Key Responsibilities and Required Skills for Vocational Research Specialist

🎯 Role Definition

The Vocational Research Specialist is responsible for conducting rigorous labor market and occupational research, designing and executing vocational assessments and evaluations, producing evidence-based reports for vocational rehabilitation and return-to-work programs, and translating complex data into actionable recommendations for case managers, employers, and policy stakeholders. This role combines applied research, program evaluation, stakeholder engagement, and technical analysis to support employment outcomes for people with disabilities and other disadvantaged populations.

📈 Career Progression

Typical Career Path

Entry Point From:

Vocational Counselor / Rehabilitation Counselor
Labor Market Analyst / Workforce Development Analyst
Research Assistant or Program Coordinator in disability services

Advancement To:

Senior Vocational Research Specialist / Lead Researcher
Program Evaluation Manager or Workforce Development Manager
Director of Vocational Services / Director of Program Evaluation

Lateral Moves:

Policy Analyst (disability and workforce policy)
Occupational Analyst / Job Developer
Grants and Research Coordinator

Core Responsibilities

Primary Functions

Conduct comprehensive labor market analyses using O*NET, SOC codes, local and regional employment data, and primary employer outreach to identify current and projected job openings, wage ranges, skill requirements, and training pathways that are relevant to clients served by vocational rehabilitation programs.
Design, plan, and execute vocational assessments and vocational evaluation battery protocols—combining standardized testing, work samples, situational assessments, and client interviews—to determine work capacity, transferable skills, and realistic job placement goals.
Prepare clear, evidence-based vocational reports and individualized employment recommendations for case files, hearing packets, vocational testimony, and vocational rehabilitation plans that include job match lists, reasonable accommodations, and return-to-work options.
Perform job analysis and job task breakdowns for specific employer positions, documenting essential functions, physical and cognitive demands, environmental conditions, and productivity standards to support placement and accommodation decisions.
Use statistical software (R, SPSS, Stata) and data visualization tools (Tableau, Power BI) to clean, analyze, and present quantitative findings on employment trends, program outcomes, and cost-benefit analyses for internal stakeholders and external funders.
Design and administer quantitative and qualitative research instruments, including surveys, structured interviews, and focus groups, to evaluate vocational program effectiveness, client satisfaction, and service gaps.
Conduct employer outreach and field-based labor market verification to validate job availability, employer requirements, hiring practices, and potential partnerships for job trials, internships, and supported employment placements.
Provide vocational expert testimony and technical documentation for administrative hearings, disability adjudications, and appeals, articulating occupational expectations, accommodation feasibility, and labor market support for vocational opinions.
Collaborate with multidisciplinary teams—rehabilitation counselors, medical professionals, occupational therapists, and case managers—to integrate vocational findings into holistic return-to-work plans and individualized employment strategies.
Maintain up-to-date knowledge of disability law, ADA/Rehabilitation Act requirements, state vocational rehabilitation policies, and local workforce development initiatives to ensure compliance and to inform policy recommendations.
Lead program evaluation projects by developing logic models, identifying performance metrics, conducting pre/post analyses, and preparing evaluation reports for program improvement and funding proposals.
Develop training materials and conduct workshops for vocational counselors, case managers, and employer partners on topics such as labor market research techniques, job analysis, reasonable accommodations, and evidence-based vocational practices.
Manage caseload data and maintain confidential records of vocational assessments, labor market searches, and placement outcomes using case management software and secure data systems in accordance with HIPAA and agency privacy policies.
Translate complex vocational and labor market data into searchable knowledge products—job guides, occupational summaries, and placement toolkits—that support scalable use by practitioners and improve job placement efficiency.
Serve as a subject matter expert for grant writing and reporting, contributing literature reviews, methodological sections, and evaluation plans that demonstrate program impact and scalability to funders.
Implement quality assurance protocols for vocational assessment methods, ensuring standardized administration, scoring consistency, and inter-rater reliability across evaluation teams.
Monitor program performance metrics (placement rates, retention, wage gains, average time to placement) and produce monthly/quarterly dashboards and narrative reports that inform leadership decisions and continuous quality improvement.
Conduct feasibility analyses for supported employment and job coaching interventions, estimating resource needs, accommodation costs, and expected employment outcomes.
Perform secondary data analysis using administrative datasets, labor market information systems, and publicly available datasets to identify service gaps, demographic trends, and equity issues affecting employment for clients with disabilities.
Support litigation support efforts by preparing vocational exhibits, labor market surveys, and occupation-specific wage analyses used by legal teams in disability and employment cases.
Participate in community outreach and stakeholder engagement to build employer relationships, develop placement pipelines, and advocate for inclusive hiring practices and accommodation supports.
Evaluate assistive technology and workplace accommodation options, consulting with occupational therapists and assistive technology vendors to recommend practical solutions that enable successful employment.

