Chaplain (CPE Educator)

Summary

The position provides services within various settings, including Veterans Integrated Service Networks (VISNs), Inpatient Clinics, Outpatient Clinics, and Domicilliaries throughout the United States. Most Chaplain services are usually provided in a medical facility structure. The CS provides pastoral counseling and treatment to Veteran patients, patients’ families, and staff in various inpatient and outpatient settings.

Duties

• Serves as the certified chaplain (CPE) providing comprehensive, religious ministry services and training to veteran patients and students according to their specific needs.
• Carries out an education ministry with the CPE center, which is highly integrated into the VHA's chaplain program.
• Provides thorough guidance and advice to chaplain service management staff, students, other chaplains, and stakeholders.
• Manages the daily operations of the CPE center and develops and implements program policies and procedures.
• Serves as a certified educator of record for all CPE students for an assigned designated area.
• Provides administrative oversight and programmatic resources and monitors educational outcomes.
• Offers students an opportunity to develop and expand professional caring skills in a clinical setting to address a person's spiritual, emotional, and physical needs; and offers students experience with hands on spiritual care for hospitalized patients.
• Maintains records for all educator evaluations, student records, center portfolio, and CPE accreditation requirements, which may include off-site CPE satellite and placement contracts.
• Seeks approval for allied health trainee positions through the Office of Academic Affiliations (OAA).
• Conducts recruitment and interviews and selects students for the program.
• Ensures all documentation is completed for compliance.
• Develops educational curricula that are measurable, outcome oriented, and evidence based and designed to meet board certification competencies.
• Develops relationships with key staff related to the program e.g.
• Clinical preceptors, advisory group members, and OAA staff.
• Provides extended and intensive pastoral counseling as an integral part of the treatment program with patients facing complex, ethical, moral, and/ or spiritual issues.
• Monitors the CPE centers program effectiveness and modification of service pattern, which includes research and leadership of clinical teams.
• Develops and implements methods to measure the effectiveness of the chaplain's educational program.
• Uses outcome evaluations to improve educational services and to design education system changes.
• Seeks best practices, primary research, and research literature that informs the ministry's specialty and one's spiritual care practice.
• Provides leadership, direction, orientation, coaching, in service training, staff development, and continuing education programs.
• Serves as a primary senior chaplain education resource, spiritual advisor, and liaison for the spiritual needs of veterans, students, caregivers, and staff.
• Conducts comprehensive religious services and worship, pastoral ministry, and an administration of chaplain services.
• Addresses the religious, spiritual, moral, and ethical problems of patients and staff through educational means.
• Completes various complex educational projects, task groups, and assignments to obtain pertinent high level information needed for chaplain service senior management officials.
• Ensures various complex educational training assignments are carried out in a pluralistic environment, which encompasses sensitivity to the religious needs of many separate religious denominations and faith groups.
• Serves as a chaplain senior representative and a fully recognized member of an interdisciplinary treatment team.
• Advises and collaborates with other senior members of the treatment team to provide comprehensive health care services to veterans.
• Maintains effective report with physicians, medical officers, psychologists, nurses, therapists, social workers, and others involved with the IDT.
• Educates, trains, and coaches volunteer groups who offer their services and assistance.
• Provides expert guidance and advice to other chaplains.
• Engages In Group consultative discussions or conferences with treatment professionals to provide senior level chaplain related input.
• Collaborates with IDT on the evaluation and review of VHA's CPE Center program progress.
• Identifies other chaplains and faith leaders and/ or persons from the community to provide patients' religious needs if necessary.
• Uses thorough knowledge of different faiths to perform various religious rituals, lead prayers, and answer spiritual questions Provides guidance and support for patients to express values through processes such as life review, oral history, and end of life preparation and documentation.
• Develops and uses measurable, outcome driven, and evidenced based pastoral care; and creates staff development and Wellness programs.
• Supports the development of staff resiliency by providing emotional and spiritual support and compassionate presence.
• Work Schedule: M-F, Variable Times Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
• Functional Statement #: 09982-F Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized

Requirements

You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job. Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959. Must be proficient in written and spoken English.

