Supervisory Chaplain

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs; Seattle (WA); On-site; USD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Retirement benefits

Job summary

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs in Seattle seeks a Supervisory Chaplain to lead the chaplaincy program, supervise staff, and ensure full integration of religious and spiritual care into patient services.

Requirements include a Master of Divinity or equivalent, ecclesiastical endorsement, board certification, and strong leadership in interdisciplinary teams. This role schedules Mon-Fri with on-site duties.

Qualifications

• Master of Divinity or equivalent educational qualification from CHEA/ATS accredited institution.
• Ecclesiastical endorsement from official national endorsing authority, current within 12 months.
• Board Certification by BCCI or reciprocal US body; 4 CPE units preferred.
• Foreign education evaluated by a NACES affiliate if applicable.
• English language proficiency in speaking and writing.

Responsibilities

• Provide supervision for the chaplaincy program and staff.
• Manage a complex chaplain service program across multiple clinics and services.
• Oversee religious and spiritual care and advise facility leadership on religious expressions.
• Develop local policy, productivity, and clinical practice standards.
• Serve as primary Chaplain resource and liaison for patients, caregivers, and staff.
• Conduct comprehensive religious services and pastoral ministry across settings.

Skills

Administration

Personnel management

Resource management

Strategic planning

Supervisory duties

Interpersonal skills

Education

Master of Divinity

Educational equivalency review (if no M.Div.)

Job description

Summary

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This position serves as the Supervisory Chaplain professional performing supervisory and senior clinical assignments for the VHA. They provide religious - spiritual - and pastoral care to all persons that are commensurate with the needs - desires - and voluntary consent of the Veteran - caregiver - or staff. They address the spiritual component of health and wellness in every patient care setting to ensure that pastoral care is fully integrated into all aspects of chaplain services.

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This position serves as the Supervisory Chaplain professional performing supervisory and senior clinical assignments for the VHA. They provide religious - spiritual - and pastoral care to all persons that are commensurate with the needs - desires - and voluntary consent of the Veteran - caregiver - or staff. They address the spiritual component of health and wellness in every patient care setting to ensure that pastoral care is fully integrated into all aspects of chaplain services.

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Qualifications

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To qualify for this position - applicants must meet all requirements within 30 days of the closing date of this announcement.

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Basic Requirements

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• United States Citizenship: Non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy


• 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


• NOTE: For applicants who do not possess a Master of Divinity degree or equivalent educational degree - an approved educational equivalency review from a nationally recognized board certification body for chaplains is acceptable


• Ecclesiastical Endorsement: In accordance with 38 C.F.R


• 17.655 - ecclesiastical endorsement is a condition of employment as a VA chaplain


• An individual must possess and maintain a full and active ecclesiastical endorsement to be employed as a VA chaplain


• Applicants must have an ecclesiastical endorsement - dated within the past 12 months


• Ecclesiastical endorsements must be from the official national endorsing authority of the applicant's/employee's faith group or denomination


• Ecclesiastical endorsement is a written official statement - by the official national endorsing body of the faith group or denomination - certifying that the applicant is in good standing with the applicant's faith group or denomination


• and stating that the individual is - in the opinion of the endorsing body - qualified to perform the full range of ministry required in the VA pluralistic setting


• Loss of endorsement will result in removal from the GS-0060 Chaplain series and may result in termination of employment


• The National Chaplain Service maintains a list of approved endorsing organizations that can be found here: https://www.patientcare.va.gov/chaplain/Ecclesiastical_Endorsement.asp


• Board Certification: Certification


• Applicants must be a Board-Certified Chaplain certified by BCCI ® or a U.S. certifying body that has a reciprocity agreement with BCCI ®


• Board Certification that requires 4 units of CPE is qualifying


• The National Chaplain Service maintains a list of approved certifications found on the National VA Chaplain Service SharePoint


• Association of Certified Christian Chaplains - https://certifiedchaplains.org/ Association of Professional Chaplains®(APC®) - www.professionalchaplains.org National Association of Catholic Chaplains (NACC) - www.nacc.org Neshama Association of Jewish Chaplains (NAJC) - www.najc.org National Association of Veterans Affairs Chaplains (NAVAC) - https://www.navac.net/ Spiritual Care Association - https://www.spiritualcareassociation.org/ Note: Provisional or Associate or other status as a candidate for board certification does not meet the board certification requirement for the FPL GS-11 or above


• Foreign Education: To be creditable - education completed outside the U.S. must be submitted to a current affiliate agency of the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services (NACES) at https://www.naces.org/members and be deemed at least equivalent to that gained in a conventional U.S. program


• English Language Proficiency: Candidates must be proficient in spoken and written English in accordance with 38 U.S.C.


