Chaplain

The Battle Creek VA Medical Center is actively recruiting for a Chaplain. This role is part of the Department of Veterans Affairs within the Veterans Health Administration (VHA). The position resides in the Chaplain Service where the Chaplain provides spiritual care and support to Veterans, their families, and staff as part of an interdisciplinary healthcare team.

The duties of the position may include but, are not limited to: Serves as a Chaplain professional providing complete religious ministry services to Veteran patients according to their specific needs and desires. Serves as a primary resource, spiritual advisor and point of contact for the spiritual needs of patients, caregivers and staff. Conducts religious services and worship, pastoral ministry, and administration of Chaplain services under the direct supervision and guidance of a higher-grade chaplain. Engages as a spiritual leader, a compassionate listener and counselor especially during times of crisis. Provides emotional support and counseling using strong interpersonal skills to effectively connect with people of all ages with empathy. Offers prayers and religious services for Veterans patients, staff, and community. Conducts rituals in front of groups of people including leading prayers, requiring effective leadership and public speaking skills. Addresses religious, spiritual, moral, and ethical problems of patients and staff under the direct supervision and guidance of a higher-grade chaplain for complex non-routine issues. Provides counseling services to patients and staff and conducts regular rounds of hospital wards containing the critically ill. Ministers to newly admitted, pre- and post-operative patients, the critically ill, and the families of concerned veteran patients. Provides advance care planning education, information, and counsel for patients and their families. Work Schedule: Sunday - Thursday 8:00am to 4:30pm Telework: Adhoc only Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 91883-0, 91884-0 Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized

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 (https://www.uscis.gov/i-9-central/form-i-9-acceptable-documents). 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 examination. 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.

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: http://ope.ed.gov/accreditation/. 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: https://sites.ed.gov/international/recognition-of-foreign-qualifications/.