Chaplain

Veterans Health Administration • Walla Walla, WA

3d • Onsite

About The Position

Serves as a Chaplain professional providing religious ministry services to Veteran patients according to their needs and desires. Acts as a primary resource, spiritual advisor, and point of contact for the spiritual needs of patients, caregivers, and staff. The position conducts religious services and worship, pastoral ministry, and administration of Chaplain services, and serves as a fully recognized member of an integrated multi-professional treatment team.

The Chaplain provides counseling and pastoral care on medical and ethical matters, including moral injury, problems of conscience, family or marital difficulties, justice or confinement matters, terminal diagnoses, and crises. The role develops measurable, outcome-driven, evidence-based pastoral care and staff development and wellness programs. It provides worship services and instruction for a major faith group, administers ordinances, rites, or sacraments, prepares and delivers sermons, arranges worship settings, and conducts funeral services when needed.

The Chaplain collaborates with healthcare teams on treatment plans addressing spiritual distress, grief, and loss, and uses knowledge of advance care planning to educate, inform, and counsel patients and families. The position also supports staff resiliency through spiritual and emotional support and coordinates with community organizations when outside resources are needed to meet patients’ religious needs.

The schedule is Sunday through Thursday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., with flexible work hours. Telework is unavailable, and the position is not virtual. Relocation and recruitment incentives, as well as permanent change of station benefits, are not authorized.

Requirements

• U.S. citizenship is required, subject to the stated exception for non-citizens when qualified citizens cannot be recruited under VA policy.
• Proficiency in spoken and written English is required.
• A Master of Divinity degree or equivalent graduate-level theological degree from an appropriately accredited institution is required, or an approved educational equivalency review. Transcripts showing the confer date are required.
• A full and active ecclesiastical endorsement from the official national endorsing authority of the applicant’s faith group or denomination is required and must be dated within the past 12 months.
• Board certification as a Chaplain by BCCI or a U.S. certifying body with a reciprocity agreement with BCCI is required, subject to the stated temporary-appointment exception for non-board-certified applicants.
• Applicants relying on foreign education must provide an evaluation establishing its equivalence to U.S. education; the posting also requires a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency with the transcript when using foreign education to qualify.
• For GS-11, one year of creditable experience equivalent to GS-9 that is directly related to the position is required, along with the stated knowledge, skills, and abilities for the grade.
• For GS-11, demonstrate knowledge of advance care planning and community needs; skills in guiding patients through life review, oral history, and end-of-life preparation and documentation; and ability to develop evidence-based pastoral care programs.
• For GS-11, demonstrate counseling skills on medical and ethical issues, terminal diagnoses or crises, moral injury, problems of conscience, family or marital difficulties, and justice or confinement matters.
• For GS-11, demonstrate the ability to support staff resiliency, develop staff wellness and development programs, and educate healthcare staff and trainees about screening for spiritual needs and appropriate Chaplain referrals.
• Must meet all requirements within 30 days of the announcement closing date.
• Must be subject to a background/security investigation and complete the online onboarding process and required application documentation.
• Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is required for VA Health Care Personnel.
• Must serve a one- or two-year trial period, during which continued employment is evaluated.

Nice To Haves

• Experience working with the Veteran population is preferred but not required.

Responsibilities

• Serve as a primary resource, spiritual advisor, and point of contact for the spiritual needs of patients, caregivers, and staff.
• Lead and offer prayers and religious services for Veteran patients, patient families, staff, and the community.
• Provide counseling services to patients and staff.
• Serve as a member of an integrated multi-professional treatment team.
• Provide pastoral counseling on medical and ethical matters, including moral injury, problems of conscience, family or marital difficulties, justice or confinement matters, terminal diagnoses, and crises.
• Develop measurable, outcome-driven, evidence-based pastoral care and staff development and wellness programs.
• Provide religious worship services and instruction, individually or in groups, for a major faith group.
• Administer ordinances, rites, or sacraments; prepare and deliver sermons; arrange the atmosphere and symbolism of worship; and conduct funeral services when needed.
• Provide crisis intervention and stabilization as required.
• Collaborate with healthcare teams to create and update treatment plans addressing spiritual distress, grief, and loss as existential concerns.
• Use knowledge of advance care planning to educate, inform, and counsel patients and families.
• Support staff resiliency and develop staff development and wellness programs by providing spiritual and emotional support.
• Educate and equip healthcare staff and trainees to screen for patients’ spiritual and religious needs and make appropriate referrals for complex spiritual distress.
• Coordinate with community organizations and outside resources to meet patients’ religious needs that Chaplain staff cannot meet.

Benefits

• Federal employee benefits package is available to eligible employees; specific benefits depend on position type and should be confirmed with the hiring agency.
• Selected applicants may request, subject to approval and not guaranteed, credit for prior federal work or military service when determining annual leave accrual.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level