Career Counseling & Transition Services Specialist (VR Service or Rehabilitation Specialist) - two positions

The work we do matters!

Hiring Agency:

Education - Agency 13

Location:

North Platte, NE

Hiring Rate:

$25.287

Job Posting:

JR2025-00018592 Career Counseling & Transition Services Specialist (VR Service or Rehabilitation Specialist) - two positions (Open)

Applications No Longer Accepted On (If no date is displayed, job is posted as open until closed):

08-21-2025

Job Description:

Are you interested in a career helping others reach their full potential? Join our team as a Career Counseling & Transitional Services Specialist! In this role, you'll assist Nebraska VR clients in preparing for, finding, and maintaining employment, guiding them through the career planning process and supporting them in achieving their employment goals. You will also work with high school students with disabilities, assisting them in preparing for life after high school.

We have two openings in our North Platte office! We’re looking for candidates with exceptional communication and interpersonal skills, along with a proactive approach to problem-solving and critical thinking. Bilingual (English/Spanish) is a plus! If you thrive on building relationships, creatively solving problems, and making a meaningful impact every day, we’d love to hear from you!

Office Location: These positions are assigned to our office located in North Platte, NE.

Pay Rates:

The available salary rate for this position is dependent on education and is based upon available budget funds; any offers will be made at this rate.* Successful candidates with a bachelor’s degree will be hired as a Service Specialist, Pay Grade 5: $25.287/hour

• Successful candidates with a master�s degree will be hired as a Rehabilitation Specialist, Pay Grade 7: $30.597/hour
  

Teammates Enjoy

In addition to being part of meaningful work and making a difference through public service, our Total Compensation package includes an approximate $24,500 - $26,900 in additional Benefits value! See full benefits information at https://statejobs.nebraska.gov/index.html#benefits* Competitive benefits, paid time off, and retirement

+ 79% employer-paid health insurance, dental, vision, long and short-term disability, flex spending and health savings accounts, employee discount program, and more!

+ Generous vacation and sick leave earnings each year (starting at 12 days each!), plus a variety of other leave types

+ 156% state-matched retirement (yes, that’s $1.56 for every dollar!) with a guaranteed 5% return

• Thirteen paid holidays per year
  

Essential Functions* Conducts employment discussion and career exploration to assess client strengths and barriers, vocational interests, aptitude, skills, preferences, and values.

• Prepares cases for client eligibility, priority groups, job goal, and plan for employment by reviewing medical and psychological reports, social, education, and employment information.
  
• Develops and manages Individualized Plans for Employment (IPEs), and employment outcome determinations.
  
• Advises and instructs people with disabilities in informed decision making, interpersonal, educational, and vocational skills.
  
• Visits high schools to provide career exploration services and work readiness skills training to high school students with disabilities. Provides education related to resumes, applications, and interviewing skills.
  
• Demonstrates beneficial soft skills (e.g., timeliness, dependability) and advises students in informed decision making, interpersonal, and vocational skills. Develops engaging, educational, and interactive group activities.
  
• Assists students with strengthening their self-advocacy skills related to their disabilities.
  
• Arranges job exploration activities such as informational interviews, job shadows, work-based learning experiences, etc.
  
• Develops and maintains relationships with students, parents, teachers, other educational entity staff, and businesses or employers to ensure quality services for each student and provide information about Nebraska VR services.
  
• Attends Individual Educational Plan (IEP) meetings to gain understanding of student needs and update school staff on VR involvement.
  
• Provides outreach and information about vocational rehabilitation to the community, including referral sources and schools.
  
• Monitors and advocates for client progress to support efficient follow through by team members and providers to ensure client success.
  
• Recommends the purchase of goods and services for clients in accordance with established fiscal policies and procedures.
  
• Maintains regular & reliable attendance, possesses a valid driver�s license and travels independently, and works in a variety of settings.
  

Rehabilitation Specialist Additional Functions: Including the functions above, Rehabilitation Specialists also perform the Essential Functions below.* Prepares and approves cases for client eligibility, priority groups, job goal, and plan for employment by analyzing and synthesizing medical and psychological reports, social, education, and employment information.

• Develops, manages, and approves Individualized Plans for Employment (IPEs), and employment outcome determinations.
  

Working Conditions and Travel:

This position requires approximately 55% of work time spent in an office environment; the remaining 45% of work time is spent in the community. Employees may be asked, within reason, to use their own personal vehicles for travel. There is also approximately six days of overnight travel per year.

Requirements / Qualifications

Minimum Qualifications:* Service Specialist: Bachelor’s degree in a related field and at least one year of work experience related to the essential functions of the position.

• Rehabilitation Specialist: Master�s degree with emphasis in one of the following areas: Vocational Rehabilitation Counseling, Counseling and Guidance, or another field that reasonably provides competence in the employment sector, in a disability field, or both.
  

Preferred Qualifications:* Service Specialist: Experience working with, and advocating for, people with disabilities. Ability to manage high volume of cases and provide case management services while collaborating with a variety of stakeholders. Bilingual in English/ Spanish.

• Rehabilitation Specialist: Master�s degree in related field and progressively responsible experience working with, and advocating for, people with significant disabilities. Ability to mentor others in managing high volume of cases and providing quality case management services. Bilingual in English/ Spanish.
  

If you have any questions about this posting or working at NDE, please email us at nde.hrjobpostings@nebraska.gov.

Benefits

We offer a comprehensive package of pay, benefits, paid time off, retirement and professional development opportunities to help you get the most out of your career and life. Your paycheck is just part of your total compensation.

Equal Opportunity Statement

The State of Nebraska values our teammates as well as a supportive environment that strives to promote diversity, inclusion, and belonging. We recruit, hire, train, and promote in all job classifications and at all levels without regard to race, color, religion, sex. age, national origin, disability, marital status or genetics.

Current employees of the State of Nebraska should NOT apply on this external career. Instead go to Workday and access the Jobs Hub - Internal Apply app from your home landing page.

Instructions for Applying

Important points to remember when applying:* The employment application is required and is the primary source of information used to determine if you meet the minimum requirements of the job.

• Make sure your application is complete. Incomplete applications are rejected.
  
• You will not be allowed to change your application after you have applied for a position and you cannot re-apply for the the same position unless it is posted again.
  
• You have the opportunity to attach a resume; however, it should not be used to replace any information asked for on the official application.
  
• When you have successfully applied for a job, you will receive a confirmation on the screen and your application will be available on your Candidate Home page.
  

We encourage you to use the Search for Jobs feature to find jobs that are available in a particular location or a job that matches your work experience.

Applicants who need accommodation in the selection process should request this in advance. Requests can be made by contacting the Nebraska State Personnel Office 1526 K Street, Suite 100, Lincoln, NE. (402)471-2075.

These positions are subject to application of Veterans' Preference.