SUPERVISING VOCATIONAL REHABILITATION COUNSELOR
Career Family: VOCATIONAL REHABILITATION COUNSELOR
To land Supervising Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor in New Jersey you go through the competitive route: you sit an announced exam and the score puts you on the eligible list agencies hire from.
To be eligible you bring a master's degree and 3 years of relevant experience. The FY2027 range lands between $83,582 and $122,832, and state payroll currently lists about 21 people in the title, most of them at Labor.
How to apply
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Exam
This is an application to sit an exam and be placed on an eligible list for this title, not an application for a specific job. A $35 application fee applies to Non-Public-Safety announcements issued on or after 2026-02-01. There may be no current vacancy behind it, and the list it produces may not be certified for months or years.
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Exam
Open to permanent employees in the competitive division who hold a qualifying lower title in the same unit. A $35 application fee applies to Non-Public-Safety announcements issued on or after 2026-02-01. Like the open competitive exam, this places you on a list; it is not itself a job offer.
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Agency posting
Department of Labor and Workforce Development's employment page may require a click-through to see specific openings. Provisional appointment against a posted vacancy is how most people are actually hired into this kind of title.
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Agency posting
Department of Human Services's employment page may require a click-through to see specific openings. Provisional appointment against a posted vacancy is how most people are actually hired into this kind of title.
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Agency posting
Department of Military and Veterans Affairs's employment page may require a click-through to see specific openings. Provisional appointment against a posted vacancy is how most people are actually hired into this kind of title.
Who employs this title
State payroll records show 21 people working under this title. The median actual salary is $111,094. The agencies employing the most are:
- Labor (19)
- Human Services (1)
- Military and Veterans Affairs (1)
Counts from NJ YourMoney agency payroll. See statewide workforce analytics.
Official job specification
The text below is the official specification published by the New Jersey Civil Service Commission. The plain-language summary and analysis above are derived from it by NJ Civil Service Navigator.
Definition
Under the direction of a higher-level supervisory official in a state department, institution, or agency, supervises the performance of professional and support staff engaged in providing counseling and rehabilitation services for the vocational rehabilitation of clients with disabilities requiring rehabilitative services over an extensive period of time; provides supervision to staff in assisting clients and employers in obtaining suitable employment or employees; supervises staff and work activities; prepares and signs official performance evaluations for subordinate staff; does other related duties.
Examples of work
Plans and oversees the activities of the work unit; establishes work procedures and priorities; evaluates overall operational effectiveness. Supervises the performance of employees involved in providing vocational training, counseling, rehabilitation, and other services for a caseload of clients with disabilities requiring varied and extensive rehabilitation services over an extended period of time. Supervises the preparation, review, and evaluation of case documentation. Conducts or observes the conduct of client interview sessions to obtain relevant information, or to disseminate information regarding vocational rehabilitation policies, procedures, and other available services. Evaluates and supervises the evaluation of relevant documentation to determine client eligibility for services according to established policy and procedures. Evaluates and supervises the evaluation of physical capabilities and develops and supervises the development of the comprehensive case management plans necessary for client rehabilitation; as required, identifies client's social, emotional, or behavioral issues, physical limitations, and the nature and extent of employment and learning disabilities. Counsels and observes the counsel of clients with disabilities to develop viable vocational goals based upon disability, and to assist the client to address problems of personal, social, economic, and vocational adjustment. Evaluates and supervises the evaluation of diagnostic data to determine the nature and extent of a client's disability; recommends clients for additional psychological, medical, physical, or educational evaluation as deemed necessary. Reviews and approves the rehabilitation plans developed by subordinate staff; provides the guidance and direction necessary to ensure clients receive the most appropriate rehabilitation plan tailored to their specific needs. Assesses vocation or occupation interests of clients; identifies and arranges for formal and informal educational and vocational programs and other necessary training. Ensures that unit operations are conducted according to the laws and regulations affecting persons with disabilities. Assigns workload to subordinate staff; supervises the collection of caseload management data; reviews and analyzes the information. Monitors and oversees the expenditure of funds appropriated for rehabilitation and training services; ensures that proper documentation has been completed. Approves caseload expenditures for the purchase of diagnostic and other case services necessary for the medical, physical, and emotional rehabilitation of the client; as required, supervises the identification of client's case management needs. As required, develops the criteria necessary to evaluate program effectiveness; recommends changes and improvements to existing methods and procedures. Consults with other professional personnel to discuss the comprehensive plans and programs necessary for the rehabilitation of clients. Supervises the development and implementation of special programs or projects as required. Supervises the evaluation of a client's job readiness, the development and improvement of job seeking skills, and the monitoring of clients in job placement. Assembles and maintains vocation information, occupation data, and other relevant materials; disseminates and interprets appropriate materials for use by clients and other staff. Reviews, analyzes, and interprets existing and pending laws and regulations affecting persons with disabilities and disseminates to subordinate staff. Develops, organizes, and maintains a referral network, and provides client with referrals to other appropriate programs, services, or resources. Establishes and maintains cooperative working relationships with other organizations and agencies whose functions or services interact with those needed by the client. Evaluates and supervises the evaluation of the progress and effectiveness of the client's individualized program, implements changes as required, and evaluates improvements in client's physical and/or psychological condition. As required, conducts case reviews according to agency policies and procedures. Supervises the work operations and/or functional programs and has responsibility for effectively recommending the hiring, firing, promoting, demoting and/or disciplining of employees. As required, provides information to the public regarding the vocational rehabilitation activities of the agency. Reviews and approves recommendations for post-employment services to clients. Prepares and supervises the preparation of correspondence. Prepares and supervises the preparation of clear, sound, accurate, and informative reports containing findings, conclusions, and recommendations. Supervises the establishment and maintenance of records and files. Will be required to learn how to utilize various types of electronic and/or manual recording and information systems used by the agency, office, or related units.
