Chaplain

Veterans Health Administration • West Roxbury, MA

5d • Onsite

About The Position

The Staff Chaplain serves at the VA Boston Healthcare System in West Roxbury, Massachusetts, providing religious ministry and pastoral care to Veteran patients according to their needs and preferences. The Chaplain is a primary spiritual resource and point of contact for patients, caregivers, and staff, and provides religious services, worship, counseling, spiritual assessment, crisis support, and chaplain-service administration. The position is full-time, 40 hours per week, with a Tuesday–Saturday schedule from 7:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Telework is not available, and the position is not virtual. The incumbent may need to travel to other VA campuses, community-based outpatient clinics, conferences, or other VA facilities.

The Chaplain works as a member of an integrated multiprofessional treatment team, collaborating with healthcare professionals to address spiritual concerns and support therapeutic goals. The role includes pastoral care for newly admitted, pre- and post-operative, critically ill, and other patients, as well as their families. The Chaplain conducts spiritual assessments and develops care plans, provides advance care planning education and counsel, maintains records of services, and creates measurable, outcome-driven, evidence-based pastoral care and staff wellness programs. The position also provides education and training to healthcare staff and trainees, coordinates with VHA Chaplain Service officials, and engages community resources when needed to meet patients’ religious needs.

Applicants must meet the applicable federal qualifications, including a qualifying graduate-level theological degree or approved equivalency, a current ecclesiastical endorsement, and board certification by BCCI or a U.S. certifying body with a reciprocity agreement, subject to the stated temporary-appointment exception for eligible non-board-certified applicants. The full performance level is GS-11; selection may be at GS-09 through GS-11. A master’s degree or equivalent is required by the basic education requirements. The role requires proficiency in written and spoken English, and a pre-employment physical evaluation.

Requirements

• U.S. citizenship, subject to the stated statutory exception for non-citizens when qualified citizens cannot be recruited.
• Master of Divinity degree or equivalent graduate-level theological degree from an appropriately accredited institution, or an approved educational equivalency review.
• A full and active ecclesiastical endorsement from the official national endorsing authority of the applicant’s faith group or denomination; endorsement must be dated within the past 12 months and maintained during employment.
• Board certification by BCCI or a U.S. certifying body with a reciprocity agreement with BCCI; the announcement provides a temporary-appointment exception for eligible non-board-certified applicants who have completed four units of CPE and meet the stated conditions.
• Proficiency in written and spoken English.
• Male applicants born after December 31, 1959, must be registered with Selective Service.
• Subject to background and security investigation, online onboarding, and a pre-employment physical evaluation.
• Must participate in the seasonal influenza vaccination program for VA healthcare personnel.
• Must serve a one- or two-year trial period, subject to the terms described in the announcement.
• For GS-11: one year of creditable experience equivalent to the next lower grade.
• Demonstrated knowledge and skills appropriate to the grade, including spiritual assessment and care planning, crisis intervention, healthcare team collaboration, religious-service coordination, counseling, advance care planning, staff support and education, and use of community resources.
• Ability to walk and move within the healthcare setting, or do so using an assistive device; ability to speak and hear, with hearing aids permitted, and work closely with others.

Responsibilities

• Provide religious ministry and pastoral care to Veteran patients in accordance with their needs and desires.
• Serve as a spiritual resource, advisor, and point of contact for patients, caregivers, and staff.
• Lead prayers and religious services for patients, families, staff, and community members; conduct worship, rituals, sermons, ordinances, rites, sacraments, and funeral services as needed.
• Address religious, spiritual, moral, and ethical concerns of patients and staff through counseling and pastoral ministry.
• Conduct regular rounds, including visits to hospital wards and bedside ministry for newly admitted, pre- and post-operative, critically ill, and other patients and their families.
• Provide advance care planning education, information, and counsel to patients and families.
• Participate as a professional member of an integrated multiprofessional treatment team and collaborate on treatment plans and therapeutic goals.
• Serve as a clinical chaplain in specialty clinics.
• Maintain records and document chaplaincy care services appropriately.
• Develop measurable, outcome-driven, evidence-based pastoral care and staff development and wellness programs.
• Provide education and training to healthcare staff and trainees on spiritual and religious needs and related referrals.
• Coordinate with VHA Chaplain Service officials and follow department guidelines.
• Maintain cooperative relationships with medical center personnel and community individuals and groups; coordinate community resources when chaplain staff cannot meet patients’ religious needs.
• Conduct spiritual assessments, identify patient strengths and needs, and create care plans addressing moral injury and spiritual distress.
• Provide crisis intervention and stabilization as required.

Benefits

• Federal employee benefits package; eligibility and specific benefits depend on the position and employment status.
• Selected applicants may request prior work or military service credit toward annual leave accrual, subject to approval.

What This Job Offers

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