[Rehab] Orientation Center for the Blind Administrator - Iowa Department for the Blind

Thu Apr 2 01:25:06 UTC 2026

Job Opportunity at Iowa Department for the Blind's Orientation Center for
the Blind 

https://www.governmentjobs.com/careers/iowa/jobs/5291607/oc-program-administ
rator?department[0]=131%20Iowa%20Department%20for%20the%20Blind
<https://www.governmentjobs.com/careers/iowa/jobs/5291607/oc-program-adminis
trator?department%5b0%5d=131%20Iowa%20Department%20for%20the%20Blind&sort=Po
sitionTitle%7CAscending&pagetype=jobOpportunitiesJobs>
&sort=PositionTitle%7CAscending&pagetype=jobOpportunitiesJobs 

Job Title

Orientation Center for the Blind Administrator

Salary
$72,238.40 - $111,238.40 Annually

Location 
Des Moines - 50309 - Polk County, IA

Job Type
Full-time

Job Number
26-02651

Agency
131 Iowa Department for the Blind

Opening Date
04/01/2026

Closing Date
4/12/2026 10:30 AM Central

LinkedIn Tag
#LI-DNP

Point of Contact
stacy.cervenka at blind.state.ia.us

To Apply
Applicants are encouraged to attach a resume and cover letter to their
NeoGov application

Description
Benefits
Questions
Job Description
This is a non-merit position. Candidates must follow the instructions in the
"To Apply" section. 

The Iowa Department for the Blind is seeking an energetic, flexible, and
mission-driven professional to manage our Orientation Center for the Blind.
This individual both directs the Center and also serves as a key member of
the agency's leadership team. They play an integral role in ensuring IDB
meets federal and state requirements in providing vocational rehabilitation
programs and services.

An ideal candidate will:

Demonstrate a strong background in vocational rehabilitation, blindness
education, rehabilitation teaching, or a closely related field, with a clear
understanding of adult adjustment to blindness training. 
Have experience administering, supervising, or teaching within an adjustment
to blindness center or similar training environment. 
Possess working knowledge of federal and state vocational rehabilitation
regulations (including the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act) and the
ability to support agency-wide compliance, reporting, and performance
outcomes. 
Exhibit strong leadership skills, including the ability to develop staff,
foster accountability, and build a high-performing, collaborative team. 
Have excellent written and oral communication skills, with the ability to
effectively engage diverse stakeholders, including staff, students,
partners, and policymakers. 
Demonstrate strong project management skills, including planning,
implementation, evaluation, and continuous improvement of programs and
initiatives. 
Show the ability to think critically and solve complex problems in creative,
cost-effective, and mission-aligned ways. 
Be committed to continuous improvement and innovation, using data and
feedback to strengthen programs and outcomes. 
Cultivate a culture of teamwork, professionalism, continuous learning, and
high-quality service delivery. 
Demonstrate a positive understanding of blindness and disability and also
the ability to effectively teach, model, and inspire that understanding in
both staff and students. 
Exhibit a deep commitment to empowering blind Iowans to achieve competitive
integrated employment, live independently, and pursue the lives they choose.

Primary job duties include, but are not limited to:

Administer, coordinate, and facilitate all activities of the adult
adjustment-to-blindness Orientation Center. Ensure the Center maintains a
positive training environment with high expectations. Provide leadership
presence and availability as needed to support staff and students. 
Develop new classes, activities, and opportunities for training center
students, including internships, volunteering, and other work-based learning
opportunities.
Ensure the Orientation Center is fully integrated into each student's
vocational rehabilitation plan, with a clear focus on employment and
postsecondary readiness. Promote the development of training that not only
builds blindness skills, but also prepares students for competitive
integrated employment and/or success in college or other postsecondary
pathways. 
Serve as an active member of the agency's leadership team. Participate in
management and supervisory meetings to plan and implement policies and
actions that impact overall agency performance. Maintain a strong working
knowledge of all Department programs and services. Represent the perspective
of the Orientation Center in leadership discussions and help coordinate
Center programming with other agency divisions. Carry out projects and
assignments as directed by the Director. 
Assist other members of the agency's leadership team in federally and state
mandated reporting activities, such as the Comprehensive Statewide Needs
Assessment and the VR Portion of the State Plan.
Provide direct counseling to students on blindness-related issues, including
the development and use of alternative techniques. Coordinate counseling
efforts across staff and refer students to outside resources when
appropriate. Lead group discussions on adjustment to blindness and related
topics. Develop and teach classes, including seminars as needed, and ensure
curriculum remains current, rigorous, and aligned with best practices. 
In collaboration with Center staff, develop, implement, and continuously
improve individualized training programs for students. Monitor student
progress through observation, documentation, and regular consultation with
staff. Address concerns related to student progress, attitude, or
performance, and keep the Director informed of significant issues. 
Provide supervision and leadership to Orientation Center staff, including
coaching, performance management, and professional development. Foster a
culture of accountability, teamwork, continuous improvement, and
high-quality service delivery. Support staff in meeting program goals and
delivering effective, student-centered training. Enable staff to remain
up-to-date on current best practices and technology.

Benefits:

At the State of Iowa, we are committed to your well-being. As a valued team
member, you'll enjoy a comprehensive benefits package that includes:

Paid Time Off: Enjoy vacation with accruals that rollover on a yearly basis,
sick leave with no limits on accrual and 9 paid holidays per year.
Great Benefits: Excellent Health, Dental, and Vision Insurance Options.
Retirement Plan: IPERS Retirement package and an option for a deferred
compensation plan.
Flexibility: Flexible Spending Accounts (medical and dependent care).
Life Insurance: Free Life Insurance.
Support: Employee Assistance Programs and Employee Discount Programs.
To learn more about the benefits of working with the State of Iowa, visit
our benefits webpage.

IDB requires a background check before any offer of employment. 

E-Verify and Right to Work
The State of Iowa participates in E-Verify, a federal program that helps
employers confirm the employment eligibility of all newly hired employees.
Within the required timeframe, new hires will be verified through the
E-Verify system to ensure authorization to work in the United States. The
State of Iowa also complies with the federal Right to Work laws, which
protect employees' rights to work without being required to join a labor
organization. For more information, please visit www.e-verify.gov.

Minimum Qualification Requirements
Graduation from an accredited four year college or university and the
equivalent of four years of full-time professional level experience such as
program administration, development, management or operations;

OR
substitution of experience of the caliber and scope indicated above for the
required undergraduate college education on the basis one year of qualifying
experience is equivalent to one year of undergraduate education;
OR
substitution of twenty-four hours of graduate level course work in a special
program curriculum such as Rehabilitation, Law, Education, Engineering, or
Public or Business Administration for each year of the required experience
to a maximum substitution of two years.

https://www.governmentjobs.com/careers/iowa/jobs/5291607/oc-program-administ
rator?department[0]=131%20Iowa%20Department%20for%20the%20Blind
<https://www.governmentjobs.com/careers/iowa/jobs/5291607/oc-program-adminis
trator?department%5b0%5d=131%20Iowa%20Department%20for%20the%20Blind&sort=Po
sitionTitle%7CAscending&pagetype=jobOpportunitiesJobs>
&sort=PositionTitle%7CAscending&pagetype=jobOpportunitiesJobs 