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Key Responsibilities and Required Skills for Vocational Program Consultant

💰 $50,000 - $85,000

EducationWorkforce DevelopmentRehabilitation Services

🎯 Role Definition

A Vocational Program Consultant is a subject-matter expert who advises public agencies, non-profits, schools, and workforce organizations on the design, delivery, and continuous improvement of vocational and employment services. This role combines clinical and operational knowledge — performing vocational assessments, developing individualized employment plans, coordinating employer partnerships, ensuring program compliance with federal/state regulations (e.g., WIOA, ADA), and using data to drive outcomes such as placement rates, retention, and wage progression. The consultant often provides technical assistance, staff training, grant and contract oversight, and quality assurance to achieve measurable employment outcomes for clients with disabilities or multiple barriers to employment.

Keywords: vocational rehabilitation consultant, employment services, workforce development, job placement, vocational assessment, WIOA compliance, employer engagement, assistive technology, program evaluation, grant management.

📈 Career Progression

Typical Career Path

Entry Point From:

  • Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor
  • Workforce Development Specialist / Career Coach
  • Job Coach or Employment Specialist

Advancement To:

  • Program Manager / Vocational Program Manager
  • Director of Workforce & Rehabilitation Services
  • State Vocational Rehabilitation Administrator or Senior Policy Advisor

Lateral Moves:

  • Transition Services Specialist (school-to-work)
  • Employer Partnership / Business Engagement Manager

Core Responsibilities

Primary Functions

  • Develop, implement and continuously refine vocational program models, service delivery protocols, and evidence-based practices to improve employment outcomes for adults and youth with disabilities or employment barriers.
  • Conduct comprehensive vocational assessments, transferable skills analyses, labor market research and individualized employment planning (IEP) to align client strengths with realistic employment goals and career pathways.
  • Lead employer engagement strategies: identify, cultivate, and maintain relationships with local, regional, and national employers to create job opportunities, internships, work trials, and supported employment placements.
  • Provide technical assistance and capacity-building to partner agencies, schools, VR counselors and case managers on topics such as job development, workplace accommodations, assistive technology, and competitive integrated employment.
  • Design and deliver training curricula and workshops for front-line staff, supervisors and community partners on assessments, job coaching, job placement techniques, ADA compliance, and labor market navigation.
  • Manage program performance by defining KPIs, tracking placement, retention, and wage growth metrics, preparing dashboards and monthly/quarterly reports for funders and leadership.
  • Write, manage and report on grants, contracts and subcontractor performance; prepare proposals, budgets, scopes of work, and compliance documentation for federal, state, and philanthropic funding sources.
  • Oversee participant referral and intake workflows, ensuring timely eligibility determination, enrollment, case assignment and documentation consistent with program standards and funder requirements.
  • Provide clinical consultation and case review for complex client situations, recommending strategies for supported employment, job modification, or mediation with employers.
  • Advise on policy interpretation and regulatory compliance (WIOA, ADA, Rehabilitation Act), proactively updating program policies and staff guidance to reflect legislative or administrative changes.
  • Coordinate interagency partnerships (schools, mental health providers, vocational rehabilitation agencies, community colleges) to build seamless pathways from training to sustained employment.
  • Implement quality assurance processes including audits, fidelity checks, and corrective action plans to maintain high service standards and funder compliance.
  • Develop and maintain employer-focused materials such as job accommodation guides, return-to-work toolkits, and recruitment briefs that reduce employer barriers to hiring program participants.
  • Facilitate job matching and placement logistics: pre-employment preparation, on-site job trials, negotiated job carving, and follow-along supports to maximize retention and advancement.
  • Lead community outreach, recruitment and engagement initiatives to identify eligible participants, using culturally competent strategies to increase access for underserved populations.
  • Prepare and present program results, evaluation findings, and best practice recommendations to boards, funders, and public stakeholders to secure ongoing support and scale successful interventions.
  • Advise on budgeting and financial management for vocational programs, ensuring funds are allocated to maximize outcomes while maintaining compliance and audit readiness.
  • Support procurement and subcontract management processes, evaluating vendor proposals, negotiating scopes of work and monitoring performance against deliverables.
  • Integrate assistive technology assessments and recommendations into vocational plans, coordinating with occupational therapists, vendors, and employers to implement accommodations.
  • Conduct risk assessments for participant placements and workplace safety, providing mitigation strategies and incident response protocols.
  • Use labor market information and industry sector analyses to tailor training pathways and credentialing opportunities that increase employer demand and participant employability.
  • Build and maintain a library of validated assessment tools, outcome measures and evidence-based curricula for consistent program delivery across sites.
  • Mentor and supervise junior staff, providing coaching on counseling techniques, employer engagement, documentation standards and professional development.

