Early Reach Coordinator (Social Worker 2)

About the role

Turn your passion for advocacy and student success into a meaningful career as an Early Reach Coordinator with the Bureau of Vocational Rehabilitation Services. This position gives you the opportunity to work directly with students with disabilities and help them explore future employment possibilities. Every interaction can support growth, independence, and long-term success. Join a team dedicated to empowering the next generation of workers.This position provides coverage in Cambria, Indiana, Somerset, and Westmoreland counties.

This position supports students with disabilities as they prepare to move from school into employment and vocational rehabilitation services. The role involves counseling, advocacy, community outreach, resource coordination, and collaboration with schools, families, and service providers. As an Early Reach Coordinator, you will perform the following duties:

• Student Counseling: Provide vocational counseling, guidance, referrals, and advocacy services that support successful transitions to employment
• Needs Assessment: Gather and evaluate educational, medical, vocational, and personal information to identify student service needs and goals
• Resource Coordination: Connect students and families with community agencies, educational programs, and disability-related services that support future success
• School Partnerships: Collaborate with educators, agency staff, and families to develop plans and strengthen transition services for students with disabilities
• Application Support: Assist with rehabilitation service applications, compile required documentation, and prepare information for eligibility determinations
• Public Outreach: Deliver presentations, participate in meetings and events, and promote awareness of vocational rehabilitation services within the community

Interested in learning more? Additional details regarding this position can be found in the position description.

Work Schedule and Additional Information

• Full-time employment, 37.5 hours per week, Monday - Friday
• Work hours are typically 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM with a 30-minute lunch. Work schedule may be negotiable within a 7.5 hour work day. The position is eligible for AWS (alternate work schedule).
• Telework: You may have the opportunity to work from home (telework) part-time, upon successful completion of the training period. In order to telework, you must have a securely configured high-speed internet connection and work from an approved location inside Pennsylvania. If you are unable to telework, you will have the option to report to the headquarters office in Johnstown or an approved office in the caseload territory. The ability to telework is subject to change at any time. Additional details may be provided during the interview.
• Salary: Selected candidates who are new to employment with the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania will begin employment at the starting annual salary of $60,538.00 (before taxes).
• You will receive further communication regarding this position via email. Check your email, including spam/junk folders, for these notices.

Minimum Experience and Training Requirements

• Two years of experience as a Social Worker 1 or Forensic Social Worker 1 (Commonwealth job title or equivalent Federal Government job title, as determined by the Office of Administration) (must have been employed in a commonwealth social worker job title on September 8, 2008, with continuous commonwealth employment); or
• Two years of experience as a Social Worker 1 or a Forensic Social Worker 1 and a bachelor’s degree in social work or social welfare; or
• Two years of professional experience providing direct public or private social work services, and a bachelor’s degree in social work or social welfare; or
• A master's degree in social work or social welfare.
• Applicants will be considered to have met the educational requirements once they are within 3 months of graduating with a qualifying degree.

Other Requirements

• You must meet the PA residency requirement. For more information on ways to meet PA residency requirements, follow the link and click on Residency Guidelines.
• You must be able to perform essential job functions.

Legal Requirements

• This position falls under the provisions of the Child Protective Services Law.
• Under the Law, a conditional offer of employment will require submission and approval of satisfactory criminal history reports including, but not limited to, PA State Police clearance, PA Child Abuse history clearance, and FBI Fingerprint clearance.

How to Apply

• Resumes, cover letters, and similar documents will not be reviewed, and the information contained therein will not be considered for the purposes of determining your eligibility for the position. Information to support your eligibility for the position must be provided on the application (i.e., relevant, detailed experience/education).
• If you are claiming education in your answers to the supplemental application questions, you must attach a copy of your college transcripts for your claim to be accepted toward meeting the minimum requirements. Unofficial transcripts are acceptable.
• Your application must be submitted by the posting closing date. Late applications and other required materials will not be accepted.
• Failure to comply with the above application requirements may eliminate you from consideration for this position.
• All application materials and interview responses must reflect the applicant’s own experience, qualifications, and work. Applicants may use generative AI tools for preparation purposes only. Use of AI to misrepresent or falsify information, or to assist during interviews, is not permitted. Review the Guidance for Generative AI Tools & Job Seekers for additional information.

Veterans

• Pennsylvania law (51 Pa. C.S. §7103) provides employment preference for qualified veterans for appointment to many state and local government jobs.

Telecommunications Relay Service (TRS)

• 711 (hearing and speech disabilities or other individuals).

Additional information

If you are contacted for an interview and need accommodations due to a disability, please discuss your request for accommodations with the interviewer in advance of your interview date.

• Completing the application, including all supplemental questions, serves as your exam for this position. No additional exam is required at a test center (also referred to as a written exam).
• Your score is based on the detailed information you provide on your application and in response to the supplemental questions.
• Your score is valid for this specific posting only.
• You must provide complete and accurate information or:
• your score may be lower than deserved.
• you may be disqualified.
• You may only apply/test once for this posting.
• Your results will be provided via email.