Vocational Specialist Jobs
Vocational Specialist jobs are open across healthcare, education, government agencies, and nonprofit organizations, from entry-level counselors to senior program directors, with specializations in rehabilitation counseling, workforce development, and disability services. See the openings below and apply to the ones that match your experience.
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Showing 5 of 33+ Vocational Specialist jobs
```Duties```
-In a faith centered vocational setting, provide encouragement, peer services, and model healthy work ethic to program participants through the following activities:
- Participate in outreach efforts to engage clients, including appointments, resource referrals, and work in the community
- Facilitate Peer Life Skill Education groups to equip participants to prepare for job readiness
- Record services rendered through daily documentation practices with Electronic Health Records Systems
- Facilitate vocational skills training using training modules and observation and skills assessments
- Transport participants safely in a 15-passenger van. Valid Drivers License Required
Provide support and assistance to individuals in need
- Conduct motivational interviewing sessions to help clients set and achieve goals
- Utilize social work techniques to assess client needs and develop appropriate intervention plans
- Serve as a mentor and provide guidance to clients in various areas of their lives
- Offer peer support to individuals struggling with substance abuse
- Implement crisis intervention strategies to manage high-stress situations
- Collaborate with other professionals and systems to ensure comprehensive care for clients
- Provide behavioral health services and support to individuals with mental health concerns
- Conduct personal wellness sessions to address emotional and psychological issues
```Skills```
- Proficient in motivational interviewing techniques
- Strong background in social work principles and practices
- Experience in mentoring individuals and providing guidance
- Knowledge of addiction counseling methods and strategies
- Familiarity with crisis intervention and crisis management techniques
- Understanding of behavioral health principles and practices
- Ability to conduct peer sessions sessions effectively
This position requires excellent communication skills, empathy, and the ability to work effectively with diverse populations. The ideal candidate will have a passion for helping others and a strong desire to make a positive impact on individuals' lives, in addition to strong computer knowledge, typing, and documentation abilities.
Job Type: Full-time
Pay: $18.50 - $22.50 per hour
Benefits:
- 401(k)
- 401(k) matching
- Dental insurance
- Employee assistance program
- Flexible schedule
- Health insurance
- Life insurance
- Paid time off
- Retirement plan
- Vision insurance
Work Location: In person
```Duties```
-In a faith centered vocational setting, provide encouragement, peer services, and model healthy work ethic to program participants through the following activities:
- Participate in outreach efforts to engage clients, including appointments, resource referrals, and work in the community
- Facilitate Peer Life Skill Education groups to equip participants to prepare for job readiness
- Record services rendered through daily documentation practices with Electronic Health Records Systems
- Facilitate vocational skills training using training modules and observation and skills assessments
- Transport participants safely in a 15-passenger van. Valid Drivers License Required
Provide support and assistance to individuals in need
- Conduct motivational interviewing sessions to help clients set and achieve goals
- Utilize social work techniques to assess client needs and develop appropriate intervention plans
- Serve as a mentor and provide guidance to clients in various areas of their lives
- Offer peer support to individuals struggling with substance abuse
- Implement crisis intervention strategies to manage high-stress situations
- Collaborate with other professionals and systems to ensure comprehensive care for clients
- Provide behavioral health services and support to individuals with mental health concerns
- Conduct personal wellness sessions to address emotional and psychological issues
```Skills```
- Proficient in motivational interviewing techniques
- Strong background in social work principles and practices
- Experience in mentoring individuals and providing guidance
- Knowledge of addiction counseling methods and strategies
- Familiarity with crisis intervention and crisis management techniques
- Understanding of behavioral health principles and practices
- Ability to conduct peer sessions sessions effectively
This position requires excellent communication skills, empathy, and the ability to work effectively with diverse populations. The ideal candidate will have a passion for helping others and a strong desire to make a positive impact on individuals' lives, in addition to strong computer knowledge, typing, and documentation abilities.
