Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor

Are you ready to help Pennsylvanians with disabilities thrive? Join the Office of Vocational Rehabilitation team as a Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor in the Allentown District Office, applying your expertise to connect individuals with meaningful work and independence. Make a difference in public service and build your career with the Department of Labor and Industry!

As a Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor, you will play a crucial role in helping individuals with disabilities find and maintain employment. Your work will involve developing and maintaining relationships with referral sources to identify potential customers, coordinating the delivery of rehabilitation services, and creating vocational goals for each individual. You will also provide counseling and guidance services, assist with job placement, and prepare case reports. This position demands excellent communication skills to ensure applicants fully understand eligibility requirements and services. Through effective communication and collaboration, you will determine the best course of action for each individual's rehabilitation process.

Interested in learning more? Additional details regarding this position can be found in the position description.

Work Schedule and Additional Information:

• Full-time employment, 37.5 hours per week
• Work hours are 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM, Monday - Friday, with a 30-minute lunch.
• This position reports to the Allentown District Office at 45 North 4th Street, Allentown, PA. However, the headquarters location may be flexible depending on the selected candidate.
• Telework: You may have the opportunity to work from home (telework) part-time upon successful completion of the training period. In order to telework, you must have a securely configured high-speed internet connection and work from an approved location inside Pennsylvania. If you are unable to telework, you will have the option to report to the headquarters office in Allentown. The ability to telework is subject to change at any time. Additional details may be provided during the interview.
• Salary: Selected candidates who are new to employment with the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania will begin employment at the starting annual salary of $59,345.00 (before taxes).
• You will receive further communication regarding this position via email. Check your email, including spam/junk folders, for these notices.

QUALIFICATIONS

Minimum Experience and Training Requirements:

• Successful completion of the commonwealth's Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor Intern program (Commonwealth job title or equivalent Federal Government job title, as determined by the Office of Administration); or
• Possession of an active Certified Rehabilitation Counselor certificate issued by the Commission on Rehabilitation Counselor Certification; or
• Proof of approval to sit for the Commission on Rehabilitation Counselor Certification (CRCC) Certified Rehabilitation Counselor certification examination, provided by the CRCC, and completion of a master's degree; or
• A master's degree in vocational rehabilitation, mental health, special education, social work, human services, psychology, business administration, human resources, public administration, or a closely related field; or
• Applicants will be considered to have met the educational requirements once they are within 3 months of graduating with a qualifying degree.

• PA residency requirement is currently waived for this title.
• You must be able to perform essential job functions.

Legal Requirement:

• This position falls under the provisions of the Child Protective Services Law.
  • Under the Law, a conditional offer of employment will require submission and approval of satisfactory criminal history reports including, but not limited to, PA State Police clearance, PA Child Abuse history clearance, and FBI Fingerprint clearance.

• Resumes, cover letters, and similar documents will not be reviewed, and the information contained therein will not be considered for the purposes of determining your eligibility for the position. Information to support your eligibility for the position must be provided on the application (i.e., relevant, detailed experience/education).
• If you are claiming education in your answers to the supplemental application questions, you must attach a copy of your college transcripts for your claim to be accepted toward meeting the minimum requirements. Unofficial transcripts are acceptable.
• Your application must be submitted by the posting closing date. Late applications and other required materials will not be accepted.
• Failure to comply with the above application requirements may eliminate you from consideration for this position.

Veterans:

• Pennsylvania law (51 Pa. C.S. *7103) provides employment preference for qualified veterans for appointment to many state and local government jobs. To learn more about employment preferences for veterans, go to www.pa.gov/agencies/employment/how-to-apply.html and click on Veterans.

Telecommunications Relay Service (TRS):

• 711 (hearing and speech disabilities or other individuals).

If you are contacted for an interview and need accommodations due to a disability, please discuss your request for accommodations with the interviewer in advance of your interview date.

The Commonwealth is an equal employment opportunity employer and is committed to a diverse workforce. The Commonwealth values inclusion as we seek to recruit, develop, and retain the most qualified people to serve the citizens of Pennsylvania. The Commonwealth does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religious creed, ancestry, union membership, age, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, AIDS or HIV status, disability, or any other categories protected by applicable federal or state law. All diverse candidates are encouraged to apply.

• Completing the application, including all supplemental questions, serves as your exam for this position. No additional exam is required at a test center (also referred to as a written exam).
• Your score is based on the detailed information you provide on your application and in response to the supplemental questions.
• Your score is valid for this specific posting only.
• You must provide complete and accurate information or:
  • your score may be lower than deserved.
  • you may be disqualified.
• You may only apply/test once for this posting.
• Your results will be provided via email.