Secondary Functions

  • Compile, validate and respond to ad-hoc data requests for outcomes, demographics and service utilization to support funder reporting and strategic decision-making.
  • Contribute to the program’s monitoring and evaluation plan, including designing pre/post measures, satisfaction surveys, and longitudinal outcome tracking.
  • Collaborate with IT and data teams to translate program needs into reporting requirements and to improve case management system functionality.
  • Participate in stakeholder meetings, community coalitions and cross-sector workgroups to align vocational services with regional workforce development goals.
  • Support pilot projects and innovation initiatives (e.g., apprenticeships, hybrid work readiness models) to test new approaches and scale successful pilots.
  • Represent the organization at conferences, public hearings and community events to promote programs and recruit employer partners.
  • Review and update training materials, policies and SOPs to reflect field feedback and new evidence; maintain version control and staff communication about changes.
  • Facilitate cross-training across teams to ensure continuity of services during staff transitions and peak demand periods.
  • Assist with customer experience improvements by collecting participant feedback and implementing service design changes that reduce barriers and increase engagement.
  • Maintain professional licensure, certifications and continuing education as required by funders or regulatory bodies.

Required Skills & Competencies

Hard Skills (Technical)

  • Vocational assessment and transferable skills analysis (e.g., DOT/ONET usage, functional capacity evaluations).
  • Case management and CRM systems experience (e.g., Salesforce for Nonprofits, APR, CaseWorthy, VRC-specific systems).
  • Knowledge of federal/state workforce regulations and funding streams (WIOA, Rehab Act, ADA, Medicaid employment services).
  • Grant writing, budget development and contract management for public funding and philanthropic grants.
  • Data literacy: designing dashboards, extracting program metrics, basic statistical interpretation and using Excel, Tableau, Power BI, or similar.
  • Program evaluation and performance measurement (outcome tracking, cohort analysis, continuous quality improvement).
  • Employer engagement tools and job development strategies, including job carving and supported employment models.
  • Assistive technology assessment and coordination with clinical providers and vendors.
  • Training design and facilitation for adult learners, including curriculum development and workforce readiness modules.
  • Labor market research and sector strategy development using LMI and industry trend analysis.
  • Knowledge of disability accommodation strategies, workplace modifications, and universal design principles.
  • Familiarity with evidence-based vocational interventions (e.g., IPS, SE models) and transition services for youth.

Soft Skills

  • Strong verbal and written communication for multi-stakeholder audiences (employers, participants, funders, schools).
  • Empathy, cultural humility and trauma-informed practice when working with vulnerable populations.
  • Coaching and mentoring ability to develop staff and participants toward measurable goals.
  • Negotiation and conflict resolution skills for mediating employer-participant issues and securing placements.
  • Strategic thinking and problem solving to design sustainable pathways and scale effective programs.
  • Project management and organizational skills to manage multiple grants, deliverables and timelines.
  • Relationship-building and networking to grow employer pipelines and cross-sector partnerships.
  • Adaptability and resilience in complex regulatory and funding environments.
  • Ethical judgment, confidentiality and professional boundaries in client-facing work.
  • Attention to detail in documentation, compliance reporting and audit preparation.

Education & Experience

Educational Background

Minimum Education:

  • Bachelor’s degree in Rehabilitation Counseling, Social Work, Education, Psychology, Human Services, Business, or related field.

Preferred Education:

  • Master’s degree in Rehabilitation Counseling, Counseling, Social Work (MSW), M.Ed., MBA, Public Administration or related advanced credential.
  • Certification such as CRC (Certified Rehabilitation Counselor), CCM (Certified Case Manager), or relevant workforce professional credential.

Relevant Fields of Study:

  • Rehabilitation Counseling
  • Social Work
  • Special Education
  • Psychology
  • Human Services
  • Business Administration / Public Administration

Experience Requirements

Typical Experience Range: 3–7 years of progressive experience in vocational rehabilitation, workforce development, employment services, or related program consulting roles.

Preferred:

  • 5+ years designing and managing vocational or employment programs, including direct service experience and employer engagement.
  • Demonstrated experience with federal and state funding compliance (WIOA, Rehab Act), grant management, performance reporting and quality assurance.
  • Prior success in training delivery, technical assistance, or multi-stakeholder partnership development.
  • Experience supervising or mentoring staff and managing subcontractors or service providers.
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