed per policy.
• Provides information to assist individuals with disabilities in making informed choices, consistent with federal requirements, regarding services, service providers and employment outcomes.
• Provides support and services to assist VR customers in obtaining successful and quality employment outcomes.
• Authorizes, coordinates and/or negotiates services leading to successful employment outcome.
• Actively collaborates with VR Customers regarding plan development.
• Engages customers timely in their planning process to identify an appropriate vocational goal and services to develop an IPE, in compliance with the federal regulations, unless an extension of time is completed per policy.
• Documents the comprehensive assessment in compliance with policy requirements.
• Implementation of services and service delivery:
• Provides reasonable and necessary planned services.
• Demonstrates quality standards in implementation of the customer's Individualized Plan for Employment.
• Manages resources to ensure all activities, including programmatic counseling and financial, are tracked and occur according to state and federal regulations and policies.
• Devises job placement opportunities through job placement activities, including job analysis, job development, and labor market information to assist individuals with disabilities to obtain appropriate employment outcomes.
• Develops employer contacts and serves as liaison with employers.
• Utilizes the resources of community rehabilitation providers in securing appropriate job placement for eligible individuals with disabilities.
• Coordinates or collaborates with others in other placement activities.
• Provides support to guide customers appropriately to and through the credential attainment process to support quality employment outcomes.
• Provides timely follow up and monitoring in employment phase leading to successful outcomes.
• Documents and tracks post-employment support and services.
• Closes cases in alignment with policy.
• Manages VR Services and applies sound decision making and best value purchasing principles to customer purchases.
• Ensures that all purchases align with purchasing policies.
• Tracks and communicates regulations, laws, and rules specific to financial and payment timelines and requirements like period of performance, open authorizations, allowable expenditures, appropriate use of coding for authorizations, etc.
• Collaborates with community partners to assure appropriate use of available resources.
• Participates in training experiences designed to enhance professional competency in vocational rehabilitation.
• Travel may be required to perform assign duties.
• Performs other duties as required.

WHO WE'RE LOOKING FOR:

The ideal incumbent must be productive under tight timeframes, balance multiple and competing priorities, and maintain goal-directed behavior and performance sometimes under stressful conditions. The incumbent must interact courteously with others. The performance and behavior of all employees must demonstrate consideration of the workload concerns of others and must not negatively affect productivity and morale of the unit. Attendance is an essential function.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

Required Licensure/Registration/Certification/Experience or Education:

• Establish and maintain education and experience requirements that reflect current workforce practices and support effective services for individuals with disabilities
• Being able to meet the federal requirements for this federally funded position which includes:
• Bachelor's Degree: Attainment of a bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university in a field of study reasonably related to vocational rehabilitation, to indicate a level of competency and skill demonstrating basic preparation in a field of study such as:
• vocational rehabilitation counseling
• psychology
• disability studies
• business administration
• human resources
• special education
• supported employment
• customized employment
• economics
• another field that reasonably prepares individuals to work with consumers and employers
• Two (2) years of experience consisting of:
• Direct work with individuals with disabilities in a setting such as an independent living center
• Direct service for advocacy activities that provide such individuals with experience working with individuals with disabilities
• Direct experience as an employer
• Direct experience as a small business owner or operator
• Direct experience in self-employment
• Experience in human resources
• Experience in recruitment
• Experience in supervising employees
• Experience in training
• Experience in other activities that provide experience in competitive integrated employment environments

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• Applicants who have both professional and educational experience.
• Applicants who have direct experience with case management and the ability to manage high-volume caseload efficiently.
• Applicants who complete application information and hire requirements listed in the advertisement to completion.
• Master's Degree: Attainment of a Master's or doctoral degree from an accredited college or university in field of study such as:
  • Vocational rehabilitation counseling
  • Law
  • Psychology
  • Disability studies
  • Business administration
  • Human resources
  • Special education
  • Management
  • Public administration
  • Another field that reasonably provides confidence in:
    • The employment sector
    • In a disability field
    • Or in both business-related and rehabilitation-related fields

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES:

• Knowledge of the theories and practices in vocational rehabilitation guidance and counseling.
• Knowledge of medical and psychological aspects of disability groups.
• Knowledge of employment resources and vocational rehabilitation resources.
• Knowledge of program requirements of the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001 and state and federal laws, regulations, policies, and procedures.
• Skilled in interviewing techniques.
• Skilled in administering tests and analyzing results.
• Ability to communicate clearly and effectively both verbally and in writing.
• Ability to be productive under tight timeframes, balance multiple and competing priorities and maintain goal-Ability to work and perform under stressful conditions.
• Ability to demonstrate consideration of the workload concerns of others and must not negatively affect productivity and morale of the unit.
• Ability to work independently and perform tasks and responsibilities with limited guidance and direction.
• Ability to gather, analyze and organize information into logical format for presentation in reports, documents, and other written materials.
• Ability to provide counseling and guidance in career planning.
• Proficient in using Microsoft Office software, such as Access, Excel, PowerPoint, Word
• Ability to provide excellent customer service.
• Ability to maintain work area in an organized and clean manner.
• Ability to understand and apply applicable rules, regulations, policies, and procedures.
• Ability to maintain confidentiality.
• Ability to use and analyze information from the management information system.
• Ability to interpret state and federal vocational rehabilitation regulations and policies.
• Ability to devise employment strategies for individuals with disabilities.
• Ability to use automated systems.
• Ability to demonstrate reliable and consistent attendance.