Subject to background/security investigation. Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process. Acceptable form(s) of identification will be required to complete pre-employment requirements (https://www.uscis.gov/i-9-central/form-i-9-acceptable-documents). Effective May 7, 2025, driver’s licenses or state-issued identification cards that are not REAL ID compliant cannot be utilized as an acceptable form of identification for employment.

Must pass pre-employment physical examination. Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP). Complete all application requirements detailed in the “Required Documents” section of this announcement. As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you will be required to serve a 1 or 2-year trial period during which we will evaluate your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public interest.

In determining if your employment advances the public interest, we may consider: your performance and conduct; the needs and interests of the agency; whether your continued employment would advance organizational goals of the agency or the Government; and whether your continued employment would advance the efficiency of the Federal service. Upon completion of your trial period, your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest.

Education

Note: Only education or degrees recognized by the U.S. Department of Education from accredited colleges, universities, schools, or institutions may be used to qualify for Federal employment. You can verify your education here: http://ope.ed.gov/accreditation/. If you are using foreign education to meet qualification requirements, you must send a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency with your transcript in order to receive credit for that education.

For further information, visit: https://sites.ed.gov/international/recognition-of-foreign-qualifications/.

How You Will Be Evaluated

IN DESCRIBING YOUR EXPERIENCE, PLEASE BE CLEAR AND SPECIFIC. WE MAY NOT MAKE ASSUMPTIONS REGARDING YOUR EXPERIENCE. Your application, resume, C.V., and/or supporting documentation will be verified. Please follow all instructions carefully.

Errors or omissions may affect consideration for employment. Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religions; spiritual; community; student; social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.

The Department of Veterans Affairs performs pre-employment reference checks as an assessment method used in the hiring process to verify information provided by a candidate (e.g., on resume or during interview or hiring process); gain additional knowledge regarding a candidate’s abilities; and assist a hiring manager with making a final selection for a position. It is the policy of the VA to not deny employment to those that have faced financial hardships or periods of unemployment. Veterans and Transitioning Service Members: Please visit the VA for Vets site for career-search tools for Veterans seeking employment at VA, career development services for our existing Veterans, and coaching and reintegration support for military service members.

Required Documents

• To apply for this position, you must provide a complete Application Package which includes: Resume Special Note for Applications: To complete your application, please use the following link https://vacareers.va.gov/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/Resume.docx to download the standard Clinical Resume Document.
• This one-page document does not need to be modified and must be uploaded into the two-page restricted 'Resume' document upload field.
• Your full resume/CV may be uploaded without page limitation into the 'Other' document upload field.
• The following documents are accepted, and may be required if applicable to your eligibility and/or qualifications for this position.
• Please ensure you have included all documents required for your application, such as a copy of your transcript (if using education to qualify), SF-50's (current/former Federal employees), etc.
• Cover Letter DD-214/ Statement of Service Disability Letter (Schedule A) Disability Letter (VA) License Other (1) PCS Orders Professional Certification Resume Separation Notice (RIF) SF-15 SF-50/ Notification of Personnel Action Transcript Veterans' Preference: When applying for Federal Jobs, eligible Veterans should claim preference for 5pt (TP), 10pt (CP/CPS/XP), or for Sole Survivor Preference (SSP) in the questionnaire.
• You must provide a legible copy of your DD214(s) which shows dates and character of service (honorable, general, etc.).
• If you are currently serving on active duty and expect to be released or discharged within 120 days you must submit documentation related to your active duty service which reflects the dates of service, character of service (honorable, general, etc.), and dates of impending separation.
• Additionally, disabled veterans and others eligible for 10-point preference (such as widows or mothers of eligible Veterans) must also submit an SF-15 "Application for 10 Point Veteran Preference" with required proof as stated on the form.
• Documentation is required to award preference.
• For more information on Veterans' Preference, please visit Feds Hire Vets – Veterans – Job Seekers – Veterans' Preference.
• Veterans' preference does not apply for internal or other current permanent Federal agency employees.