How to hire a vocational case manager

How to hire a vocational case manager, step by step

Here's a step-by-step vocational case manager hiring guide:

• Step 1: Identify your hiring needs
• Step 2: Create an ideal candidate profile
• Step 3: Make a budget
• Step 4: Write a vocational case manager job description
• Step 5: Post your job
• Step 6: Interview candidates
• Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new vocational case manager
• Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   Before you start hiring a vocational case manager, identify what type of worker you actually need. Certain positions might call for a full-time employee, while others can be done by a part-time worker or contractor.

   Determine employee vs contractor status

   Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

   Yes

   No

   Hiring the perfect vocational case manager also involves considering the ideal background you'd like them to have. Depending on what industry or field they have experience in, they'll bring different skills to the job. It's also important to consider what levels of seniority and education the job requires and what kind of salary such a candidate would likely demand.

   This list shows salaries for various types of vocational case managers.

   Type of Vocational Case Manager	Description	Hourly rate
   Vocational Case Manager	Social and human service assistants provide client services, including support for families, in a wide variety of fields, such as psychology, rehabilitation, and social work. They assist other workers, such as social workers, and they help clients find benefits or community services.	$14-25
   Program Coordinator	Program coordinators are mid-level employees who are assigned to work on a program of a specific department. They handle the communications between their department and any other department that they may need to collaborate with... Show more	$14-30
   Coordinator	Coordinators are responsible for liaising between the department they are assigned to and any other external party. They oversee projects or agreements... Show more	$12-29

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Rehabilitation
   • Transferable
   • Insurance Carriers
   • Vocational Training
   • Vocational Rehabilitation
   • Mental Health
   • Vocational Assessments
   • Vocational Evaluations
   • Substance Abuse
   • Mental Illness
   • Developmental Disabilities
   • Community Resources
   • Social Services
   • Crisis Intervention

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Provide clients support with basic ADL's (shopping, payee services, budgets, managing and attending appointments).
   • Provide vocational rehabilitation supervision to adolescents and adults
   • Provide full spectrum of educational/vocational rehabilitation services.
   • Provide full spectrum of educational/vocational rehabilitation services.

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in your vocational case manager job description is a great way to entice the best and brightest candidates. A vocational case manager salary can vary based on several factors:

   • Location. For example, vocational case managers' average salary in utah is 44% less than in district of columbia.
   • Seniority. Entry-level vocational case managers earn 43% less than senior-level vocational case managers.
   • Certifications. A vocational case manager with a few certifications under their belt will likely demand a higher salary.
   • Company. Working for a prestigious company or an exciting start-up can make a huge difference in a vocational case manager's salary.

   Average vocational case manager salary

   $41,034yearly

   $19.73 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level vocational case manager salary

   $31,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 17, 2025

4. Writing a vocational case manager job description

   A vocational case manager job description should include a summary of the role, required skills, and a list of responsibilities. It's also good to include a salary range and the first name of the hiring manager. To help get you started, here's an example of a vocational case manager job description:

   Vocational case manager job description example

   Eliot is currently seeking a Forensic Vocational Case Manager for the new Lowell Forensic Program for Assertive Community Treatment (PACT) Team.. The ideal candidate will have an understanding of the unique needs and history/background of the population and have the ability to develop and maintain clear and therapeutic boundaries. A proven experience in community-based work with adults with severe and persistent mental illness are a must.
   
   PACT is an evidenced based multidisciplinary outreach mental program that serves adults with serious and persistent mental illnesses in the community. PACT staff work as a team to collaborate with consumers to develop treatment interventions that assist them in their recovery process.
   Responsibilities:
   
   Assist consumers in being fully integrated in their communities by supporting them in the use of community resources, encouraging them in establishing memberships within their communities, and reducing stigma within the community through education. Provide and maintain therapeutic boundaries and a professional relationship with consumers. Actively take part in supervision, staff meetings, in-services and trainings as required or determined by supervisor. Act as Liaison between the courts and correctional facilities. Deliver and monitor consumer medications in accordance with Agency, DMH and DPH regulations, policies and procedures. Ensure the maintenance and accuracy of all documentation and administration. Transport consumers to required court mandated treatment, probation/parole appointments, work sites, meetings, daily activities, appointments, as needed. Follow all motor vehicle rules and regulations when driving consumers. Participate in Daily Organizational Meeting (DOM) in accordance with Eliot policies and PACT standards. Includes completing progress notes prior to the DOM for every consumer contact and collateral contact in the format indicated by policy. Document daily progress notes for all contacts with each consumer in accordance with Eliot Policy and PACT fidelity standards. Perform shift management as assigned by the Team Leader in accordance with Eliot policies and PACT standards. Act as a primary case manager to 7-15 consumers in accordance with Eliot's policies and PACT standards.
   
