Supervisory Chaplain

• Provides supervision for the chaplaincy program.
• Manages a moderately complex to very complex chaplain service program with identified specialty chaplains working in (Hospice and Palliative Care Suicide Prevention Mental Health Residential and Outpatient programs Substance Use Disorder Clinics Cancer Treatment Clinics Womens Health Clinics Spinal Cord Injury Clinics etc.
• Manages and oversees all religious and spiritual care and provides counsel to facility leadership concerning religious expression.
• Develops local policy productivity and clinical practice standards.
• Oversees pastoral ministry including intensive pastoral counseling close integral working relationships with other staff disciplines and active community liaison.
• Serves as the Supervisory Chaplain expert participant with other specialists as a fully recognized member of an interdisciplinary treatment team.
• Develops one or more subprograms (training research community relationships or religious education if in relationship to the intensive overall treatment program) to advance the religious program and the mission of the medical facility.
• Plans work to be accomplished by subordinates establishes and adjusts short-term priorities and prepares schedules for completion of work.
• Supervises all administrative functions of the department such as clinical practice program management education human resource management budget management development of policy and clinical practice standards.
• Serves as a primary Chaplain resource spiritual advisor and liaison for the spiritual needs of patients caregivers and staff.
• Conducts comprehensive religious services and worship pastoral ministry and administration of Chaplain services.
• Serves as Supervisory Chaplain representative in specialty clinics such as Inpatient/ Outpatient Mental Health Inpatient/Outpatient Substance Use Disorder Clinics Hospice and Palliative Care Grief and Bereavement Clinics Womens Health Clinics Cancer Treatment Centers Spinal Cord/Polytrauma units Pain clinics Infectious Disease Clinics Whole Health Clinics/Programs etc.

Work Schedule: Monday-Friday 7:45 - 4:30pm
Telework: No
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Functional Statement #: 000000
Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized
Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Authorized
PCS Appraised Value Offer (AVO): Not Authorized

• You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job.
• All applicants tentatively selected for VA employment in a testing designated position are subject to urinalysis to screen for illegal drug use prior to appointment. Applicants who refuse to be tested will be denied employment with VA.
• 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.
• 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 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.

Applicants pending the completion of educational or certification/licensure requirements may be referred and tentatively selected but may not be hired until all requirements are met.

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-13.

• Experience. One year of creditable experience equivalent to the next lower grade.
• Knowledge Skills and Abilities (KSAs). In addition to the experience above the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs:
  • Knowledge of administrative personnel and resource management and strategic planning for chaplaincy and chaplain pastoral education programs.
  • 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.
  • Skill in interpersonal relationships including conflict resolution and ability to work collaboratively with managers from other departments.
  • Ability to develop local policy productivity and clinical practice standards.
  • Ability to align chaplaincy services and programming with the strategic goals and objectives of the facility VISN and VHA.
  • Ability to ensure compliance with chaplaincy practice policy and accreditation standards across the continuum of health care.
  • 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 full performance level of this vacancy is GS-13. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is GS-13.

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 candidate using an assistive device. The Chaplain is required to speak hear (hearing aid permitted) and work closely with others