• 7403(f)


• May qualify based on being covered by the Grandfathering Provision as described in the VA Qualification Standard for this occupation (only applicable to current VHA employees who are in this occupation and meet the criteria)


• Grade Determinations: Supervisory Chaplain - GS-13


• Experience


• One year of creditable experience equivalent to the next lower grade


• Knowledge - Skills - and Abilities (KSAs)


• In addition to the experience above - the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs: Knowledge of administrative - personnel - and resource management and strategic planning for chaplaincy and chaplain pastoral education programs


• 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


• Skill in interpersonal relationships - including conflict resolution and ability to work collaboratively with managers from other departments


• Ability to develop local policy - productivity and clinical practice standards


• Ability to align chaplaincy services and programming with the strategic goals and objectives of the facility - VISN - and VHA


• Ability to ensure compliance with chaplaincy practice - policy and accreditation standards across the continuum of health care


• Skill in providing consultation to facility leadership - managers and other staff on all religious expression and spiritual care


• Preferred Experience: Graduate-level theological education (e.g. - M.Div.) Leadership experience in chaplain program administration - supervisory experience mentoring staff and trainees Active participation in interdisciplinary teams Expertise in specialized spiritual care and crisis counseling


• Preferred Experience: Experience serving as Chief at a facility with an active CPE program Proven experience in leading significant organizational change - especially in preparation for CISCM and Cerner transitions in FY27


• Reference: For more information on this qualification standard - please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/


• The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-13


• The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is GS-13


• Physical Requirements: This position requires the Chaplain to meaningfully engage with Veteran patients and family members by walking and moving within the healthcare setting or with the incumbent using an assistive device


• The Chaplain is required to speak - hear (hearing aid permitted) and work closely with others

Duties

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• Provides supervision for the chaplaincy program


• Manages a moderately complex to very complex chaplain service program with identified specialty chaplains working in (Hospice and Palliative Care - Suicide Prevention - Mental Health Residential and Outpatient programs - Substance Use Disorder Clinics - Cancer Treatment Clinics - Women's Health Clinics - Spinal Cord Injury Clinics - etc


• Manages and oversees all religious and spiritual care and provides counsel to facility leadership concerning religious expression


• Develops local policy - productivity - and clinical practice standards


• Oversees pastoral ministry - including intensive pastoral counseling - close integral working relationships with other staff disciplines - and active community liaison


• Serves as the Supervisory Chaplain expert participant with other specialists as a fully recognized member of an interdisciplinary treatment team


• Develops one or more subprograms (training - research - community relationships - or religious education if in relationship to the intensive overall treatment program) - to advance the religious program and the mission of the medical facility


• Plans work to be accomplished by subordinates - establishes and adjusts short-term priorities - and prepares schedules for completion of work


• 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


• Serves as a primary Chaplain resource - spiritual advisor - and liaison for the spiritual needs of patients - caregivers - and staff


• Conducts comprehensive religious services and worship - pastoral ministry - and administration of Chaplain services


• Serves as Supervisory Chaplain representative in specialty clinics such as Inpatient/ Outpatient Mental Health - Inpatient/Outpatient Substance Use Disorder Clinics - Hospice - and Palliative Care - Grief and Bereavement Clinics - Women's Health Clinics - Cancer Treatment Centers - Spinal Cord/Polytrauma units - Pain clinics - Infectious Disease Clinics - Whole Health Clinics/Programs - etc


• Work Schedule: Monday through Friday 7:30am - 4pm Compressed/Flexible: Authorized Telework: Ad Hoc only Virtual: This is not a virtual position


• Functional Statement #: 0000000 Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized