Job Description

Posting number: 27-00847

Department: 309 - Iowa Workforce Development - Vocational Rehabilitation Services

Job classification: Rehabilitation Counselor

Posting type: Open

Categories: Human Services

Summary

Rehabilitation Counselor – Career and Disability Services

Make an Impact. Empower Careers. Strengthen Northwest Iowa.

Iowa Vocational Rehabilitation Services (IVRS) is seeking a Rehabilitation Counselor for our Sheldon office. In this role, you will help individuals with disabilities explore career possibilities, prepare for employment, and connect with opportunities that support greater independence.

You do not have to make an impact alone. You will work alongside participants, families, schools, service providers, employers, and fellow IVRS professionals to develop individualized employment plans and address barriers along the way.

If you have experience in counseling, human services, social work, psychology, education, workforce development, disability services, or a related field, we encourage you to review the minimum qualifications and consider applying.

Position Details

• Location: 517 Park Street, Suite A, Sheldon, Iowa
• Schedule: Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m.–4:30 p.m.
• Work arrangement: Hybrid telework and alternate scheduling may be available after six months, upon successful completion of training
• Travel: Regular travel to schools, businesses, service providers, and community locations is required

New Hires will start at base starting wage: $27.40/hour, $2,192.00 bi-weekly, $56,992.00 annually

Candidates who possess a master’s degree in a related field and relevant professional experience may be considered for a higher starting salary within the pay range, consistent with State of Iowa compensation guidelines.

What You’ll Do

As a Rehabilitation Counselor, you will manage an assigned caseload and partner directly with individuals with disabilities to identify employment goals and create practical plans for achieving them. Your work will include:

• Meeting with participants to understand their strengths, interests, abilities, support needs, and employment goals
• Providing vocational counseling and guidance throughout the rehabilitation and employment process
• Reviewing medical, psychological, educational, and social information to determine eligibility for services
• Developing individualized employment plans in partnership with participants
• Coordinating services, training, accommodations, and other resources needed to support employment success
• Providing Pre-Employment Transition Services to students who may be eligible for vocational rehabilitation services
• Maintaining clear, timely, and accurate case documentation
• Applying program requirements, federal regulations, and agency policies consistently
• Monitoring progress and helping participants work through challenges or adjusting their employment plans when needed

Build Connections Across the Community

A meaningful part of this role involves developing partnerships throughout Sheldon and the surrounding region. You will:

• Collaborate with schools, community organizations, workforce partners, and service providers
• Build relationships with employers and help them understand disability inclusion and reasonable accommodations
• Identify work-based learning, on-the-job training, apprenticeship, and employment opportunities
• Partner with Iowa Workforce Development’s Business Engagement Team on employer outreach
• Help align employment opportunities with each participant’s abilities, interests, and goals

What Will Help You Succeed

• Compassionate and effective counseling and communication skills
• The ability to build trust with people from a variety of backgrounds
• Sound judgment and the ability to make well-supported decisions
• Strong organization, time management, and documentation skills
• A collaborative approach to working with participants, families, schools, providers, and employers
• A commitment to accessibility, inclusion, and meaningful employment for individuals with disabilities
• The ability to learn and apply detailed program requirements and policies

Why Join IVRS?

This position offers the opportunity to build a meaningful career while making a visible difference in the lives of Iowans. You will help people recognize their strengths, navigate challenges, and pursue employment that supports their goals and independence.

As part of Iowa Workforce Development, you will join a statewide network of professionals working to connect people with opportunity and strengthen Iowa’s workforce.

Benefits of Working for the State of Iowa

State of Iowa employees receive a comprehensive benefits package that includes:

• Health, dental, and vision insurance
• Vacation and sick leave, with no maximum accrual for sick leave
• Nine paid holidays
• IPERS retirement benefits
• Optional retirement savings through deferred compensation
• Flexible spending accounts for health and dependent-care expenses
• Life insurance and long-term disability coverage
• Employee assistance and discount programs
• Training, professional development, and opportunities for career growth

Learn more about State of Iowa employee benefits.

Additional Information

The successful candidate must be able to complete a criminal background check conducted through the Iowa Department of Public Safety.

This position is classified as a Rehabilitation Counselor, pay grade 28. Candidates appointed with a bachelor’s degree are eligible for compensation up to 85% of the pay grade maximum.

Make Your Work Matter

Your counseling, coordination, and community partnerships can help someone move from uncertainty to opportunity. If you are ready to use your skills to expand access to meaningful employment and strengthen northwest Iowa communities, we encourage you to apply.

The State of Iowa participates in E-Verify; a federal program that helps employers confirm the employment eligibility of all newly hired employees. Within the required timeframe, new hires will be verified through the E-Verify system to ensure authorization to work in the United States. The State of Iowa also complies with the federal Right to Work laws, which protect employees’ rights to work without being required to join a labor organization. For more information, please visit www.e-verify.gov.

No applicant for employment with the Iowa Department of Workforce Development can have a current, ongoing overpayment balance with Iowa Workforce Development without a payment plan in place. Selected positions will be subject to a criminal background check.

Qualifications

Applicants must meet at least one of the following minimum requirements to qualify for positions in this job classification:

1. All of the following (a and b): (a) Graduation from an accredited four-year college or university with a degree in a human-services-related field; and (b) A total of one year of graduate-level education and/or full-time work in professional vocational rehabilitation counseling services or human services field, where twenty-four semester hours of accredited graduate college or university coursework in rehabilitation counseling, human resources, school counseling, mental health counseling, social work, psychology, education, or a closely-related field equals one year of full-time experience.
2. All of the following (a and b): (a) Graduation from an accredited four-year college or university with a degree in any field; and (b) A total of twenty-four semester hours of accredited graduate college or university coursework in rehabilitation counseling, human resources, school counseling, mental health counseling, social work, psychology, education, or a closely-related field.

For additional information, please click on this link to view the job description.

Supplemental information

Travel may be required for positions in this class. Employees must arrange transportation to and from assigned work areas.