Chaplain (Clinical Pastoral Educator) - Incentive Authorized

About the role

The Oklahoma City VA Health Care System is recruiting a Chaplain Clinical Pastoral Educator to provide senior-level clinical pastoral education and comprehensive religious, spiritual, and pastoral care to Veterans, families, caregivers, and staff across inpatient, outpatient, and residential settings.

The position integrates spiritual care into health and wellness services and supports individualized, voluntary care.

What you will do

• Certified Chaplain and CPE Educator Duties Provide comprehensive religious and spiritual care to Veterans, families, caregivers, and staff based on their individual needs.
• Provide at least 35% direct patient care, including supervision of students during patient care.
• Offer pastoral counseling to patients facing complex ethical, moral, emotional, or spiritual concerns.
• Support life review, oral history, advance care planning, end-of-life preparation, and expression of personal values.
• Conduct or arrange worship services, prayers, rituals, Bible studies, religious education, and other individual or group activities.
• Respect and address the needs of people from diverse faiths, denominations, and belief systems.
• Identify and coordinate with community clergy, faith leaders, and other resources when patients need services outside the Chaplain's role or expertise.
• Document chaplaincy services in the electronic health record using an approved template or SOAP note format.
• Serve as a senior spiritual-care resource, advisor, and liaison for Veterans, students, caregivers, staff, and healthcare professionals.
• Provide consultation, education, mentoring, and training on spiritual care and referrals for patients with complex spiritual needs.
• Support staff wellness and resiliency through emotional and spiritual care, education, and compassionate presence.
• Participate as a recognized member of interdisciplinary treatment teams.
• Collaborate with physicians, nurses, psychologists, social workers, therapists, and other professionals to support comprehensive patient care.
• Provide chaplain-related input during treatment-team conferences and program reviews.
• Maintain effective working relationships with facility staff, families, community organizations, seminaries, clergy, and other stakeholders.
• Train and support volunteers who provide services to Veterans.
• Clinical Pastoral Education Program Duties Manage the daily operations of the Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE) Center.
• Develop, implement, and update CPE policies, procedures, curricula, and practice guidelines.
• Educate and supervise CPE students at all levels.
• Recruit, interview, and select students for the CPE program.
• Assess student strengths and needs, develop educational plans, supervise clinical work, and evaluate performance.
• Provide students with supervised clinical experience in spiritual care for hospitalized patients.
• Develop measurable, outcome-based, and evidence-informed curricula aligned with board-certification competencies.
• Develop internship programs and supervise interns.
• Coordinate clinical preceptors, Advisory Group members, Office of Academic Affiliations staff, seminaries, and other educational partners.
• Obtain approval for allied-health trainee positions through the Office of Academic Affiliations.
• Maintain accreditation records, educator evaluations, student files, center portfolios, contracts, reports, policies, and educational resources.
• Ensure required documentation and reports are completed and submitted on time.
• Monitor program effectiveness and use evaluations, research, and best practices to improve educational services.
• Measure educational outcomes and implement changes when needed.
• Participate in accredited CPE professional organizations, national events, and communities of practice.
• Serve as a liaison to seminaries, ordained persons, and other CPE partners.
• Provide guidance and consultation to Chaplain Service leaders, other chaplains, students, healthcare staff, and stakeholders.
• Lead orientations, coaching, in-service training, staff development, and continuing-education activities.
• Complete complex educational projects, reports, task groups, and assignments for Chaplain Service leadership.
• Develop and implement programs that support student development, staff wellness, and professional growth.
• Program Administration Plan schedules with other chaplains to maintain service coverage.
• Maintain program supplies, religious equipment, educational materials, and operating records.
• Track and manage the program budget.
• Develop and implement Chaplain Service programs and curricula independently.
• Communicate clearly in writing and verbally with people from varied backgrounds.
• Prepare professional policies, procedures, guidelines, reports, and accreditation materials.
• Maintain current knowledge of pastoral education, CPE standards, professional ethics, research, behavioral sciences, healthcare practices, and diverse religious traditions.
• Apply knowledge of clinical terminology, human behavior, and other healthcare disciplines to spiritual care and education.
• Work Schedule: Monday-Friday, 7:00 a.m.-3:30 p.m.; negotiable Compressed/Flexible: Yes Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
• Functional Statement #: 512480 Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: May be Authorized for a Highly Qualified Candidate

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 (***).
• 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 evaluation.
• 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: ***

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: ***

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. Area of Consideration - Eligible applications will be reviewed and referred based on Veterans' Preference.

