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Summary The Chaplain serves as a developmental Chaplain in the Southern Nevada Healthcare System, and provides religious, spiritual, and pastoral care to all persons that are commensurate with the needs, desires, and voluntary consent of the Veteran, caregiver, or staff. The Chaplain addresses the spiritual component of health and wellness in every patient care setting, serves in a developmental Chaplain capacity under the direct supervision and frequent guidance of a higher-grade chaplain. Responsibilities The incumbent serves as a Chaplain professional providing complete religious ministry services to Veteran patients according to their specific needs and desires. Duties may include but are limited to: Serves as a primary resource, Spiritual advisor and point of contact for the spiritual needs of patients, caregivers and staff Develops measurable, outcome-driven, and evidence based pastoral care Creates staff development and wellness programs Supports the development of staff resiliency by providing emotional and spiritual support and compassionate presence. Leads various complex and sensitive projects, task groups, and assignments to obtain pertinent high-level information needed for Chaplain service management officials. Engages as a spiritual leader, a compassionate listener, and counselor, especially during times of crisis. Provides extended and intensive pastoral counseling as an integral part of the treatment program with patients facing complex, ethical, moral and spiritual issues. Work schedule: Monday - Friday, 7:30am to 4:00pm. May provide emergency on-call night, holiday and weekend patient care coverage. Compressed/Flexible Schedule: No Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Financial Disclosure Report: Not required Requirements Conditions of Employment Qualifications BASIC REQUIRMENTS. To qualify for appointment as a chaplain, all applicants must possess the following: 1. Citizenship. Citizen of the United States (U.S.). Non-citizens may be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with 38 U.S.C. 7407 (a). 2. 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. 3. Clinical Pastoral Education: In addition to the education requirement, applicants must have completed 4 units of Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE) [as defined by the Association for Clinical Pastoral Education (ACPE)] or the National Association of Catholic Chaplains (NACC). 800 hours of supervised ministry in a formal training program which incorporated both ministry formation and pastoral care skills development will be considered for equivalency to the required CPE. Evidence of two units of CPE or Letter of Equivalency for CPE from the National VA Chaplain Center must be uploaded in the application materials. To request Letter of Equivalency for CPE, email [email protected]. Any applicants without 2 units of CPE or Letter of Equivalency will be disqualified. 4. 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/Employment\_Information\_and\_Resources.asp 4. Board Certification: All 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 BCCI. Exception. Non-certified applicants who otherwise meet the eligibility requirements may be given a temporary appointment under the authority of 38 U.S.C. § 7405(c)(2) for a period not to exceed two years. This exception only applies at the entry level. For the journey level and above, the candidate must have board certification. At the time of appointment, the supervisor in collaboration with Human Resources, will provide the uncertified chaplain with the written requirements for obtaining certification, the date by which the certification must by acquired, and the consequences for not becoming certified by the deadline. The written notice must be provided prior to the entrance on duty date. Failure to become certified within two years from date of appointment will result in removal from the GS-0060 Chaplain series and may result in termination of employment. Temporary graduate chaplain appointments may not be extended beyond two years and may not be converted to a new temporary appointment in this occupation. 5. Physical Requirement. 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 6. English Language Proficiency: All applicants must be proficient in written and spoken English. GRADE DETERMINATION. In addition to the basic requirements for employment, the following criteria must be met when determining the grade or candidates: IN DESCRIBING YOUR EXPERIENCE, PLEASE BE CLEAR AND SPECIFIC. WE WILL NOT MAKE ASSUMPTIONS REGARDING YOUR EXPERIENCE. Education Transcripts must be submitted with your application (student copies are acceptable.) Transcripts must indicate the degree(s) awarded and the date(s). A copy of the certificate or diploma must be submitted if no completion date is indicated on the transcript. Transcripts must show the name of the institution. PLEASE NOTE: Education must be accredited by an accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education in order for it to be credited towards qualifications (particularly positions with a positive education requirement). Therefore, applicants must report only attendance and/or degrees from schools accredited by accrediting institutions recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. Applicants can verify accreditation at the following website: http://www.ed.gov/admins/finaid/accred/index.html. SPECIAL INSTRUCTIONS FOR FOREIGN EDUCATION: Education completed in foreign colleges or universities may be used to meet the above requirements. You must show proof that the education credentials have been submitted to a private organization that specializes in interpretation of foreign educational credentials and that such education has been deemed to be at least equivalent to that gained in conventional U.S. education programs; or an accredited U.S. state university reports the other institution as one whose transcript is given full value, or full value is given in subject areas applicable to the curricula at the state university. It is your responsibility to provide such evidence when applying. All education claimed by applicants will be verified by the appointing agency accordingly. 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. Additional Information Receiving Service Credit or 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. VA may offer newly-appointed Federal employee's credit for their job-related non-federal experience or active duty uniformed military service. 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. This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies. It is the policy of the VA to not deny employment to those that have faced financial hardships or periods of unemployment. 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. 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. If you are unable to apply online view the following link for information regarding an Alternate Application.