Placement Counselor - #ARS00224

Title: Placement Counselor - #ARS00224

State Role Title: Counselor II

Hiring Range: Starting minimum $50,107 commensurate with experience.

Pay Band: 4

Agency: Dept for Aging & Rehab Svcs

Location: Aging & Rehab Svcs

Agency Website: https://www.dars.virginia.gov

Recruitment Type: General Public - G

Empower individuals to achieve meaningful employment! Join us as a Placement Counselor and make a lasting impact by connecting job seekers with opportunities that fit their skills and goals.

Why Join Us?
✅ Purpose-driven work
✅ Inclusive, supportive teams
✅ Great state benefits

Job Duties:

In partnership with people with disabilities, the DRS Field Rehabilitation Services Division assists individuals with disabilities to make informed choices that will maximize their employment through coordinated service delivery. DRS staff will assist the Workforce Network to deliver quality workforce services to individuals with disabilities who want to work and employers seeking to hire them to the extent that this provides benefit to the DRS program.

We are seeking a Placement Counselor to be responsible for assisting individuals in identifying and securing suitable employment opportunities. This role involves providing career counseling, job readiness training, and placement support to clients. The caseload may consist of students, youth and adults with varying disabilities including, but not limited to serious mental illness, substance abuse, hearing impairments all other disabilities. The Placement Counselor collaborates with employers, community organizations, and internal teams to ensure successful job matches and long-term employment outcomes.

Responsibilities:

• Assist clients in identifying suitable employment opportunities by assessing their skills, interests, and vocational goals, while providing individualized job search support, including résumé development, job application assistance, and interview preparation.
• To work in partnership with the Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor and the Participant to meet the employment goal established on the Individualized Plan for employment.
• Establishes and maintains strong relationships with local businesses and community partners to identify and expand job placement opportunities, ensuring client skills, interests and vocational goals while staying informed on labor market trends and employment regulations, including ADA compliance.
• Maintain accurate and timely documentation in case management systems. 
• Collaborates with vocational rehabilitation counselors, case managers, and external partners to align placement strategies with client service plans and employment objectives.
• Experience with applicant tracking systems, targeted resume development and follow up and hiring protocols to effectively assist local businesses with developing talent pipeline solutions.

• Community Office-based with occasional travel to job sites, community events, or client meetings.
• May require flexible hours, including evenings or weekends, depending on client needs.
• Other duties and/or special projects as assigned.
• Completes duties and/or projects as needed or directed by supervisor.

Minimum Qualifications:

The ideal candidate will have:

Knowledge/Experience:

• Training and/or experience in Psychology, Counseling, Human Services, Special Education, Rehabilitation Counseling or Marketing, Business Management, Communication. 
• Advanced experience in job placement, or workforce development.
• Experience with applicant tracking systems, targeted resume development and follow up and hiring protocols to effectively assist local businesses with developing talent pipeline solutions.
• Training and/or experience in Marketing, Business Management, Communication, Psychology, Counseling, Human Services, Special Education, and Rehabilitation Counseling.
• Demonstrated ability to analyze, interpret, and apply labor market and business data to inform employment strategies and program development. 
• Familiar with current labor market trends, employer needs, and workforce development practices to effectively connect job seekers with business opportunities.
• In-depth understanding of disability services, vocational rehabilitation, and employment support programs.

Ability/Skills:

• Demonstrated ability to establish and maintain effective relationships with employers to identify job opportunities aligned with client skills, interests, and vocational goals. 
• Proven success in developing partnerships with local businesses and organizations to expand job placement opportunities and support inclusive hiring practices.
• Strong collaboration skills with the ability to work effectively with vocational rehabilitation counselors, case managers, and community partners to coordinate client employment strategies.
• Proficiency in monitoring client progress through consistent follow-up, documentation, and the ability to adjust employment plans based on evolving client needs.
• Strong interpersonal, communication, and organizational skills.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office and case management software.
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team.

Additional Considerations:

• Experience working with individuals with disabilities or other employment barriers.

Special Instructions

• This has been designated a sensitive position under Va. Code § 2.2-1201.1.
• A fingerprint-based criminal history check will be required of the finalist candidate.
• The selected candidate must complete a Statement of Personal Economic Interests as a condition of employment (Va. Code § 2.2-3114.

Reasonable accommodations are available to persons with disabilities during the application and/or interview processes per the Americans with Disabilities Act. Contact recruitment@dars.virginia.gov for assistance.

Minorities, Individuals with disabilities, Veterans, AmeriCorps, Peace Corps, and other National Service Alumni are encouraged to apply.

To Apply:

Equal Opportunity Employer State applications will only be accepted as submitted online by 11:55 p.m. on the closing date through the Commonwealth of Virginia’s New Recruitment Management System. Mailed, emailed, faxed, or hand delivered applications and/or résumés will not be accepted. PageUp will provide you with confirmation of receipt when your application and/or résumé is submitted successfully. Please refer to “Your Application” in your account to check the status of your application for this position.

Contact Information:

Name: Human Resources

Email: Recruitment@dars.virginia.gov

In support of the Commonwealth’s commitment to inclusion, we are encouraging individuals with disabilities to apply through the Commonwealth Alternative Hiring Process. To be considered for this opportunity, applicants will need to provide their AHP Letter (formerly COD) provided by the Department for Aging & Rehabilitative Services (DARS), or the Department for the Blind & Vision Impaired (DBVI). Service-Connected Veterans are encouraged to answer Veteran status questions and submit their disability documentation, if applicable, to DARS/DBVI to get their AHP Letter. Requesting an AHP Letter can be found at AHP Letter or by calling DARS at 800-552-5019.

Note: Applicants who received a Certificate of Disability from DARS or DBVI dated between April 1, 2022- February 29, 2024, can still use that COD as applicable documentation for the Alternative Hiring Process.