Chaplain

Major duties include but are not limited to:

• Provides intensive and extended pastoral counseling as an integral part of the treatment program with patients facing complex moral ethical or spiritual problems.
• May be assigned administrative responsibility to independently develop and implement programs and curriculum.
• Accountable for clinical program effectiveness and modification of service patterns which may include research and leadership of clinical teams.
• Works with full understanding of its relationship to the objectives of the institution and to successfully integrate it with the work of the institutional staff collaborates with and advises the other senior members of the treatment team in the provision of comprehensive healthcare services to Veterans ensures equity of access service and benefits to this population is provided of the highest quality.
• Provides leadership direction orientation coaching in-service training staff development and continuing education programs for assigned chaplain staff.
• Other duties may be assigned as deemed necessary by Supervisor to ensure efficient daily operations.
• For all assignments above the journey level the higher-level duties must consist of significant scope complexity (difficulty) range of variety and be performed by the incumbent at least 25% of the time.

Work Schedule: 8:00 am - 4:30pm
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Functional Statement #: 000000
Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized
Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized

• Mission-Driven Ministry Make a meaningful impact by helping Veterans navigate lifes most profound challenges-grief trauma moral injury and end-of-life transitions.
• Collaborative Environment Work alongside physicians nurses social workers and mental health professionals as a respected member of the care team.
• Pluralistic Ministry Serve in a diverse environment that honors and supports a wide range of religious and spiritual traditions.
• Professional Growth Access continuing education specialty certification opportunities and mentorship through VAs national Chaplain Center.
• Clinical Variety Offer care in specialized settings such as palliative care mental health hospice and Whole Health programs.
• Comprehensive Benefits Enjoy a competitive salary generous paid leave federal retirement health insurance and work-life balance.

• 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 drivers licenses or state-issued identification cards that are not REAL ID compliant cannot be utilized as an acceptable form of identification for employment.
• 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 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.

Basic Requirements:

• 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. .
• Foreign Education. To be creditable theological or related education completed outside the U.S. must be submitted to a current affiliate agency of the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services (NACES) listed at Pastoral Education (CPE). Applicants must have completed four units of CPE from a CPE center that is accredited by an organization recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.
• 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 applicants/employees 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 applicants 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: Certification: 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 . Loss of Endorsement or Certification: Chaplains must maintain ecclesiastical endorsement and board certification. Loss of endorsement or board certification will result in removal from the GS-0060 Chaplain occupation and may result in termination of employment.
• English Language Proficiency: Chaplains must be proficient in spoken and written English to be appointed as authorized by 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:

GS-11 Experience: The candidate must have one year of creditable experience equivalent to the next lower grade (GS-09) that is directly related to the position to be filled.

Demonstrated Knowledge Skills and Abilities:

In addition to the experience above the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs:

• Knowledge of advance care planning to educate inform and counsel patients and families.
• Skill in guiding patients in verbalizing and expressing values through life review oral history and end of life preparation and documentation.
• Ability to develop pastoral care programs that are measurable outcome-driven and evidenced based within the department guidelines.
• Skill in counseling on medical and ethical issues terminal diagnoses or crises moral injury problems of conscience family or marital difficulties and justice or confinement matters.
• Ability to support the development of staff resiliency and develop programs for staff development and wellness by providing spiritual and emotional support.
• Ability to educate and equip healthcare staff and trainees screening for spiritual and religious needs of patients and the importance of appropriate referrals to chaplains for complex spiritual distress.
• Knowledge of community needs to coordinate with community organizations to provide comprehensive spiritual care utilizing outside community resources to meet the religious needs of patients that cannot be met by chaplain staff.

Reference: For more information on this qualification standard please visit full performance level of this vacancy is GS-11

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