Secondary Functions

Support ad-hoc data requests, quick-turn analyses, and exploratory data projects to answer operational and policy questions from leadership and partner agencies.
Contribute to the organization's data and research strategy by proposing new data collection protocols, research priorities, and measurement frameworks aligned with strategic goals.
Collaborate with business units and program teams to translate data needs into research designs, measurement plans, and operational requirements that drive evidence-based practice.
Participate in project planning and agile project management activities, providing estimates, milestones, and status updates on research deliverables and evaluation projects.
Mentor junior researchers, interns, and vocational evaluation staff on research methods, occupational coding best practices, and professional report writing.
Maintain and update vocational research libraries, O*NET mappings, and internal knowledge bases to ensure consistent access to validated occupational information.
Support grant administration and compliance activities by tracking deliverables, compiling required documentation, and assisting with budget justifications for research-related expenses.
Represent the organization at conferences, advisory committees, and public forums to disseminate research findings and promote evidence-based vocational practices.
Coordinate with IT and data governance teams to ensure research datasets are secure, de-identified when required, and compatible with organizational analytics platforms.
Assist with development of automation and scripts for repetitive data extraction, occupational matching, and report generation to increase efficiency and reproducibility of vocational research outputs.

Required Skills & Competencies

Hard Skills (Technical)

Labor market analysis using O*NET, SOC codes, BLS data, and local workforce information systems.
Vocational assessment and evaluation techniques, including standardized tests, work samples, situational assessments, and transferable skills analysis.
Statistical analysis and data management with tools such as R, Python (pandas), SPSS, or Stata.
Data visualization and dashboard creation using Tableau, Power BI, or similar tools to present employment trends and program metrics.
Job analysis and essential functions documentation for accommodation and placement decisions.
Familiarity with case management systems and secure data practices (e.g., case file software, HIPAA-compliant recordkeeping).
Program evaluation methodology, including logic models, pre/post analyses, and performance metric development.
Survey design, interview protocols, and qualitative coding for client and employer research.
Legal and policy literacy related to ADA, Rehabilitation Act, SSI/SSDI work incentives, and state vocational rehabilitation rules.
Occupational coding and crosswalking between O*NET, SOC, and local occupation taxonomies.
Assistive technology assessment and workplace accommodation knowledge to support job retention and placement.
Proficiency in producing professional vocational reports and expert testimony documentation.

Soft Skills

Exceptional written communication and report-writing skills tailored to practitioners, funders, and legal audiences.
Strong verbal communication and presentation skills for trainings, hearings, and stakeholder meetings.
Analytical thinking and problem-solving skills with attention to detail and strong data quality orientation.
Empathy, cultural competence, and client-centered approach to working with individuals with disabilities and diverse backgrounds.
Project management and time management skills to balance multiple evaluation projects and deliverables.
Stakeholder engagement and collaboration skills to build employer relationships and cross-disciplinary partnerships.
Critical thinking for translating research findings into actionable program recommendations.
Discretion and integrity handling confidential client and program data.
Adaptability and continuous learning mindset to stay current on labor market shifts and vocational best practices.
Facilitation skills for leading focus groups, trainings, and interdisciplinary case conferences.

Education & Experience

Educational Background

Minimum Education:

Bachelor's degree in Rehabilitation Counseling, Labor Economics, Public Policy, Social Work, Psychology, Sociology, or a related field.

Preferred Education:

Master’s degree in Rehabilitation Counseling, Vocational Rehabilitation, Labor Economics, Public Policy, Industrial/Organizational Psychology, or Program Evaluation.
Certifications such as Certified Rehabilitation Counselor (CRC), Vocational Evaluation Certification (VEC), or equivalent occupational assessment credentials preferred.

Relevant Fields of Study:

Rehabilitation Counseling
Labor Economics / Workforce Development
Occupational Psychology / Industrial-Organizational Psychology
Public Policy / Public Administration
Social Work / Disability Studies

Experience Requirements

Typical Experience Range:

3–7 years of progressively responsible experience in vocational research, labor market analysis, vocational rehabilitation, or program evaluation.

Preferred:

5+ years of direct experience conducting vocational assessments, labor market research, producing vocational expert reports, employer engagement for placements, and program evaluation in a vocational rehabilitation, workforce development, or disability services setting.