Chaplain

Summary These positions are within the Chaplain Service at the Oklahoma City VA Health Care System. The Chaplain delivers religious, spiritual, and pastoral care to Veterans, families, and staff across inpatient, outpatient, and domiciliary settings. Core responsibilities include pastoral counseling, supporting spiritual health, and integrating pastoral care into patient services. The Chaplain serves as a clinical professional, meeting the unique needs and preferences of all served per VA standards. Learn more about this agency Duties Complete all application requirements detailed in the "Required Documents" section of this announcement. Pastoral Care & Counseling Provides comprehensive religious ministry services to Veterans based on their unique needs and preferences. Delivers extended and intensive pastoral counseling, especially for patients facing complex ethical, moral, and spiritual problems. Offers crisis intervention, stabilization, and support for individuals during emergencies and stressful events. Conducts spiritual assessments, creates care plans for moral injury and spiritual distress, and supports holistic treatment of Veterans. Ministers to newly admitted patients, pre-/post-op patients, the critically ill, and the families of concerned Veterans. Offers advance care planning education, guidance, and counseling for patients and families. Builds strong, trusting relationships with patients, families, and staff; ensures opportunities for free religious expression and freedom from proselytizing. Clinical Integration & Teamwork Fully integrates services with the VA's Chaplain program and participates as a recognized member of the Interdisciplinary Treatment Team (IDT). Collaborates with physicians, nurses, psychologists, therapists, social workers, and other healthcare professionals to enhance patient care. Participates in group consultative discussions about patient progress and treatment plans. Leadership, Education & Administration Provides leadership, direction, orientation, training, staff development, and continuing education programs. Supervises, trains, and coaches volunteer groups assisting with Chaplain services. Supports development of staff resiliency, wellness, and educational programs for healthcare staff and trainees. Ensures program effectiveness, modifies service patterns, leads research, and heads clinical teams and special projects. Completes complex administrative assignments and maintains accurate records in the Electronic Health Record Management System (EHRM/CPRS). Religious Services & Rituals Conducts comprehensive religious services, worship, and pastoral ministry for multiple faith traditions. Leads various rituals, prayer services, and ceremonies for Veteran patients, families, and staff. Administers ordinances, rites, and sacraments; prepares/delivers sermons; arranges for appropriate worship atmosphere and symbolism. Coordinates worship services across different locations, including chapels and clinical units. Pluralism & Diversity Works in a pluralistic environment, showing sensitivity to diverse faith groups and religious beliefs. Collaborates with other Chaplains, religious leaders, and community representatives to meet patients' religious needs. Protects Veterans' rights to religious freedom and safeguards against coercion or proselytizing. Community & Outreach Engages with community organizations, local clergy, and family members to ensure comprehensive spiritual care. Maintains and develops strong ties with community resources to support patients' needs beyond the medical facility. Serves as a communication link between the medical center, individual patients, and the community. Specialty Services Serves in specialty clinical areas such as Mental Health, Substance Use Disorder, Hospice, Palliative Care, Women's Health, Cancer Centers, Spinal Cord/Polytrauma units, Pain/Infectious Disease Clinics, Whole Health, and more. Provides counseling and pastoral care for issues including moral injury, conscience, family/marital difficulties, justice/institutional matters, terminal diagnoses, depression, anxiety, and more. Quality & Professionalism Develops and implements measurable, outcome-driven, evidence-based pastoral care programs. Maintains professional relationships across disciplines, participates in policy and practice guideline development. Assesses and tracks program budgets, supplies, and religious equipment. Work Schedule: Full-time, Monday through Friday, 7:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Telework: Not available Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 635-54247A 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. 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). 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 interest. In 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. Qualifications Complete all application requirements detailed in the "Required Documents" section of this announcement. BASIC REQUIREMENTS - To qualify for appointment to this position, all applicants must possess the following: 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). 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 the 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, from the official national endorsing authority of their faith group or denomination. Endorsement is a written, official statement by that authority certifying good standing and that the individual is qualified to perform ministry 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 Board-Certified Chaplains by BCCI® or a U.S. certifying body with a reciprocity agreement with BCCI®. Board Certification requiring 4 units of CPE is qualifying. The National Chaplain Service maintains a list of approved certifications on the National VA Chaplain Service SharePoint. Note: Provisional, Associate, or other candidate status does not meet the requirement for Full Performance Level (FPL) GS-11 or above. Foreign Education Education completed outside the U.S. must be evaluated by a National Association of Credential Evaluation Services (NACES) member (see: https://www.naces.org/members) and deemed equivalent to conventional U.S. programs. English Language Proficiency Candidates must be proficient in spoken and written English in accordance with 38 U.S.C. § 7403(f). GRADE DETERMINATIONS - In addition to the basic requirements above, the following grade-specific criteria apply: Chaplain, GS-12 Experience: One year of creditable experience equivalent to the next lower grade (GS-11). Specialty Certification: Demonstrated advanced practice/specialization in chaplaincy (beyond board certification), as required for GS-12. Must have specialty certification from a professional chaplain certifying body directly related to the assignment. Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities):Candidates must demonstrate: 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 literature that informs ministry specialty and spiritual care practice. Skill in developing and implementing methods for measuring effectiveness of chaplain practice and services in the specialty area, utilizing outcomes to improve services and design system changes. Ability to mediate conflict and diffuse moral distress among staff and in complex situations. Ability to provide specialized consultation, teaching, and mentoring to colleagues and students on advanced spiritual care interventions. Ability to apply advanced clinical knowledge to write policies, procedures, or practice guidelines for the service delivery area. Preferred Experience: Proven experience providing pastoral care in clinical and community settings, with a particular focus on veterans' issues and ministry initiatives such as church planting. Demonstrated leadership, public speaking, and counseling abilities, with a strong capacity to engage effectively in a pluralistic environment. Collaborative team player with experience working alongside healthcare professionals and community organizations to deliver comprehensive spiritual care. Exceptional verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to develop policies, procedures, and practice guidelines. Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/. These vacancies are above the full performance level. Physical Requirements: This position requires the Chaplain to meaningfully engage with Veteran patients and family members by walking and moving throughout the healthcare setting, with or without the use of an assistive device. The Chaplain must be able to speak and hear (hearing aids permitted) and work closely with others. Education 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 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 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. Expand Hide  additional information 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. 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. Opens in a new windowLearn more about federal benefits. Review our benefits 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.