IVRS Careers

The State of Iowa
Department of Education
Iowa Vocational Rehabilitation Services Professional Employment Opportunities

Iowa Vocational Rehabilitation is seeking energetic, action oriented professionals interested in becoming a part of a statewide team dedicated to serving the needs of employers and assisting individuals with disabilities to achieve employment, independence and economic goals. We expect all employees to share our vision, believe in our mission and embrace our values to achieve outcomes.

Employment Inquiries :

E-mail your employment questions to Beverly.Schmeling@iowa.gov.

Frequently Asked Questions:

• Do the reference letters have to be sent directly to you?
  No, we will accept letters electronically to beverly.schmeling@iowa.gov, faxed to 515-281-4149, through mail, or as part of your complete packet.
• Do the post secondary transcripts have to be official transcripts from the college or university?
  No, we will accept copies of those as long as they are legible. We will also accept electronic transcripts from on-line requests.

Disability Examiners are all located in Des Moines and some positions require occasional travel. Each counselor and examiner has a personal computer networked to other individuals in their office as well as to their statewide co-workers and the central office.

Rehabilitation Counselors work in offices of one to ten counselors in large cities and smaller towns throughout Iowa. They determine client eligibility for services and develop individual plans leading to employment.  Rehabilitation Counselors develop relationships with businesses in their communities to identify employer needs for recruitment, disability awareness, job accommodation, and follow-up. A number of positions require fluency in American Sign Language.

Rehabilitation Associates support the work of Rehabilitation Counselors by completing intakes, working with clients on specific employment needs, arranging services to support the individual's employment plan, and provide job development while preparing the individual for a specific occupation.

Rehabilitation Assistants support the work of the Rehabilitation Associates and Counselors by coordinating intakes, obtaining information that is required to determine eligibility and coordinating other case management activities to follow up on issues in the individual's case. Strong organizational skills required as this position works 50 percent of the time providing clerical support and 50 percent of the time in client contact activities.

Orientation and Training

Rehabilitation Counselors are required to participate in a two day orientation at the Division Central Office. Counselors are coached by Area Supervisors and VR Counselors to achieve competency in a number of casework activities.

Additional In-Service Training is provided by the agency and each supervisor has a copy of the current Training Catalog, which all employees are encouraged to review.

Disability Examiners are required to participate in a two day orientation at the Division Central Office, receive extensive classroom training on the job and are coached by mentors and supervisors.

Additional In-Service Training is provided by the agency and each supervisor has a copy of the current Training Catalog, which all employees are encouraged to review. The Regional Rehabilitation Continuing Education Program at the University of Missouri assists with other rehabilitation counseling training as do the MA programs at Drake University and the University of Iowa. The Social Security Administration provides training to Examiners on disability determination issues.

Vital Statistics:

Number of office locations: 48
Number of persons in the Agency: 396
Total number of VR Counselors: 123
Ratio of Supervisors to Counselors: 1:8
Average Caseload Size: 133
Total number of Disability Examiners: 69
Ratio of Supervisors to Examiners: 12
Average Caseload Size: 100

Employee Benefit Summary

Health and dental insurance are available for employees and dependents of full and part time employees. The State of Iowa contributes to health and dental insurance. Life and Long Term Disability are available for full-time employees at no cost. Additional life insurance may be purchased by the employee through Prudential Insurance Company of America and may require underwriting. Tax-savings programs include IRS Pre-tax benefits on insurance premiums, Dependent Care, Deferred Compensation and Tax Sheltered Annuities 403B Plan. The State of Iowa retirement (Iowa Public Employees Retirement System - IPERS) plan vests after four years and includes employer contributions.

Vacation and sick leave accrue from date of employment and paid holidays are available immediately.

As an EEO/AA employer, the Department of Education actively supports the ADA and reasonably accommodates qualified applicants with disabilities.

Below are links to more information on the following positions:

Rehabilitation Counselor

Rehabilitation Associate

Rehabilitation Assistant

Disability Examiner

Internships