DEPARTMENT OF VOCATIONAL REHABILITATION MISSION STATEMENT

Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) is a federal-state program that helps people who have physical or mental disabilities get or keep a job. VR is committed to helping people with disabilities find meaningful careers.


Our Mission is "to help people with disabilities find and maintain employment and enhance their independence." Our Vision is "to become the first-place people with disabilities turn when seeking employment and a top resource for employers in need of qualified employees."

To find out more about what we do at Vocational Rehabilitation, please visit

WORKING FOR THE STATE OF FLORIDA HAS BENEFITS!

* State Group Insurance coverage options+
(health, life, dental, vision, and other supplemental option)

* Retirement plan options, including employer contributions (

* Nine paid holidays and a Personal Holiday each year

* Annual and Sick Leave Benefits

* Student Loan Forgiveness Program (Eligibility required)

* Flexible Spending Accounts

* Tuition Fee Waivers (Accepted by major Florida colleges/universities)

* Ongoing comprehensive training provided

* Career Growth


* Highly skilled, professional environment

*Maternity and Parental Leave Benefits

For a more complete list of benefits, visit

* We care about the success of our employees.

* We care about the success of our clients.

* We are always improving our technology, our tools, our customer's experiences and ourselves.

* A rewarding experience for reliable, compassionate and professional employees.

LEAVE INFORMATION: (CS)

• Annual Leave - All full-time Career Service employees filling established positions earn annual leave in varying increments dependent upon years of creditable service. Employees with up to 5 years of creditable service earn 8.667 hours per month, with 5 to 10 years earn 10.833 hours per month and those with over 10 years of service earn 13 hours per month. Employees in Senior Management Service and Selected Exempt Service positions are credited with 176 hours of annual leave upon appointment. In subsequent years, the annual allotment is credited on the anniversary date of the initial appointment.
• Sick Leave -. Career Service employees earn 8.667 hours of sick leave credits per month.

BACKGROUND SCREENING REQUIREMENT

It is the policy of the Florida Department of Education that applicants for employment/volunteer undergo Level 2 background screening in accordance with the requirements of Chapter 435, Florida Statutes, as a condition of employment or being permitted to serve as a volunteer. You will be required to provide your Social Security Number to conduct required verifications. No applicant for a designated position will be employed, contracted or permitted to volunteer until the level 2 screening results are received, reviewed, and approved by the Department. Level 2 background screening shall include, but not be limited to, finger printing for all purposes and checks under this requirement, statewide criminal and juvenile records checks through the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, federal criminal records check through the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and local criminal records checks through local law enforcement.

SELECTIVE SERVICE SYSTEM (SSS) AND REQUIREMENT

Male applicants born on or after October 1, 1962, will not be eligible for hire or promotion in the Other Personal Services (OPS) or Career Service, or appointment in the Selected Exempt Service (SES) or Senior Management Service (SMS) unless they are registered with the Selective Service System (SSS) before their 26th birthday, or have a Letter of Registration Exemption from the SSS. Verification of Selective Service registration will be conducted prior to hire.


For more information, please visit the Selective Service website.

SPECIAL NOTE

Please note that this position requires an on-site schedule of 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday. Telework is not available for this role.

If you experience problems applying online, please call the People First Service Center at View phone number on click.appcast.io.

Candidates requiring a reasonable accommodation, as defined by the Americans with Disabilities Act, must notify the agency hiring authority and/or People First Service Center View phone number on click.appcast.io). Notification to the hiring authority must be made in advance to allow sufficient time to provide the accommodation.

The State of Florida supports a Drug-Free workplace. All employees are subject to reasonable suspicion drug testing in accordance with Section 112.0455, F.S., Drug-Free Workplace Act.

VETERANS' PREFERENCE. Pursuant to Chapter 295, Florida Statutes, candidates eligible for Veterans' Preference will receive preference in employment for Career Service vacancies and are encouraged to apply. Certain service members may be eligible to receive waivers for postsecondary educational requirements. Candidates claiming Veterans' Preference must attach supporting documentation with each submission that includes character of service (for example, DD Form 214 Member Copy #4) along with any other documentation as required by Rule 55A-7, Florida Administrative Code. Veterans' Preference documentation requirements are available by clicking here. All documentation is due by the close of the vacancy announcement.


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