Clinical Pastoral Educator (Chaplain)

Quick Facts

• Role: Clinical Pastoral Educator (Chaplain)

• Key focus: Provide comprehensive spiritual and pastoral care while leading senior-level Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE)

Description

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 role includes at least 35% direct patient care, supervision of CPE students during patient care, and integration of spiritual care into health and wellness services. You will also manage daily CPE center operations, including curriculum, student recruitment and supervision, measurable outcomes, accreditation records, and professional development activities.

Responsibilities

• Provide comprehensive religious and spiritual care based on individual needs

• Deliver pastoral counseling for complex ethical, moral, emotional, and spiritual concerns

• Support life review, oral histories, advance care planning, end-of-life preparation, and expression of personal values

• Conduct/arrange worship services, prayers, rituals, Bible studies, religious education, and group or individual activities

• Respect and address needs across diverse faiths, denominations, and belief systems

• Coordinate with community clergy and resources when services fall outside scope

• Document chaplaincy services in the electronic health record (approved template or SOAP format)

• Serve as a senior spiritual-care advisor/liaison and provide consultation, education, mentoring, and training

• Participate in interdisciplinary treatment teams and provide chaplain input in conferences and program reviews

• Train and support volunteers

• Administer CPE program center operations: policies, procedures, curricula, practice guidelines

• Educate and supervise CPE students; recruit, interview, and select students; assess needs and evaluate performance

• Provide supervised clinical spiritual-care experiences for hospitalized patients

• Develop evidence-informed, outcomes-based curricula aligned with CPE competencies

• Develop and supervise interns; coordinate preceptors, advisory group, educational partners, and accreditation-related processes

• Maintain accreditation and program records (portfolios, evaluations, files, contracts, reports, policies)

• Track program effectiveness using evaluations, research, and best practices; measure and improve educational outcomes

• Plan schedules for chaplain coverage; manage supplies and educational materials; track program budget

• Communicate clearly in writing and verbally; maintain current knowledge of pastoral education and healthcare/different religious traditions

Requirements

• U.S. citizenship

• Selective Service registration for eligible males (born after 12/31/1959)

• Proficiency in written and spoken English

• Background/security investigation

• Complete online onboarding and pre-employment requirements; provide acceptable identification for employment

• Pass pre-employment physical evaluation

• Participate in VA seasonal influenza vaccination program

• Master of Divinity degree (or equivalent graduate-level theological degree from an accredited program recognized by the U.S. Department of Education)

• Ecclesiastical endorsement within the past 12 months from the official national endorsing authority; maintain full and active endorsement

• Board-Certified Chaplain certification by BCCI® or an approved U.S. certifying organization (CPE units may satisfy the requirement)

• For GS-12: 1 year of qualifying experience equivalent to the next lower grade and CPE Educator certification recognized by BCCI® and matching the site’s accrediting organization

• Ability to meaningfully engage while walking/moving in the healthcare setting; speak and hear (hearing aids permitted)

Benefits

Comprehensive federal employee benefits package (eligibility depends on position and schedule).