Clarification from the agency

Open to current permanent VHA federal employees.

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Major duties include, but are not limited to the following:

• Provides comprehensive, religious ministry services to Veteran patients
• Supervises the chaplaincy program of a major faith ministry which is highly integrated into VHA's Chaplain program
• Manages and supervises the full spectrum of chaplaincy service operations
• Performs supervisory and non-supervisory assignments consisting of significant scope, complexity, difficulty, and variety
• Oversees ministry, including intensive pastoral counseling, close integral working relationships with other staff disciplines, and active community liaison
• Engages with other program heads and the VHA facility's administrator in decision­ making conferences concerning policies, practices, and regulations affecting the care and treatment program of the facility
• Carries out full program responsibility with professional independence, while subject to only administrative controls from immediate supervisor
• Understands and effectively addresses highly sensitive issues
• Provides supervision with full responsibility for assignment of work, performance evaluations, selection of staff, recommendation of awards, advancements, and disciplinary actions
• Plans work to be accomplished by subordinates, establishes and adjusts short-term priorities, and prepares schedules for completion of work
• Assigns work to subordinates based on priorities, selective consideration of the difficulty and requirements of assignments, and the capabilities of employees
• Gives advice, counsel, or instruction to employees on both work and administrative matters
• Supervises all administrative functions of the department, such as clinical practice, program management, education, human resource management, budget management, development of policy, and clinical practice standards
• Maintains records, supplies, and religious equipment for the assigned program; and tracks and maintains the program's budget
• Establishes performance and productivity metrics and productivity outcomes, organizational plans, and staff development issues
• Ensures the religious needs of patients are met through partnerships with community religious leaders and organizations, and community, state, and federal agencies
• Identifies other Chaplains, religious leaders, and/or persons from the community to provide patients' religious needs if necessary
• Uses effective skills in interpersonal relationships including addressing and resolving conflict resolution and skills to work collaboratively with managers from other parts of the medical facility
• Conducts comprehensive religious services and worship, pastoral ministry, and administration of Chaplain services
• Provides crisis intervention and stabilization as required
• Provides thorough spiritual leadership, offers prayers and provides overall religious services for Veteran patients, patient families, staff, and community
• Conducts rituals before groups of people, which requires effective leadership and public speaking skills
• Uses sound guidance and advice to lead prayer and religious services
• Supervises, trains, and coaches volunteer groups who offer their services as assistants
• Conducts spiritual assessments to identify patients' strengths and needs
• Creates plans for care in response to the moral injuries and spiritual distress of patients that enhance the Holistic Treatment of Veteran patients
• Communicates effectively, both in writing and verbally, with persons of varied backgrounds to prepare Chaplain Service-related policies, procedures, and/or practice guidelines on the service delivery area

Conditions of employment

• 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.
• You may be required to serve a probationary period.
• Subject to background/security investigation.
• Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process.
• 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).
• Participation in the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccination program is a requirement for all Veterans Health Administration Health Care Personnel (HCP) - See "Additional Information" below for details.

Qualifications

Applicants pending the completion of educational or certification/licensure requirements may be referred and tentatively selected but may not be hired until all requirements are met.

Basic Requirements:

• Citizenship. Citizen of the United States.
• Education: Applicants must possess a Master of Divinity degree or equivalent educational qualifications as evidenced by a graduate-level theological degree from a college, university or theological school accredited by a member of the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA) or Association of Theological Schools (ATS) and recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.
• Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE): Applicants must have completed four units of CPE from a CPE center that is accredited by an organization recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.
• Ecclesiastical Endorsement: Applicants must possess and maintain a full and active ecclesiastical endorsement. The endorsement must be dated within the past 12 months.
• Board Certification: Applicants must be a Board Certified Chaplain certified by the Board of Chaplaincy Certification Inc. (BCCI) or nationally recognized certification body that utilizes the BCCI Common Qualifications and Competencies for Professional Chaplaincy or a certifying organization that has a reciprocity agreement with the BCCI.

1. Knowledge of administrative, personnel, and resource management and strategic planning for chaplaincy and chaplain pastoral education programs.
2. Ability to provide the full range of supervisory duties, which include responsibility for assignment of work, performance evaluations, selection of staff and recommendation of awards, advancements and disciplinary actions.
3. Skill in interpersonal relationships, including conflict resolution and ability to work collaboratively with managers from other departments.
4. Ability to develop local policy, productivity and clinical practice standards.
5. Ability to align chaplaincy services and programming with the strategic goals and objectives of the facility, Veterans Integrated Service Network and VHA.
6. Ability to ensure compliance with chaplaincy practice, policy and accreditation standards across the continuum of health care.
7. Skill in providing consultation to facility leadership, managers and other staff on all religious expression and spiritual care

• Experience providing pastoral counseling and treatment to Veteran patients, patients families, and staff in various inpatient and outpatient settings
• Experience in managing and supervising the full spectrum of chaplaincy service operations, including supervisory and nonsupervisory professional staff Experience in drafting/managing budgets
• Experience interacting with the leadership at every level
• Experience in successfully managing a diverse expression of multiple faith perspectives
• Chief Chaplain Services, 2 years

How you will be evaluated

You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.

IN DESCRIBING YOUR EXPERIENCE, PLEASE BE CLEAR AND SPECIFIC. WE MAY NOT MAKE ASSUMPTIONS REGARDING YOUR EXPERIENCE. Your application, résumé, 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.

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.