Chaplain (Villa Serena)

The incumbent serves as a Chaplain professional performing clinical assignments for the VHA providing comprehensive religious spiritual and pastoral care to all persons that are commensurate with the needs desires and voluntary consent of the Veteran caregiver or staff. Incumbent in this position addresses the spiritual component of health and wellness in every patient care setting to ensure that pastoral care is fully integrated into all aspects of chaplain services.

Duties include but are not limited to:

• Providing comprehensive religious ministry services to Veteran patients according to their specific needs and desires.
• Serving 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 onsite supervision.
• Serving as a Chaplain Service representative and a fully recognized member of an interdisciplinary treatment team (IDT).
• Leading various complex and sensitive projects task groups and assignments to obtain pertinent high-level information needed for Chaplain Service management officials.
• Administering ordinances rites or sacraments; preparing and delivering sermons; arranging for the atmosphere and symbolism of worship; and conducts funeral services when needed.
• Providing crisis intervention and stabilization.
• Providing support to individual(s) for unit emergencies natural disasters man-made disasters or planned special events.
• Developing pastoral care programs that are measurable outcome-driven and evidenced-based within the department guidelines
• Counseling on medical and ethical issues terminal diagnoses or crises moral injury problems of conscience family or marital difficulties and justice or confinement matters etc.

Work Schedule: TBD based on needs of the organization (Typically: M-F 0800-1630 CST rotating weekly on call with other staff that includes days and/or nights and/or weekends and/or holidays)
Telework: Not Available
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Functional Statement #: 55534-F
Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized
Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized

VA offers a comprehensive total rewards package. VA Careers Employment Benefits

• 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.

Physical Requirements: The work is sedentary. Some work may require movement between offices hospitals warehouses and similar areas for meetings and to conduct work. Work may also require walking/standing in conjunctions with travel to and attendance at meetings and/or conferences away from the work site. Incumbent may carry and lift light items weighing less than 15 pounds.

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.
• English Language Proficiency - Candidates must be proficient in spoken and written English in accordance with 38 U.S.C. 7403(f)
• Education: 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.
  • For applicants who do not possess a Master of Divinity degree or equivalent educational degree may meet this requirement with an approved educational equivalency review from a nationally recognized board certification body for chaplains. This would include the Board of Chaplaincy Certification Inc. (BCCI) or a U.S. certifying body that has a reciprocity agreement with BCCI.
• Endorsement: Applicants must possess and maintain a full and active ecclesiastical endorsement and must be dated within the past 12 months. A complete list of Ecclesiastical Organizations that the Department of Veterans Affairs recognizes as Ecclesiastical Endorsing Organizations is available here: VA Chaplains do not have to get updated endorsements after they are hired.

Certification: Applicants must be a Board-Certified Chaplain by the Board of Chaplaincy Certifications Inc. (BCCI) or a U.S. certifying body that has a reciprocity agreement with Certification that requires four units of Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE) is :// Provision. All Chaplains employed in VHA under permanent appropriate and legal placement on the effective date of the qualification standard (07/03/2025) are considered to have met all qualification requirements for the grade and/assignment held including positive education and certification where applicable. For employees who do not meet all the basic or assignment-specific requirements in this standard but met the qualifications applicable to the position at the time they were appointed the following provisions apply:

• Employees may be reassigned promoted up to and including the FPL or be changed to a lower grade within the occupation but may not be promoted beyond the journey level or be newly placed in supervisory or managerial positions.
• If an assignment above the FPL level requires an additional certification over and above the basic requirements employees must meet the assignment-specific requirement before they can be reassigned or promoted.
• Employees who are appointed on a temporary basis prior to the effective date of the qualification standard may not have their temporary appointment extended or be reappointed on a temporary or permanent basis until they fully meet the basic requirements of the standard.
• Employees retained in this occupation under this provision who subsequently leave the occupation lose protected status and must meet the full VA qualification standard requirements in effect at the time of re-entry to the occupation.
• Employees initially grandfathered into this occupation who subsequently obtain additional certification(s) that meets all the basic or assignment-specific qualification requirements of this standard must maintain the required credential(s) as a condition of employment in the occupation.

Grade Determinations: Chaplain (GS-12)

1. Specialized Experience: In addition to meeting the basic requirements to qualify at the GS-12 level you must possess at least one (1) year of creditable experience equivalent to the next lower grade level (GS-11).
2. Specialty Certification: Specialty certification is demonstrated advanced practice and/or specialization in chaplaincy beyond the board certification. You must possess a Specialty Certification from a professional chaplain certifying body that is directly related to the position being filled. The list of Board Certifying Chaplain Organizations and Specialty Certifying Organization is located here: Skills and Abilities (KSAs): In addition to the experience and specialty certification requirements above the candidate must demonstrate the following 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-12.

Education

Accreditation 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: 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: Information: The Master of Divinity degree or equivalent educational qualifications as evidenced by a graduate-level theological degree from a college university or theological school must be fully 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. Verification of accreditation may be made obtained from Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA) ( or Association of Theological Schools (ATS) ( and recognized by the U.S. Department of Education Notes:

• Renamed (or defunct) Institution. If your school has changed names or is no longer in existence you must provide this information in your application.
• Former Accreditation. If your school was accredited by Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA) or Association of Theological Schools (ATS) at the time of graduation and was recognized by the U.S. Department of Education but is no longer listed on the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA) ( website or Association of Theological Schools (ATS) ( website and recognized by the U.S. Department of Education website you must provide documentation of accreditation with your application packet.
• 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.

Additional information

Receiving Service Credit for Earning Annual (Vacation) Leave: Federal Employees earn annual leave at a rate (4 6 or 8 hours per pay period) which is based on the number of years they have served as a Federal employee. Selected applicants may qualify for credit toward annual leave accrual based on prior work experience or military service experience. This credited service can be used in determining the rate at which they earn annual leave. Such credit must be requested and approved prior to the appointment date and is not guaranteed.

During the application process you may have an option to opt-in to make your resume available to hiring managers in the agency who have similar positions. Opting in does not impact your application for this announcement nor does it guarantee further consideration for additional positions.

This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies.

This position is in the Excepted Service and does not confer competitive status.

VA encourages persons with disabilities to apply. The health-related positions in VA are covered by Title 38 and are not covered by the Schedule A excepted appointment authority.

If you are unable to apply online or need an alternate method to submit documents please reach out to the Agency Contact listed in this Job Opportunity Announcement.

Under the Fair Chance to Compete Act the Department of Veterans Affairs prohibits requesting an applicants criminal history prior to accepting a tentative job offer. For more information about the Act and the complaint process visit Human Resources and Administration/Operations Security and Preparedness (HRA/OSP) at The Fair Chance Act.

Candidates should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government passionate about the ideals of our American republic and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution.

A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new windowLearn more about federal benefits.

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