Transition Counselor

Agency Dept of Health and Human Services Division Blind Services Job Classification Title Rehabilitation Counselor (S) Position Number  Grade NC10

The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) is one of the largest, most complex agencies in the state, and has approximately 17,000 employees. It is responsible for ensuring the health, safety, and well-being of all North Carolinians, providing human service needs for special populations including individuals who are deaf, blind, developmentally disabled, and mentally ill, and helping poor North Carolinians achieve economic independence.

The Transition Counselor identifies high-school-age students in Mecklenburg County who are blind, visually impaired, or deafblind and evaluates their eligibility for vocational rehabilitation services. The position conducts assessments, develops individualized service plans, and collaborates with teachers, school personnel, county officials, and professional team members to support each student's vocational development.

This role delivers pre-employment transition services and assists students in building skills, interests, and experiences aligned with future employment goals. The counselor works directly with employers to create work experiences and internships suited to each student's abilities and career interests. Work focuses on supporting students whose disabilities present substantial employment barriers and helping them build a foundation for successful vocational outcomes.

• Identify blind, visually impaired, and deafblind high-school-age students in public, private, charter, and home-school settings within Mecklenburg County.
• Determine eligibility for vocational rehabilitation services based on disability-related barriers to employment.
• Conduct assessments in collaboration with a team of professionals to establish service needs for each student.
• Develop and implement individualized vocational service plans that reflect student strengths, interests, choices, and employment goals.
• Collaborate with teachers, school personnel, and county officials to coordinate service delivery.
• Provide pre-employment transition services that prepare students for future employment pathways.
• Work with employers to develop work experiences and internships matched to student skills and capabilities.
• Create vocational exploration opportunities that support students' long-term employment success.
• Maintain communication with students, families, and stakeholders to ensure timely and coordinated services.
• Travel to job sites, high schools, and college campuses to support planning and implementation of student services.

Salary Grade Range: $43,267.00 - $75,718.00

Recruitment Range: $43,267.00 - $54,500.00

Candidates now meet the minimum qualifications of a position if they meet the minimum education and experience listed on the vacancy announcement.

The Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSAs)/ Management Preferences are not required. Applicants who possess the following skills are preferred:

• Demonstrated experience performing case management tasks, including evaluating student needs and coordinating vocational-rehabilitation services.
• Proven success collaborating with teams of professionals to develop assessments and align service plans with shared employment goals for students.
• Intermediate proficiency delivering pre-employment transition services to high-school-age youth with disability-related barriers to employment.
• Demonstrated experience working with employers to create work experiences and internships matched to students' skills, interests, and capabilities.
• Advanced skill coordinating services for students across multiple educational settings, including public, private, charter, and home-school environments.

The Posting Will Close At 11:59 P.M. The Night Before The End Date

This Position Is Funded In Part Through Federal Funds

Exerting up to 20 pounds of force occasionally, and/or up to 10 pounds of force frequently, and/or a negligible amount of force constantly to move objects.

The use of arm and/or leg controls requires exertion of forces greater than that for sedentary work and the worker sits most of the time, the job is rated for light work.

* Note this position requires spending time walking through different job sites, high schools, and touring college campuses.

The Division of…