Senior Chaplain
- Serve as a Chaplain professional providing comprehensive, religious ministry services to Veteran patients according to their specific needs and desires.
- Carry out a ministry which is highly integrated into VHA's Chaplain program.
- Provide thorough guidance and advice to Chaplain Service management staff, other Chaplains, and other stakeholders.
- Provide extended and intensive pastoral counseling as an integral part of the treatment program with patients facing complex, ethical, moral, and spiritual issues.
- Ensure program effectiveness and modification of service pattern, which includes research and leadership of clinical teams.
- Serve as a Chaplain representative and a fully recognized member of an interdisciplinary treatment team (IDT).
- Advise and collaborate with other members of the IDT to provide comprehensive healthcare services to Veterans.
- Work with a full understanding of Chaplains' relationships to the objectives of VHA to successfully integrate the work of the medical facility's staff.
- Collaborate with and advise the other members of the IDT in the provision of comprehensive healthcare services to Veterans.
- Ensure equity of access, service, and benefits to Veterans and provide the highest quality of care.
- Provide leadership, direction, orientation, coaching, in-service training, staff development, and continuing education programs.
- Serve as a primary Chaplain resource, spiritual advisor, and liaison for the spiritual needs of patients, caregivers, and staff.
- Conduct comprehensive religious services and worship, pastoral ministry, and administration of Chaplain services.
- Lead various complex and sensitive projects, task groups, and assignments to obtain pertinent high-level information needed for Chaplain Service management officials.
- Engage as a spiritual leader, a compassionate listener, and counselor, especially during times of crisis.
- Provide emotional support and counseling using empathy and strong interpersonal skills to effectively connect with people of all ages.
- Ensure various complex assignments are carried out in a pluralistic environment, which encompasses sensitivity to the religious needs of many separate religious denominations and faith groups.
- Provide thorough spiritual leadership, offers prayers, and provide overall religious services for Veteran patients, patient families, staff, and community.
- Conduct rituals before groups of people, which requires effective leadership and public speaking skills.
- Use sound guidance and advice to lead prayer and religious services.
- Address the religious, spiritual, moral, and ethical problems of patients and staff.
- Provide effective counseling services to patients and staff.
- Conduct regular rounds of hospital wards where patients are critically ill.
- Minister to newly admitted, pre- and post-operative patients, the critically ill, and the families of concerned Veteran patients.
- Provide advanced care planning education, information, and counsel for patients and their families.
- Provide pastoral ministry to patients with respect to the patient's faith group, including conscientious attention during emergencies and crises.
- Build strong interpersonal relationships with patients and ensure all patients are provided opportunities for the free exercise of religion.
- Ascertain Veterans are protected from proselytizing and coercing from any source.
- Address fears that patients have when facing surgery and answers questions regarding the meaning of life when confronted with the reality of pain, illness, permanent disfigurement, crippling, or death.
- Develop measurable, outcome-driven, and evidence-based pastoral care and create staff development and wellness programs.
- Coordinate with community organizations to ensure the provision of comprehensive spiritual care, including interested community organizations, local clubs, church groups, special agencies, business organizations, and other stakeholders to sustain the necessary links with the outside community.
- Provide crisis intervention and stabilization as required.
- Provide support to individuals for unit emergencies, natural disasters, man-made disasters, or planned special events.
- Maintain and use an advanced knowledge and understanding of other religions or denominations.
- Use a sound working knowledge of Chaplain related expertise and the behavioral sciences to increase the understanding of human behavior, including familiarity with psychiatric and clinical terminology.
- Maintain a good understanding of the theories, practices, and problems of other medical professional disciplines and the latest developments in their fields.
Requirements
Conditions of Employment
- 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.
- You may be required to serve a probationary period.
- 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 (https://www.uscis.gov/i-9-central/form-i-9-acceptable-documents). Effective May 7, 2025, driver's licenses or state-issued dentification 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).
Qualifications
BASIC REQUIREMENTS
To qualify for appointment as a chaplain, all applicants must possess the following:
- Citizenship. Citizen of the United States (U.S.). Non-citizens may be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with 38 U.S.C. § 7407(a).
- English Language Proficiency. Chaplains must be proficient in spoken and written English to be appointed as authorized by 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. COPY OF TRANSCRIPTS WITH CONFER DATE REQUIRED WITH APPLICATION PACKAGE.
- 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 f) is acceptable.
- 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 https://www.naces.org/members.
- Clinical 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. COPY OF ACCEPTABLE, COMPLETED CPE REQUIRED WITH APPLCIATION PACKAGE.
- 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. COPY OF ECCLESIASTICAL ENDORSEMENT DATED WITHIN THE LAST 12 MONTHS REQUIRED WITH APPLICATION PACKAGE.
- Applicants must have an ecclesiastical endorsement, dated within the past 12 months.
- Ecclesiastical endorsements must be from the official national endorsing authority of the applicant's/employee's 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 applicant's 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: https://www.patientcare.va.gov/chaplain/Employment_Information_and_Resources.asp
- Board 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 ®. COPY OF CURRENT, UNEXPIRED PROOF OF BOARD CERTIFICATION REQUIRED WITH APPLICATION PACKAGE.
- 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.
GRADE DETERMINATIONS.
In addition to the basic requirements for employment, the following criteria must be met when determining the grade of candidates.
Chaplain, GS-12.
- Experience. the candidate must have one year of creditable experience equivalent to the journey level (GS-11) that is directly related to the position to be filled.