Job Type: Full-time
Pay: $18.50 - $22.50 per hour
Benefits:
- 401(k)
- 401(k) matching
- Dental insurance
- Employee assistance program
- Flexible schedule
- Health insurance
- Life insurance
- Paid time off
- Retirement plan
- Vision insurance
Work Location: In person
Vocational Specialist Jobs by Experience Level
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Find Vocational Specialist JobsVocational Specialist Job Market
Who's Hiring
What Employers Look For
The qualifications that appear most often in vocational specialist jobs.
- Bachelor's or master's degree in rehabilitation counseling, human services, or a related field
- Experience developing individualized plans for employment or vocational rehabilitation
- Knowledge of ADA accommodation standards and disability-related employment law
- Certified Rehabilitation Counselor (CRC) credential preferred or required
- Familiarity with case management software and electronic documentation systems
- Strong experience conducting vocational assessments and functional capacity evaluations
Tips for Your Vocational Specialist Job Search
Tailor your resume to caseload metrics
Vocational specialist roles often require demonstrating outcomes, so your resume should quantify caseload size, placement rates, or program completion rates from past roles. Generic counseling language won't distinguish you from other applicants in this field.
Highlight relevant certifications prominently
Certifications like the Certified Rehabilitation Counselor or Certified Vocational Evaluator signal immediate credibility to hiring managers. List them near the top of your resume, not buried in a credentials section at the bottom.
Filter openings by funding source and population
Vocational specialist roles differ significantly depending on whether the employer serves Veterans Affairs, state vocational rehabilitation agencies, or private disability insurers. Identify which population you're strongest with and target those openings first.
Apply early to roles that fit
Migrate Mate lists vocational specialist openings from across the United States in one place, so you can find roles that match and apply directly to each listing.
Prepare case-based interview examples in advance
Interviewers for vocational specialist positions almost always ask for real examples of how you developed an individualized plan for a client facing complex barriers. Prepare two or three detailed scenarios before your interview, not on the morning of.
Negotiate scope before discussing compensation
In vocational specialist offers, caseload size and service area directly affect your day-to-day workload and burnout risk. Confirm those terms during the offer conversation so you're evaluating the full picture, not just the title.
Vocational Specialist Jobs: Frequently Asked Questions
Which companies are hiring the most vocational specialists?
The most active employers for vocational specialists right now are MaineHealth, US Veterans Benefits Administration, and Southwest Network, and the most openings are in New York, Maine, and Arizona, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of November 2026. State vocational rehabilitation agencies and Veterans Affairs medical centers consistently represent a large share of total openings nationwide.
How many vocational specialist jobs are remote?
About 50% of vocational specialist openings are fully remote or hybrid as of November 2026, with remote availability varying by employer type and service population. Case coordination, benefits counseling, and program planning roles tend to offer more remote flexibility than positions that require in-person assessments or direct client contact at rehabilitation facilities.
How do you become a vocational specialist?
Most vocational specialist positions require a bachelor's degree in rehabilitation counseling, psychology, social work, or a related human services field, with a master's degree preferred for clinical or supervisory roles. After completing your degree, you gain supervised counseling experience and can pursue the Certified Rehabilitation Counselor credential, which many state agencies and healthcare employers require for full case responsibility.
Can you get hired as a vocational specialist with little experience?
Entry-level vocational specialist roles do exist, particularly at state vocational rehabilitation agencies and nonprofit workforce development programs that hire recent graduates with relevant internship or practicum hours. Emphasizing any direct work with people facing employment barriers, including volunteer experience, case shadowing, or academic fieldwork placements, can substitute for formal paid experience early in your career.
What does the vocational specialist interview process look like?
Most vocational specialist interviews involve a phone or video screen with HR, followed by a panel interview with program supervisors and sometimes a peer counselor. Interviewers typically present a case scenario and ask you to walk through how you'd develop an individualized employment plan. Some employers also require a writing sample or a demonstration of your familiarity with specific assessment tools before extending an offer.
Where can I find and apply to vocational specialist jobs?
You can find and apply to vocational specialist jobs on Migrate Mate, which lists current openings from employers across the United States. Search for roles that match your specialization and experience level, then apply directly to each listing that fits.
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