Vocational Development Specialist

To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 11/06/2026. Time-In-Grade Requirement: Applicants who are current Federal employees and have held a GS grade any time in the past 52 weeks must also meet time-in-grade requirements by the closing date of this announcement. For a GS-11 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-09. The grade may have been in any occupation, but must have been held in the Federal service.

An SF-50 that shows your time-in-grade eligibility must be submitted with your application materials. If the most recent SF-50 has an effective date within the past year, it may not clearly demonstrate you possess one-year time-in-grade, as required by the announcement. In this instance, you must provide an additional SF-50 that clearly demonstrates one-year time-in-grade.

Note: Time-In-Grade requirements also apply to former Federal employees applying for reinstatement as well as current employees applying for Veterans Employment Opportunities Act of 1998 (VEOA) appointment. Selective placement factor: is applied in the same manner as minimum qualification requirements. Relevant selective placement factor experience must be well documented in your resume. Failure to meet a selective placement factor will result in you not receiving further consideration.

In addition to the minimum qualifications described below, you must meet the following selective placement factor: Must have a valid state driver's license.

01Preferred experience

Two years previous experience working homeless population. You may qualify based on your experience and/or education s described below: Specialized Experience: You must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade GS-9 in the the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization.

Examples of specialized experience include: Work that required obtaining and applying occupational information for people with disabilities, knowledge of the interrelationships of the involved professional and specialist services, and skill in employing the methodology and techniques of counseling to motivate and encourage individuals served by the program.

Experience that demonstrated knowledge of the vocational rehabilitation problems characteristic of the disabled, including familiarity with available resources and skill in identifying, evaluating, and making effective use of such resources to serve individuals with disabilities; or of the disadvantaged, including knowledge of adjustment problems of the educationally or culturally disadvantaged, familiarity with available adult education and training resources, and ability to recognize problem areas needing special attention.

Experience in vocational guidance or teaching in a recognized vocational rehabilitation program or school, developmental or supervisory work in programs of vocational rehabilitation or training programs for the disadvantaged, or personnel or employment placement work that provided extensive knowledge of the training and adjustment requirements necessary to place persons having disabilities or social adjustment problems. OR, Education: Applicants may substitute education for the required experience.

To qualify based on education for this grade level you must have a Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree or 3 full years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to such a degree, OR 3 full years of progressively higher education leading to such a degree, OR LL.M., if related. The major study in this education is vocational rehabilitation, vocational or educational counseling, or other fields related to the position.

OR, Combination: Applicants may also combine education and experience to qualify at this level. You must have an combination of specialized experience and education beyond two years of graduate education. Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religions; spiritual; community; student; social).

Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience. Note: A full year of work is considered to be 35-40 hours of work per week. Part-time experience will be credited on the basis of time actually spent in appropriate activities.

Applicants wishing to receive credit for such experience must indicate clearly the nature of their duties and responsibilities in each position and the number of hours a week spent in such employment.

02Physical Requirements

The work is primarily sedentary, but does require intermittent driving, standing, and walking. A valid driver's license and ability to drive a government vehicle is required. The work requires that the incumbent drive on a regular basis as a significant amount of their time may be spent in the community meeting with Veterans, employers and other community agency representatives.

For more information on these qualification standards, please visit the United States Office of Personnel Management's website at https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-standards/.

Major duties include: Conducts interviews to determine the nature and level of intervention that may be required to assist the Veteran in obtaining employment. Provides the Veteran with a range of service options that will meet both his/her immediate and long-term employment needs.

Provides both direct and indirect services including but not limited to: access to job listings; resume preparation; vocational counseling; negotiations with employers for reasonable accommodations; assistance with completion and submission of job applications; coordination of and transportation to job interviews; interview skills training; job development and job placement.

Collaborates with Veterans to determine the level and types of services needed, where the end result is competitive employment, employment maintenance or improved job status. Focuses services on employment rather than therapeutic work. Assists Veterans in obtaining a referral to the nearest Compensated Work Therapy Program (CWT). Works closely with the Veterans Benefit Administration (VBA) to determine the Veteran's eligibility for Veterans Readiness and Employment (VR&E) services.

Documents all vocational interventions, goals, objectives and outcomes through the writing of an individualized employment plan and actively participates in the implementation of this employment plan. Attends and participates in treatment team meetings, contributes actively to the strategies and support plans for all clients served by the team, and communicates strategies developed for job acquisition and retention to the treatment team.

Collaborates with existing community partners and employers and demonstrates unique expertise in the ability to forge new relationships with such entities. Receives and records information from employers regarding employment opportunities. Participates in job fairs and may take a leadership role in coordinating employment fairs and similar events for homeless Veterans. Work Schedule: Monday - Friday; 8:00am - 4:30pm Virtual: This is not a virtual position.

Position Description/PD#: Vocational Development Specialist/PD00895A Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Critical Skills Incentive (CSI): Not Approved Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized Financial Disclosure Report: Not required