[Hiring] Senior Associate, Vocational Rehabilitation Consultant @New York Life

Role Description

The Vocational Rehabilitation Specialist is a frontline professional resource within the Vocational Services Department who applies accredited rehabilitation counseling expertise to support absence management and disability insurance services delivered under employer-based group benefit policies and contracts. This role provides vocational, occupational, and workplace accommodation expertise across multiple functional areas, including:

• Pre-Disability and ADA accommodations
• Short-Term and Long-Term Disability return-to-work services
• Vocational analyses and reporting
• Participation in live claim staffings

This role requires in-depth practical expertise, independent problem-solving, sound professional judgment, and the ability to serve as a reliable vocational resource for internal and external clients, partners, and customers.

What You’ll Do

• Vocational Expertise and Analysis
  • Analyze occupational, vocational, and labor market information to support disability, accommodation, and return-to-work decision-making.
  • Complete vocational analyses and reports, including own occupation analyses and transferable skills analyses.
  • Interpret medical, vocational, occupational, and functional information within the context of policy definitions and program guidelines.
  • Document professional opinions, findings, and rationale in claims and vocational systems.
• Return-to-Work and Stay-at-Work Services
  • Provide direct vocational rehabilitation services to employees of client organizations.
  • Conduct telephonic or virtual vocational interviews.
  • Collaborate with customers, employers, health care providers, and internal partners.
  • Support employer accommodation and modified duty discussions.
• ADA, Pre-Disability, and Workplace Accommodation Support
  • Apply working knowledge of ADA concepts and workplace accommodations.
  • Analyze job duties and functional requirements to identify potential accommodations.
  • Communicate vocational and accommodation considerations clearly.
• Live Claim Staffing and Collaboration
  • Participate in live claim staffings and consultations.
  • Provide real-time vocational input related to occupational demands.
  • Serve as a subject matter resource for vocational concepts and industry practices.
• Collaboration, Quality, and Continuous Improvement
  • Work independently while collaborating closely with vocational peers and claims teams.
  • Apply established best practices and quality standards.
  • Identify trends, issues, or opportunities for improvement.
  • Participate in training, onboarding, calibration, and professional development activities.

Qualifications

• Master’s degree in Rehabilitation Counseling or a closely related field.
• Active Certification as a Rehabilitation Counselor (CRC).
• Demonstrated vocational rehabilitation counseling experience.
• Strong working knowledge of occupational classification systems.
• Ability to assimilate and apply policy language and vocational standards.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Word, Outlook, SharePoint.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Effective time management and ability to manage competing priorities.
• Commitment to ethical practice in accordance with company standards.

Requirements

• Experience supporting ADA accommodations and the interactive process.
• Experience completing own occupation analyses and transferable skills analyses.
• Additional relevant licenses or certifications (e.g., LPC, CVE, CCM, CDMS, CEAS).
• Experience providing job retention, stay-at-work, or return-to-work services.
• Experience working within a Continuous Improvement (CI) Management System.

Benefits

• Full package of benefits for employees.
• Unique offerings for a modern workforce, including leave programs and adoption assistance.
• Student loan repayment programs.
• Annual discretionary bonus eligibility.

Company Description

Group Benefit Solutions delivers comprehensive insurance and absence management solutions for mid-sized and large companies. Our work fosters a healthier, happier, and more secure workforce, contributing to New York Life’s legacy of being there when we’re needed most.