SENIOR VOCATIONAL REHABILITATION COUNSEL

SENIOR VOCATIONAL REHABILITATION COUNSEL - 48004168

Date : Oct 24, 2025

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Requisition No : 864008

Agency : Department of Education

Working Title : SENIOR VOCATIONAL REHABILITATION COUNSEL - 48004168

Pay Plan : Career Service

Position Number : 48004168

Salary : $3,986.67 Monthly

Posting Closing Date : 11 / 21 / 2025

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DOE / DIVISION OF VOCATIONAL REHABILITATION

Senior Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor

Location : Panama City

Position Number : 48004168

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

(non-negotiable)

Anticipated Vacancy

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

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.”

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.

This Advertisement may be used to fill current and future vacancies for up to 6 months.

This is independent professional counseling work providing vocational rehabilitation services to eligible disabled individuals to attain employment; and providing technical assistance to vocational rehabilitation counselors.

IMPORTANT APPLICATION NOTES :

For your application to be considered, application must be complete in its entirety .

All fields must be completed (dates of employment, supervisor name, phone numbers, addresses, etc.).

Gaps in employment that exceed three (3) months must be explained in the application (unemployed, caretaker, etc.).

Employment history must be in chronological order by date with the most recent employer first onthe application.

Experience, education, training, knowledge, skills and / or abilities as well as responses to pre-qualifying questions must be verifiable to meet the minimum qualifications.

It is unacceptable to use the statement“See Resume” in place of entering work history.

If claiming Veteran’s Preference, candidate MUST attach supporting documentation (DD214).

If claiming the Right to Interview, the candidate MUST attach a copy of your official layoff letter when applying.

If you experience problems applying online, please call the People First Service Center at (877) 562-7287

Minimum Qualifications :

Establish and maintain education and experience requirements, to ensure that the personnel have a 21st century understanding of the evolving labor force and the needs of individuals with disabilities.

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

Years of Experience :

For each year of work experience required in the qualifications, an applicant shall have 12 months of full-time work experience to receive credit for an entire year.

Bachelor’s degreeplus not less than 2 yearsof paid or unpaid 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 and skills in working with individuals with disabilities

direct experience as an employer

direct experience as 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

Advance 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

Years of Experience : Master’s degree plus not less than 1 year of paid or unpaid experience.

For each year of work experience required in the qualifications, an applicant shall have 12 months of full-time work experience to receive credit for an entire year.

Duties and Responsibilities :

This position is responsible for providing independent professional vocational rehabilitation counseling to individuals with a diversity of disabilities in order that they may attain employment; providing and coordinating complex services; and providing technical assistance on vocational rehabilitation issues to internal and external customers. The incumbent of this position will access client information, maintain case records, produce correspondence, and perform other automated functions within the scope of the position's responsibilities.

Assesses medical, psychological, and vocational information to determine eligibility for services. Provides technical assistance to internal and external customers. Develops and implements with full participation of the customer with a disability, an Individual Plan for Employment to determine employment outcomes.

Provides professional vocational rehabilitation counseling to individuals with a diversity of disabilities who require complex vocational rehabilitation strategies in order that they may attain appropriate employment outcomes. Provides information to assist individuals with disabilities in making informed choices regarding services, service providers and employment outcomes.

Authorizes, coordinates and / or negotiates services leading to successful employment outcomes. Negotiates with individuals with disabilities regarding plan development.

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 technical assistance to internal and external customers.

Conducts in-depth interviews of individuals with disabilities requiring complex rehabilitation strategies to determine eligibility for vocational rehabilitation services and the feasibility for achieving a vocational goal.

Manages resources to ensure financial accountability according to state and federal regulations and policies.

Collaborates with community partners to assure appropriate use of available resources.

Provides technical assistance and specialized training to internal customers. Participates in training experiences designed to enhance professional competency in vocational rehabilitation.

Performs other duties as required.

Attendance is an essential function of this position.

Employee must be productive under tight timeframes, balance multiple and competing priorities and maintain goal-directed behavior and performance sometimes under stressful conditions; the employee must interact courteously with others; employee’s performance and behavior must demonstrate consideration of the workload concerns of others and must not negatively affect productivity and morale of the unit.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES :

Knowledge of the theories and practices in vocational rehabilitation guidance and counseling

Knowledge of interviewing techniques

Knowledge of medical and psychological aspects of disability groups

Knowledge of the principles and techniques of effective communication

Knowledge of employment resources and vocational rehabilitation resources

Knowledge of methods of compiling, organizing and analyzing data

Knowledge of organizing, tracking, and monitoring fiscal activities

Knowledge of state and federal fiscal requirements

Ability to compile, organize and analyze medical, vocational and psychological data

Ability to administer tests and analyze results

Ability to provide counseling and guidance in career planning

Ability to develop individual vocational rehabilitation programs and place clients in appropriate vocation Ability to communicate effectively

Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with others

• Information contained in responses to Qualifying Questions concerning education, experience, knowledge, skills and / or abilities must also be disclosed on the State of Florida Employment Application.

Background Screening Requirement :

It is the policy of the Florida Department of Education that applicants for employment undergo level 2 employment screening in accordance with the requirement of Chapter 435, Florida Statutes, as a condition of employment of being permitted to serve as a volunteer.

All applicants for employment or to volunteer who are selected for an interview will be provided with the Consent to Background Screening form for level 2 screening, the Affidavit of Good Moral Character, and the Notice of Rights. The leading candidate for employment or to volunteer will be required to execute the Consent form and Affidavit, report to a designated location, and submit fingerprints for level 2 screening.

No applicant for a designated position will be employed 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, fingerprinting for statewide criminal and juvenile records checks through the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, and federal criminal records checks through the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and may include local criminal records checks through local law enforcement agencies.

STATE OF FLORIDA EMPLOYEE BENEFITS :

State of Florida Retirement – 3% Employee Contribution Required

10 Paid Holidays annually

104 Hours of Paid Annual Leave annually

104 Hours of Paid Sick Leave annually

Health Insurance for Individual of Family Coverage – State pays 80% of premium

Life Insurance – State pays premium for 25,000 basic term life insurance for full time employee

Additional supplemental insurances are available such as dental, vision, etc.

Tax Deferred Medical and Child Care Reimbursement Accounts available.

Benefits information can be found on the following websites :

Insurance Benefits :

Deferred Compensation :

Pretax Benefits : (see link on next line)

Retirement Benefits :

The State of Florida is an Equal Opportunity Employer / Affirmative Action Employer, and does not tolerate discrimination or violence in the workplace.

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 (1-866-663-4735). 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 clickinghere () . All documentation is due by the close of the vacancy announcement.

Location :

PANAMA CITY, FL, US, 32401 PANAMA CITY, FL, US, 32404 PANAMA CITY, FL, US, 32405 PANAMA CITY, FL, US, 32402

Nearest Major Market : Panama City