Education
Graduation from an accredited college or university with a master's degree in rehabilitation counseling, education, social work, counseling, special education, school guidance, sociology, or psychology.
Experience
Three (3) years of experience in vocational/rehabilitation guidance or counseling, or other related guidance and counseling, or social or medical casework in a rehabilitation agency, facility or other social program designed to increase the employability of persons with disabilities.
License
Appointees will be required to possess a driver's license valid in New Jersey only if the operation of a vehicle, rather than employee mobility, is necessary to perform the essential duties of the position.
Knowledge, skills and abilities
Knowledge of the types of vocational/rehabilitation programs needed to properly serve clients. Knowledge of the medical, physiological, psychological, socioeconomic, vocational, and other problems of clients with disabilities. Knowledge of the vocational possibilities, potentials, and limitations of clients with disabilities. Knowledge of counseling and interviewing techniques. Knowledge of the assessment techniques used to evaluate a client's occupational knowledge, skills, abilities, and readiness for employment. Knowledge of the assessment techniques used to identify a client's vocational rehabilitation needs, and the methods to develop an individualized program. Ability to plan and oversee the activities of the work unit, establish work procedures and priorities, and evaluate operation effectiveness. Ability to review, analyze, and interpret laws, rules, and regulations affecting clients with disabilities, and apply them to specific situations. Ability to identify and coordinate the varied medical, vocational, training, and other services required for the rehabilitation of clients with disabilities. Ability to interview clients, evaluate complex cases, and provide guidance and counseling to clients with disabilities. Ability to supervise the preparation, review, and evaluation of case documentation. Ability to evaluate relevant documentation used to make eligibility determinations. Ability to identify a client's capabilities and limitations and develop the plans necessary for client rehabilitation. Ability to evaluate and supervise the evaluation of diagnostic data used to determine the nature and extent of a client's disability. Ability to supervise the collection of caseload management data and review and analyze the information. Ability to counsel clients with disabilities to develop viable vocation goals. Ability to assess the vocational or occupational interests, capabilities, and limitations of clients, and to identify and arrange for the programs and training necessary for client rehabilitation. Ability to supervise assigned staff and plan, organize, and implement projects within the unit. Ability to identify a client's case management needs and to monitor and oversee the expenditure of funds. Ability to evaluate program effectiveness and to recommend changes as required. Ability to consult with other professionals for the planning of rehabilitation programs. Ability to evaluate clients' job readiness and assist them to develop and improve their job seeking skills. Ability to assemble, maintain, disseminate, and interpret vocational information. Ability to develop, organize, and maintain a referral network used to provide clients with disabilities with appropriate services and other resources. Ability to establish and maintain cooperative working relationships with those organizations and agencies whose functions or services interact with those needed by the client. Ability to evaluate the level of improvement in a client's condition, evaluate the progress and effectiveness of a client's treatment programs, and implement changes as required. Ability to prepare and supervise the preparation of correspondence. Ability to prepare and supervise the preparation of clear, sound, accurate, and informative reports containing findings, conclusions, and recommendations. Ability to supervise the establishment and maintenance of records and files. Ability to learn how to utilize various types of electronic and/or manual recording and information systems used by the agency, office, or related units. Ability to read, write, speak, understand, and communicate in English sufficiently to perform the duties of this position. American Sign Language or Braille may also be considered as acceptable forms of communication. Persons with mental or physical disabilities are eligible if they can perform the essential functions of the job with or without reasonable accommodation. If the accommodation cannot be made because it would cause the employer undue hardship, such persons may not be eligible.
Note
The examples of work for this title are for illustrative purposes only. A particular position using this title may not perform all duties listed in this job specification. Conversely, all duties performed on the job may not be listed. A current and valid certification as a Certified Rehabilitation Counselor issued by the Commission on Rehabilitation Counselor Certification may be substituted for the master's degree. A bachelor's degree in in rehabilitation counseling, education, social work, counseling, special education, school guidance, sociology, psychology, business administration, human resources, or economics and two (2) years of professional work experience with individuals with disabilities or performing direct counseling or advocacy activities for individuals with disabilities in a rehabilitation agency, facility or other social program designed to increase the employability of persons with disabilities, may be substituted for the above education. SPECIAL NOTE: Appointees to the Department of Veterans Affairs must possess a master's degree in social work (MSW) or a master's degree in mental health counseling. Appointees to the Department of Veterans Affairs cannot substitute a certification as a Certified Rehabilitation Counselor or the bachelor's degree and experience as indicated above.