   Qualifications:
   
   Requires a BA/BS in field of psychology, criminal justice or related field with at least two years of experience working with justice involved individuals. Ability to develop relationships with employers, provide job coaching, job support, job development, job skills, local schools and access to benefits. Possess knowledge of state vocational services, impact of work on public benefits, accessing educational services and accessing competitive employment. Ability to work a flexible work schedule contingent upon program needs. Ability to work effectively in a fast-paced environment with periods of high stress.
   
   Schedule:
   
   Eliot is committed to identifying and dismantling barriers that prevent people with marginalized
   racial identities from actualizing their full employment potential, assuming leadership roles, or
   from fully engaging at all levels in the workplace.
   
   *Eliot mandates COVID-19vaccinationsforemployees, please discuss the requirements with the hiring manager during the interview process.

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   There are various strategies that you can use to find the right vocational case manager for your business:

   • Consider promoting from within or recruiting from your existing workforce.
   • Ask for referrals from friends, family members, and current employees.
   • Attend job fairs at local colleges to find candidates who meet your education requirements.
   • Use social media platforms like LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter to reach potential job candidates.

   Post your job online:

   • Post your vocational case manager job on Zippia to find and recruit vocational case manager candidates who meet your exact specifications.
   • Use field-specific websites.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   Your first interview with vocational case manager candidates should focus on their interest in the role and background experience. As the hiring process goes on, you can learn more about how they'd fit into the company culture in later rounds of interviews.

   Remember to include a few questions that allow candidates to expand on their strengths in their own words. Asking about their unique skills might reveal things you'd miss otherwise. At this point, good candidates can move on to the technical interview.

   The right interview questions can help you assess a candidate's hard skills, behavioral intelligence, and soft skills.

7. Send a job offer and onboard your new vocational case manager

   Once you've selected the best vocational case manager candidate for the job, it's time to write an offer letter. In addition to salary, this letter should include details about the benefits and perks you offer the candidate. Ensuring that your offer is competitive is essential, as qualified candidates may be considering other job opportunities. The candidate may wish to negotiate the terms of the offer, and you should be open to discussion. After you reach an agreement, the final step is formalizing the agreement with a contract.

   You should also follow up with applicants who don't get the job with an email letting them know that you've filled the position.

   To prepare for the new employee's start date, you can create an onboarding schedule and complete any necessary paperwork, such as employee action forms and onboarding documents like I-9 forms, benefits enrollment, and federal and state tax forms. Human Resources should also ensure that a new employee file is created.

8. Go through the hiring process checklist

   • Determine employee type (full-time, part-time, contractor, etc.)
   • Submit a job requisition form to the HR department
   • Define job responsibilities and requirements
   • Establish budget and timeline
   • Determine hiring decision makers for the role
   • Write job description
   • Post job on job boards, company website, etc.
   • Promote the job internally
   • Process applications through applicant tracking system
   • Review resumes and cover letters
   • Shortlist candidates for screening
   • Hold phone/virtual interview screening with first round of candidates
   • Conduct in-person interviews with top candidates from first round
   • Score candidates based on weighted criteria (e.g., experience, education, background, cultural fit, skill set, etc.)
   • Conduct background checks on top candidates
   • Check references of top candidates
   • Consult with HR and hiring decision makers on job offer specifics
   • Extend offer to top candidate(s)
   • Receive formal job offer acceptance and signed employment contract
   • Inform other candidates that the position has been filled
   • Set and communicate onboarding schedule to new hire(s)
   • Complete new hire paperwork (i9, benefits enrollment, tax forms, etc.)

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