The Tennessee Department of Human Services (TDHS), Division of Rehabilitation Services
is seeking a dedicated visionary leader to serve as a Director for the Blind Division within
the Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) program. Authorized and governed by the federal
Rehabilitation Act of 1973 as amended and the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity
Act (WIOA), the program ‘s focus is to provide employment related services for individuals
with disabilities consistent with their strengths, priorities, and resources with the goal of
competitive, integrated employment, including self-employment opportunities, through a
customer centered approach to contributing to Tennessee’s workforce.

Under the general supervision of the VR Director, the Director for the Blind Division serves
as the statewide leader and face of the VR program’s focus on meeting the individualized
employment objectives of job seekers who are blind or have low vision, providing strategic
vision, public education, programmatic expertise, state and federal compliance of
employment related regulations while maintaining a high level of accountability. The
Director for the Blind Division is responsible for the planning, organizing, directing of day-to-
day administration of the program’s employment related services for jobseekers who are
blind or have low vision in collaboration with the Director of the VR program, provides
leadership for an interdisciplinary team of professional and support staff statewide
including self-employment through the Tennessee Business Enterprise (TBE) and
independent living programs serving those who are blind or have low vision and their
families. Additionally, as a leader of employment services for individuals who are blind or
have low vision the Director often attends or leads both high-level strategic meetings with
statewide leaders and advocates for smaller community groups to provide education and
serve as the voice for job seekers who are blind or have low vision.

Bachelor's degree and seven years of full-time professional work in one of the following: social/human services, education, and/or social services grant coordination.
Applicants for this class may be required to: Complete a criminal history disclosure form in the manner approved by the appointing authority; agree to release all records involving their criminal history to the appointing authority; supply a fingerprint sample prescribed by the TBI based on criminal history records check.

Preferred Skills
• Master’s Degree in Rehabilitation Counseling OR closely related Human Services field.
• Certification as a Rehabilitation Counselor, CRC.
• Certified Vision Specialist
• Demonstrated knowledge of policies, advocacy or support of specialized programs and
services that support the employment and independence of individuals who are blind or
have low vision.
• Experience supervising and/or managing a public sector program that serves the
employment of individuals who are blind or have low vision (state or federal) with a full &
wide- ranging knowledge of related statues, rules and regulations