Chaplain

Bureau of Prisons/Federal Prison System • Aliceville, AL

33d • Onsite

About The Position

Chaplains foster a humane and secure environment and ensure public safety by preparing individuals for successful reentry into our communities. The primary duties of Bureau of Prisons Chaplains are religious accommodation, pastoral care, and faith-based reentry programming to those in federal custody. Chaplains lead worship and religious programming from their own faith tradition, religious credentialing, and endorsement. They work collaboratively with their correctional supervisory chains of command, other institutional departments, religious volunteers, and contracted faith-specific service providers to ensure the protected religious rights of federal offenders under federal laws and agency policies. Along with all other correctional institution employees, the incumbent is charged with the responsibility for maintaining the security of the institution. The staff correctional responsibilities precede all others required by this position and are performed on a regular and recurring basis.

Requirements

• U.S. Citizenship is Required
• Bachelor's Degree: A conferred 4-year course of study in any field leading to a bachelor's degree, in an accredited college or university.
• Ecclesiastical Endorsement: Attests to the applicant's suitability for correctional ministry, support for his or her candidacy, a clear assurance statement that the applicant has no present or past legal or moral barrier to congregational ministry, and an affirmation that the applicant will facilitate inmates of all faiths opportunities to pursue individual religious beliefs and practices. The applicant's relationship to the endorsing body must reflect a minimum two-year association before endorsement.
• Religious Credentials: Applicants will be ordained clergy or members of ecclesiastically recognized religious institutes of vowed men or women. In lieu of professional ordination credentials, adequate documentation of the applicant's recognized religious and ministerial roles in their respective faith communities is required.
• Master's degree: GL-09, GS-11, GS-12: Candidates must have a Master of Divinity or equivalent theological education. Equivalent theological education represented by a conferred degree comprised of no less than 72 semester hours of graduate coursework including: 20 semester hours in pastoral ministry; and 20 semester hours in any combination of theology, ethics, and philosophy of religion; and 20 semester hours in the study of sacred writings, including the study of languages in which sacred writings are/were written; and 12 semester hours in religious history and/or world religions.
• Professional Ministry Experience (Specialized Experience): Experience in formal religious leadership compatible with the duties of a religious ministry provider in the applicant's organization and relevant to professional chaplaincy. Earned Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE) units can be credited towards professional ministry experience. All professional ministry experience must be gained while in a relationship with the endorsing religious organization.
• GS-11: 2,080 hours (1 year) full-time specialized experience at the next lower grade.
• GS-12: 4,160 hours (2 years) full-time specialized experience at the next lower grade.
• Note: Each CPE unit earned will count as 520 hours of professional ministry experience.
• OR Professional Ministry Experience In lieu of Graduate Theological Degree: Experience in formal religious leadership compatible with the duties of a religious ministry provider in the applicant's organization and relevant to professional chaplaincy. Earned Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE) units can be credited towards professional ministry experience. All professional ministry experience must be gained while in a relationship with the endorsing religious organization.
• Applicants who meet the Basic Requirements, but do not meet the graduate education requirement, may be found qualified with Professional Ministry Experience.
• GL-09: 6,240 hours (3 years) full-time specialized experience at the next lower grade.
• GS-11: 8,320 hours (4 years) full-time specialized experience at the next lower grade.
• GS-12: 10,400 hours (5 years) full-time specialized experience at the next lower grade.
• Note: Each CPE unit earned will count as 520 hours of professional ministry experience.
• OR Combination of Education and Experience: Experience in formal religious leadership compatible with the duties of a religious ministry provider in the applicant's organization and relevant to professional chaplaincy. Earned Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE) units can be credited towards professional ministry experience. All professional ministry experience must be gained while in a relationship with the endorsing religious organization.
• Combination of successfully completed graduate level education and/or professional ministry experience.
• GL-09: 6,240 hours (3 years) of a combination of qualifying theological education, CPE units, and/or professional ministry experience.
• GS-11: 8,320 hours (4 years) of a combination of qualifying theological education, CPE units, and/or professional ministry experience.
• GS-12: 10,400 hours (5 years) of a combination of qualifying theological education, CPE units, and/or professional ministry experience.
• Note: A two-year conferred graduate theological or religious degree will qualify as 4,160 hours (2 years) of professional ministry experience. Each CPE unit earned will count as 520 hours of professional ministry experience.
• If applicable, credit will be given for paid and unpaid experience. To receive proper credit, the experience must be properly documented in the resume.
• BUDDHIST: GS-09: Applicant must be of a Buddhist community.
• BUDDHIST: GS-11: Applicant must be of a Buddhist community and have a minimum of 1 year of formal ministry experience in the Buddhist faith.
• BUDDHIST: GS-12: Applicant must be of a Buddhist community and have a minimum of 2 years of formal ministry experience in the Buddhist faith.
• CATHOLIC: GS-09: Applicant must be of a Catholic community.
• CATHOLIC: GS-11: Applicant must be of a Catholic community and have a minimum of 1 year of formal ministry experience in the Catholic faith.
• CATHOLIC: GS-12: Applicant must be of a Catholic community and have a minimum of 2 years of formal ministry experience in the Catholic faith.
• JEWISH: GS-09: Applicant must be of a Jewish community.
• JEWISH: GS-11: Applicant must be of a Jewish community and have a minimum of 1 year of formal ministry experience in the Jewish faith.
• JEWISH: GS-12: Applicant must be of a Jewish community and have a minimum of 2 years of formal ministry experience in the Jewish faith.
• ISLAMIC: GS-09: Applicant must be of an Islamic community.
• ISLAMIC: GS-11: Applicant must be of an Islamic community and have a minimum of 1 year of formal ministry experience in the Islamic faith.
• ISLAMIC: GS-12: Applicant must be of an Islamic community and have a minimum of 2 years of formal ministry experience in the Islamic faith.
• All applicants MUST clearly address the Selective Factor in their resume and, if applicable, upload any required documentation (i.e., licensure, certification, or transcripts) at the time you apply.
• ALL REQUIRED DOCUMENTATION MUST BE UPLOADED AT THE TIME YOU APPLY
• MUST meet all qualification requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 09/30/2027.
• Resume must support your responses to the online questionnaire and the qualification requirements.
• Appointment is subject to satisfactory completion of a pre-employment and panel interview, urinalysis, physical, and background investigation.
• All applicants are subject to and must satisfactorily pass all screening requirements in relation to National Crime Information Center (NCIC) and credit check.
• All applicants not currently working in an institution will be required to complete a qualification inquiry regarding convictions of misdemeanor crimes of domestic violence in order to be authorized to carry a firearm.
• Successful completion of the "Introduction to Correctional Techniques," three-week training course at Glynco, Georgia is required.
• May be required to serve a 1-year probationary period.

Nice To Haves

• 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.

Responsibilities

• Religious accommodation
• Pastoral care
• Faith-based reentry programming
• Lead worship and religious programming from their own faith tradition
• Religious credentialing
• Religious endorsement
• Work collaboratively with correctional supervisory chains of command, other institutional departments, religious volunteers, and contracted faith-specific service providers
• Ensure the protected religious rights of federal offenders
• Maintain the security of the institution

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.
• Nonforeign Area Cost-of-Living Allowances (COLA): There is an 8.64% (of basic pay) Cost of Living Allowance (COLA) authorized for FDC Honolulu, HI, and a 2.49% for MDC Guaynabo, PR.
• Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level