- Specialty Certification. Specialty certification is demonstrated advanced practice and/or specialization in chaplaincy beyond the board certification and is required for the GS-12 grade level. Specialty certification from a professional chaplain certifying body that is directly related to the assignment is qualifying for a senior chaplain assignment. COPY OF CURRENT, UNEXPIRED PROOF OF SPECIALTY BOARD CERTIFICATION REQUIRED WITH APPLICATION PACKAGE.
- SPECIALTY CERTIFICATION ACCEPTED FOR THIS ACCOUNCEMENT: SUBSTANCE USE DISORDER
- Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills and Abilities. In addition to the experience or education above, the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs:
ii. Ability to integrate specialized psychological and sociological theory with an advanced approach to spiritual care.
iii. Skill to seek out primary research and research literature that informs the ministry specialty and one's spiritual care practice.
iv. 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.
v. Ability to mediate conflict, hold various emotions and diffuse moral distress among staff and complex crisis situations.
vi. Ability to provide specialized consultation, teaching and mentoring to colleagues and students on advanced spiritual care interventions in the service delivery area.
vii. Ability to apply advanced clinical knowledge to write policies, procedures and/or practice guidelines pertaining to the service delivery area.
Preferred Experience: Preferred experience in Substance Abuse Treatment and Mental Health.
Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit .
The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-12.
Physical Requirements: The work requires moderate lifting and carrying (15-44 pounds) and hearing (aid may be permitted). Must be able to work alone and closely with others with protracted or irregular hours of work.
Education
IMPORTANT: This position has a positive education or training requirement. An unofficial copy of college transcripts showing completion of the required degree program is required and must include the name of the school, your name, date conferred or completed, and degree or certificate type.
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: .
Additional information
Receiving Service Credit or 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 applicant's criminal history prior to accepting a tentative job offer. For more information about the Act and the complaint process, visit at .
- Benefits
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. .
Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.
Conditions of Employment
- 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.
- You may be required to serve a probationary period.
- 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 (https://www.uscis.gov/i-9-central/form-i-9-acceptable-documents). Effective May 7, 2025, driver's licenses or state-issued dentification 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).
Qualifications
BASIC REQUIREMENTS
To qualify for appointment as a chaplain, all applicants must possess the following:
- Citizenship. Citizen of the United States (U.S.). Non-citizens may be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with 38 U.S.C. § 7407(a).
- English Language Proficiency. Chaplains must be proficient in spoken and written English to be appointed as authorized by 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. COPY OF TRANSCRIPTS WITH CONFER DATE REQUIRED WITH APPLICATION PACKAGE.
- 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 f) is acceptable.
- 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 https://www.naces.org/members.
- Clinical 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. COPY OF ACCEPTABLE, COMPLETED CPE REQUIRED WITH APPLCIATION PACKAGE.
- 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. COPY OF ECCLESIASTICAL ENDORSEMENT DATED WITHIN THE LAST 12 MONTHS REQUIRED WITH APPLICATION PACKAGE.
- Applicants must have an ecclesiastical endorsement, dated within the past 12 months.
- Ecclesiastical endorsements must be from the official national endorsing authority of the applicant's/employee's 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 applicant's 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: https://www.patientcare.va.gov/chaplain/Employment_Information_and_Resources.asp
- Board 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 ®. COPY OF CURRENT, UNEXPIRED PROOF OF BOARD CERTIFICATION REQUIRED WITH APPLICATION PACKAGE.
- 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.
GRADE DETERMINATIONS.
In addition to the basic requirements for employment, the following criteria must be met when determining the grade of candidates.
Chaplain, GS-12.
- Experience. the candidate must have one year of creditable experience equivalent to the journey level (GS-11) that is directly related to the position to be filled.
- Specialty Certification. Specialty certification is demonstrated advanced practice and/or specialization in chaplaincy beyond the board certification and is required for the GS-12 grade level. Specialty certification from a professional chaplain certifying body that is directly related to the assignment is qualifying for a senior chaplain assignment. COPY OF CURRENT, UNEXPIRED PROOF OF SPECIALTY BOARD CERTIFICATION REQUIRED WITH APPLICATION PACKAGE.
- SPECIALTY CERTIFICATION ACCEPTED FOR THIS ACCOUNCEMENT: SUBSTANCE USE DISORDER
- Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills and Abilities. In addition to the experience or education above, the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs:
ii. Ability to integrate specialized psychological and sociological theory with an advanced approach to spiritual care.
iii. Skill to seek out primary research and research literature that informs the ministry specialty and one's spiritual care practice.
iv. 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.
v. Ability to mediate conflict, hold various emotions and diffuse moral distress among staff and complex crisis situations.
vi. Ability to provide specialized consultation, teaching and mentoring to colleagues and students on advanced spiritual care interventions in the service delivery area.
vii. Ability to apply advanced clinical knowledge to write policies, procedures and/or practice guidelines pertaining to the service delivery area.
Preferred Experience: Preferred experience in Substance Abuse Treatment and Mental Health.
Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit .
The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-12.
Physical Requirements: The work requires moderate lifting and carrying (15-44 pounds) and hearing (aid may be permitted). Must be able to work alone and closely with others with protracted or irregular hours of work.
Education
IMPORTANT: This position has a positive education or training requirement. An unofficial copy of college transcripts showing completion of the required degree program is required and must include the name of the school, your name, date conferred or completed, and degree or certificate type.
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: .
Additional information
Receiving Service Credit or 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 applicant's criminal history prior to accepting a tentative job offer. For more information about the Act and the complaint process, visit at .