Supervisory Chaplain

Major duties include but are not limited to:

• Serves as Chaplain professional providing comprehensive religious ministry services to Veteran patients according to their specific needs and desires.
• Carries out a ministry which is highly integrated into VHAs Chaplain program.
• Provides thorough guidance and advice to Chaplain Service management staff other Chaplains and other stakeholders.
• May serve at a facility in a clinical setting or a small healthcare system satellite outpatient clinic other federal agency or Community Based Out-patient Clinic (CBOC) where there is limited access to on-site supervision.
• Provides extended and intensive pastoral counseling as an integral part of the treatment program with patients facing complex ethical moral and spiritual issues.
• Serves as a Chaplain representative and a fully recognized member of an interdisciplinary treatment team (IDT).
• Ensures equity of access service and benefits to Veterans and provides the highest quality of care. Provides leadership direction orientation coaching in-service training staff development and continuing education programs.
• Leads various complex and sensitive projects task groups and assignments to obtain pertinent high-level information needed for Chaplain Service management officials.
• Provides effective counseling services to patients and staff. Conducts regular rounds of hospital wards where patients are critically ill.
• Ministers to newly admitted pre- and post-operative patients the critically ill and the families of concerned Veteran patients.
• Collaborate with treatment team professionals to discuss the recommended course of action and other informed advice to attain the necessary therapeutic goals for the patient.
• Engages community resources to meet the religious needs of patients that cannot be met by chaplain staff.
• Completes various complex Chaplain related administrative assignments projects and reports; and independently develops and implements programs and curricula.
• Provides expert guidance and advice to other VHA Chaplains as needed.

Work Schedule: 7:30am-4:00pm Monday-Friday.
Telework: Not available
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Functional Statement #: 62650F
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 ( 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.

To qualify for this position applicants must meet all requirements within 30 days of the closing date of this announcement.

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.
  • 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 is acceptable.
• 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: .
• Board Certification: Certification. Applicants must be a Board-Certified Chaplain certified by BCCI or a U.S. certifying body that has a reciprocity agreement with BCCI . Board Certification that requires 4 units of CPE is qualifying. The National Chaplain Service maintains a list of approved certifications found on the National VA Chaplain Service SharePoint.
  • Association of Certified Christian Chaplains - of Professional Chaplains(APC) -
  • National Association of Catholic Chaplains (NACC) -
  • Neshama Association of Jewish Chaplains (NAJC) -
  • National Association of Veterans Affairs Chaplains (NAVAC) - Care Association - Provisional or Associate or other status as a candidate for board certification does not meet the board certification requirement for the FPL GS-11 or above
• Foreign Education: To be creditable education completed outside the U.S. must be submitted to a current affiliate agency of the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services (NACES) at and be deemed at least equivalent to that gained in a conventional U.S. program
• English Language Proficiency: Candidates must be proficient in spoken and written English in accordance with 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:
Supervisory Chaplain GS-12.

• Experience. One year of creditable experience equivalent to the next lower grade (GS-11).
• Knowledge Skills and Abilities (KSAs). In addition to the experience above the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs:

(a) Knowledge of administrative personnel resource management and strategic planning for chaplaincy and chaplain pastoral education programs.
(b) Ability to provide the full range of supervisory duties which include responsibility for assignment of work performance evaluations selection of staff and recommendation of awards advancements and disciplinary actions.
(c) Skill in interpersonal relationships including conflict resolution and ability to work collaboratively with managers from other departments.
(d) Ability to develop local policy productivity and clinical practice standards.
(e) Ability to align local chaplaincy services and programming with the strategic goals and objectives of all levels of the agency department or organization.
(f) Ability to ensure compliance with chaplaincy practice policy and accreditation standards across the continuum of health care.
(g) Skill in providing consultation to facility leadership managers and other staff on all religious expression and spiritual care

Reference: For more information on this qualification standard please visit 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.