Summary Chaplains provide care to all persons that is appropriate with the needs, desires, and voluntary consent of the Veteran or caregiver or staff. Chaplains interact with healthcare professionals from many different fields to address the health and wellness in every patient care setting to ensure that care is fully integrated into all aspects of care. Responsibilities Duties include but are not limited to: Serves as a Chaplain professional providing complete services to Veteran patients according to their specific needs and desires. Conducts administration of Chaplain services. Provides emotional support and counseling using empathy and strong interpersonal skills to effectively connect with people of all ages. Conduct rituals in front of groups of people, which requires effective leadership and public speaking skills. Addresses the moral and ethical problems of patients and staff. Provides counseling services to patients and staff. Serves as professional clinical chaplain in specialty clinics such as Inpatient/Outpatient Mental Health, Inpatient/Outpatient Substance Use Disorder Clinics, Hospice and Palliative Care, Grief and Bereavement Clinics, Women's Health Clinics, Cancer Treatment Centers, Spinal Cord/Polytrauma units, Pain clinics, Infectious Disease Clinics, Whole Health Clinics/Programs, etc. Provides guidance and/or support for patients to express values through processes such as life review, oral history, and end of life preparation and documentation. Provides counseling on medical and ethical matters, including moral injury, problems of conscience, family or marital difficulties, justice or confinement matters, terminal diagnoses, or crisis. Counsels' patients with long term health illness to aid in developing and maintaining patience, determination, and perseverance. Develops measurable, outcome-driven, and evidence-based care; and creates staff development and wellness programs. Coordinates with the appropriate VHA Chaplain Service officials and adheres to the department's guidelines. Conducts and arranges for services in chapels and at other locations for patients that are unable to attend regular chapel services. Administers ordinances, rites or sacraments; prepares and delivers sermons; and conducts funeral services when needed. Provides regular and routine personal visits, special visits, and new patient interviews based on requests and referrals/consults; may involve friendly visitation, ritual and bedside administration of sacraments, or counseling. Spends minimally 70% of time in patient care. Work Schedule: Monday - Friday, 7:30am - 4:00pm Telework: Not Authorized. Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 688-25100-F Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized. Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized. 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 trial 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 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: 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). 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. 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 https://www.naces.org/members 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 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: 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. Note: Provisional or Associate or other status as a candidate for board certification does not meet the board certification requirement for the FPLGS-11 or above. Loss of Credential. Management officials, in collaboration with HR Office staff must immediately relieve employees who fail to maintain any of the required certifications (board certification, ecclesiastical endorsement, or when applicable a specialty certification) of the duties and responsibilities associated with this occupation which may also result in separation from employment. 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. This position requires visual acuity, keen hearing, clear distinctive speech and manual dexterity. English Language Proficiency. Chaplains must be proficient in spoken and written English to be appointed as authorized by 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 GS-09: None beyond the basic requirements. Grade Determinations GS-11: At this level, the candidate must have one year of creditable experience equivalent to the GS-9 level that is directly related to the position to be filled. (Example of GS-09 experience: Employees at this grade level serve in an entry level position. It is expected that they receive guidance from more experienced staff members and require daily direct supervision. Chaplains serve in a career development position practicing under close supervision of a supervisor or qualified individual who reviews and ensures the employee meets competency requirements. The chaplain conducts assessments to identify patient strengths and needs and creates plans for care in response to the moral injuries and distress of patients. The candidate provides crisis intervention and stabilization as required. The chaplain collaborates with health care teams to create and update treatment plans to address distress, grief, and loss as existential concerns to enhance holistic care. The chaplain protects Veterans from proselytization and coercion from any source. The candidate uses a variety of intervention methods, including individual and group intervention, to address the emotional needs of patients and families. The candidate coordinates services in a manner which respects the traditions and expressions of patients. In addition, the candidate communicates effectively both in writing and verbally with all individuals. The chaplain documents chaplaincy care services. The chaplain provides referrals for continuity of care.) In addition to meeting