Chaplain

Major duties include but are not limited to:

• Providing extended and intensive pastoral counseling as an integral part of the treatment program with patients facing complex ethical moral and spiritual issues.
• Ensuring program effectiveness and modification of service pattern which includes research and leadership of clinical teams.
• Serving as a Chaplain representative and a fully recognized member of an interdisciplinary treatment team (IDT).
• Advising and collaborating with other members of the IDT to provide comprehensive healthcare services to Veterans.
• Leading various complex and sensitive projects tasks groups and assignments to obtain pertinent high level information needed for Chaplain Service management officials.
• Provides thorough spiritual leadership offers prayers and provides overall religious services for Veteran patients patient families staff and community.
• Addresses religious spiritual moral and ethical problems of patients and staff.
• Serving as a professional clinical Chaplain in specialty clinics.

Work Schedule: 8:00am to 4:30pm Monday thru Friday
Telework: Not Available
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Functional Statement #: 05244F
Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: 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.
• Must pass pre-employment physical evaluation.
• 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:

• Citizenship. Be a citizen of the United States (U.S.). Non-citizens may be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens according to 38 U.S.C. 7407(a).
• English Language Proficiency. Candidates must be proficient in spoken and written English in accordance with 38 U.S.C. 7403(f).
• 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 (see paragraph d) is acceptable.
• 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.
• 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: National VA Chaplain Service SharePoint.
• Board 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.

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: To qualify at the GS-12 level you must also meet both of the following grade level requirements.

• Specialized Experience. You must have a Specialty Certification from a professional chaplain certifying body that is be directly related to the position being filled. The list of Board Certifying Chaplain Organizations and Specialty Certifying Organization is located here: At least year of creditable experience equivalent to at least the GS-11 level that is directly related to the position to be filled such as independently serving as a primary resource for the spiritual needs of patients caregivers and staff; providing advance care planning education information and counsel or patients and their families providing pastoral counseling on medical and ethical matters coordinating with community organizations and engaging community resources to meet religious needs of patients. Your experience must demonstrate that you meet the following Knowledge Skills and Abilities (KSAs):
  • Ability to apply relevant theories and methodologies to their ministry specialty.
  • Ability to integrate specialized psychological and sociological theory with an advanced approach to spiritual care.
  • Skill to seek out primary research and research literature that informs the ministry specialty and ones spiritual care practice.
  • Skill in developing and implementing methods for measuring effectiveness of chaplain practice and services in the specialty area utilizing outcome evaluations to improve treatment services and to design system changes.
  • Ability to mediate conflict hold various emotions and diffuse moral distress among staff and complex crisis situations.
  • Ability to provide specialized consultation teaching and mentoring to colleagues and students on advanced spiritual care interventions in the service delivery area.
  • Ability to apply advanced clinical knowledge to write policies procedures and/or practice guidelines pertaining to the service delivery area.

Reference: For more information on this qualification standard please visit full performance level of this vacancy is GS-11. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is the GS-12 above the full performance.

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.