Documents you must provide

• Long-form resume/Curriculum vitae (CV) Current Ecclesiastical Endorsement Current Board Certification Current ACPE Certified Educator Certification Transcript Your resume or CV must include the following information for each position listed.
• We may be unable to determine your qualifications if any of this information is missing: Job title and duties Start and end dates, including the month and year (for example, June 2020 to April 2021) Full-time or part-time status, including hours worked per week Series and grade, if applicable 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 (VA) Long-form resume/Curriculum vitae (CV) Current Ecclesiastical Endorsement Current Board Certification Current ACPE Certified Educator Certification 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.

What to expect next

Once your online application is submitted you will receive a confirmation notification by email. After we receive application packages (including all required documents) and the vacancy announcement closes, we will review applications to ensure qualification and eligibility requirements are met.

After the review is complete, a referral certificate(s) is issued and applicants will be notified of their status by email. Referred applicants will be notified as such and may be contacted directly by the hiring office for an interview. All referred applicants receive a final notification once a selection decision has been made.

You may check the status of your application at any time by logging into your USA Jobs account and clicking on Applications. Information regarding your application status can be found in the USAJobs Help Center. NOTE: Participation in the seasonal influenza program is a condition of employment and a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP).

It is a requirement that all HCP to receive annual seasonal influenza vaccination or obtain an exemption for medical or religious reasons. Wearing a face mask is required when an exemption to the influenza vaccination has been granted. HCP in violation of this directive may face disciplinary action up to and including removal from federal service.

HCP are individuals who, during the influenza season, work in VHA locations or who come into contact with VA patients or other HCP as part of their duties. VHA locations include, but are not limited to, VA hospitals and associated clinics, community living centers (CLCs), community-based outpatient clinics (CBOCs), domiciliary units, Vet centers and VA-leased medical facilities.

HCP include all VA licensed and unlicensed, clinical and administrative, remote and onsite, paid and without compensation, full- and part-time employees, intermittent employees, fee basis employees, VA contractors, researchers, volunteers and health professions trainees (HPTs) who are expected to perform any or all of their work at these facilities.

HPTs may be paid or unpaid and include residents, interns, fellows and students. HCP also includes VHA personnel providing home-based care to Veterans and drivers and other personnel whose duties put them in contact with patients outside VA medical facilities.

Additional information

Receiving Service Credit for Earning Annual (Vacation) Leave: Federal Employees earn annual leave at a rate (4, 6 or 8 hours per pay period) which is based on the number of years they have served as a Federal employee. Selected applicants may qualify for credit toward annual leave accrual, based on prior work experience or military service experience.

This credited service can be used in determining the rate at which they earn annual leave. Such credit must be requested and approved prior to the appointment date and is not guaranteed. During the application process you may have an option to opt-in to make your resume available to hiring managers in the agency who have similar positions.

Opting in does not impact your application for this announcement, nor does it guarantee further consideration for additional positions. This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies. This position is in the Excepted Service and does not confer competitive status.

VA encourages persons with disabilities to apply. The health-related positions in VA are covered by Title 38, and are not covered by the Schedule A excepted appointment authority. If you are unable to apply online or need an alternate method to submit documents, please reach out to the Agency Contact listed in this Job Opportunity Announcement.

Under the Fair Chance to Compete Act, the Department of Veterans Affairs prohibits requesting an applicant's criminal history prior to accepting a tentative job offer. For more information about the Act and the complaint process, visit Human Resources and Administration/Operations, Security, and Preparedness (HRA/OSP) at The Fair Chance Act.