the experience requirements, the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs for the GS-09: Knowledge of assessments to identify patient strengths and needs and documenting services provided. Ability to use the information of the assessment to create care plans in all dimensions of pastoral care. Ability to provide crisis intervention and stabilization. Skill in health care team collaboration to create and update treatment plans to address issues. Ability to ensure free exercise of beliefs for patients and staff. Knowledge of individual and group interventions to address emotional needs of patients and families; providing referrals for continuity of care. Skill in the coordination of services respecting the faith tradition of individual patients. Ability to communicate verbally and in writing with persons of varied backgrounds. Assignment. Employees at this grade level serve in an entry level position. It is expected that they receive guidance from more experienced staff members and require daily direct supervision. Chaplains serve in a career development position practicing under close supervision of a supervisor or qualified individual who reviews and ensures the employee meets competency requirements. The chaplain conducts assessments to identify patient strengths and needs and creates plans for care in response to the moral injuries distress of patients. The candidate provides crisis intervention and stabilization as required. The chaplain collaborates with health care teams to create and update treatment plans to address distress, grief, and loss as existential concerns to enhance holistic care. The chaplain protects Veterans from proselytization and coercion from any source. The candidate uses a variety of intervention methods, including individual and group intervention, to address the emotional needs of patients and families. The candidate coordinates services in a manner which respects the faith traditions and expressions of patients. In addition, the candidate communicates effectively both in writing and verbally with all individuals. The chaplain documents chaplaincy care services. The chaplain provides referrals for continuity of care. Education In addition to meeting the experience requirements, the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs for the GS-11: Knowledge of advance care planning to educate, inform, and counsel patients and families. Skill in guiding patients in verbalizing and expressing values through life review, oral history, and end of life preparation and documentation. Ability to develop pastoral care programs that are measurable, outcome-driven and evidenced based within the department guidelines. Skill in counseling on medical and ethical issues, terminal diagnoses or crises, moral injury, problems of conscience, family or marital difficulties and justice or confinement matters. Ability to support the development of staff resiliency and develop programs for staff development and wellness by providing emotional support. Ability to educate and equip healthcare staff and trainees screening for needs of patients and the importance of appropriate referrals to chaplains for complex distress. Knowledge of community needs to coordinate with community organizations to provide comprehensive care, utilizing outside community resources to meet the needs of patients that cannot be met by chaplain staff. Assignment GS-11. Employees at this grade level serve as an FPL Chaplain. The chaplain independently serves as a primary resource and point of contact for the needs of patients, caregivers, and staff. The chaplain provides advance care planning education, information, and counsel for patients and their families. The chaplain provides guidance and/or support for patients to express values through processes such as life review, oral history, and end of life preparation and documentation. The chaplain develops pastoral care programs that are measurable, outcome-driven, and evidence-based in coordination with the department guidelines. The chaplain provides pastoral counseling on medical and ethical matters, including but not limited to, moral injury, problems of conscience, family or marital difficulties, justice or confinement matters, terminal diagnoses, or crisis. The chaplain also supports the development of staff resiliency by providing emotional support and compassionate presence and develops programs for staff development and wellness. The chaplain provides education and equips other health care staff and trainees to screen for needs, and the importance of appropriate referrals to chaplains for complex distress. At this level, the chaplain coordinates with community organizations to ensure the provision of comprehensive care, and engaging community resources to meet needs of patients that cannot be met by chaplain staff. Preferred Experience: Board Certification from a professional chaplain organization. 3-5 years professional experience working with veterans. Endorsement from one of the VA accepted endorsing organizations.https://www.patientcare.va.gov/chaplain/Ecclesiastical\_Endorsement.asp Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/.The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-11. 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. This position requires visual acuity, keen hearing, clear distinctive speech and manual dexterity. 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: http://ope.ed.gov/accreditation/. 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: https://sites.ed.gov/international/recognition-of-foreign-qualifications/. 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. 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 Human Resources and Administration/Operations, Security, and Preparedness (HRA/OSP) at The Fair Chance Act.