Summary

Corrections professionals who foster a humane and secure environment and ensure public safety by preparing individuals for successful reentry into our communities.

This job is open to

The public

U.S. Citizens, Nationals or those who owe allegiance to the U.S.

Federal employees - Excepted service

Current federal employees whose agencies have their own hiring rules, pay scales and evaluation criteria.

Veterans

Veterans of the U.S. Armed Forces or a spouse, widow, widower or parent of a veteran, who may be eligible for derived preference

Clarification from the agency

• OPEN TO ALL U.S. CITIZENS

Duties

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, incumbent is charged with responsibility for maintaining 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

Conditions of employment

U.S. Citizenship is Required.
See Special Conditions of Employment Section.
Selective Service Requirement: http://www.sss.gov

This position is in the excepted service. It is excluded from the provisions of the career transition assistance program, and is subject to a trial period.

Qualifications

To be considered for the position, you must meet the following basic qualification requirements:

Education:

Bachelor’s Degree: An applicant must have a conferred 4-year course of study in any field leading to a bachelor's degree, in an accredited college or university.

AND

Ecclesiastical Endorsement:

An 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.

In order to receive full consideration for this vacancy, you are required to complete and submit the Bureau of Prisons' Ecclesiastical Endorsement Form (BP-A0679). A copy of this form can be obtained by accessing www.bop.gov or Clicking Here and then click on "Find a Form".

AND

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.

In addition to the above Basic Requirements, applicants must meet the following qualification requirements:

Qualification Requirements:

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.

Applicants who meet the Basic Requirements and graduate education requirements qualify for GL-09 grade level.

AND

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.

Professional Ministry Experience In lieu of Graduate Theological Degree:

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.

Combination of Education and Experience:

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 (see Required Documents section below for more information).

AND

Selective Placement Factor:

Applicants applying for this position MUST also possess the following Selective Factor. In the event you do not possess the Selective Factor, you will be found ineligible for the position.

BUDDHIST:

GS-09: Applicant must be of a Buddhist community.

GS-11: Applicant must be of a Buddhist community and have a minimum of 1 year of formal ministry experience in the Buddhist faith.

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.

GS-11: Applicant must be of a Catholic community and have a minimum of 1 year of formal ministry experience in the Catholic faith.

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.

GS-11: Applicant must be of a Jewish community and have a minimum of 1 year of formal ministry experience in the Jewish faith.

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.

GS-11: Applicant must be of an Islamic community and have a minimum of 1 year of formal ministry experience in the Islamic faith.

GS-12: Applicant must be of an Islamic community and have a minimum of 2 years of formal ministry experience in the Islamic faith.

NOTE: 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

**Your eligibility for consideration will be based on your responses to the questions in the application.

Education

See Qualifications Section for education requirements, if applicable.

ONLY if education is a requirement/substitution for specialized experience, applicant MUST upload legible transcripts as verification of educational requirement. Transcripts MUST be uploaded and electronically linked from USAJOBS at the time you apply and MUST include identifying information to include School Name, Student Name, Degree and Date Awarded (if applicable). All academic degrees and coursework must be completed at a college or university that has obtained accreditation or pre-accreditation status from an accrediting body recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. For a list of schools that meet this criteria, Click Here.

Foreign Education: For information regarding foreign education requirements, please see Foreign Diploma and Credit Recognition at the U.S. Department of Education website: Recognition of Foreign Qualifications.

If you are selected for this position and qualified based on education (i.e. basic education requirement and/or substitution of education), you will be required to provide an OFFICIAL transcript prior to your first day on duty.

Additional information

All Chaplain applicants can be considered at any age. Age waivers are not needed for:

Applicants with prior federal law enforcement coverage.
Applicants who have been endorsed by the Catholic, Islamic or Jewish faiths.

All others over the age of 36 require an approved age waiver prior to entry on duty.

You must ensure you provide the documentation listed in the "Required Documents" section to support your claim. Failure to provide the required documentation may result in not receiving consideration for this position.

LENGTH OF ELIBILITY: Eligible applicants will remain on the inventory until the closing date of the vacancy announcement.

NOTE: This announcement is posted on a yearly cycle. This announcement will EXPIRE on the listed closing date at 11:59 p.m. Eastern Standard Time. In order to receive consideration for the next cycle, applicants MUST reapply to the new vacancy announcement.

SALARY RANGE: The salary range for this announcement reflects Rest of US GS-09/01 $63,780 to highest GS-12/10 San Jose-San Francisco-Oakland, CA $145,468. See current pay scales for locality area for which you are applying at www.opm.gov and search pay tables.

Special Conditions of Employment Section:

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.

The Core Value Assessment (CVA) is an in-person assessment that must be facilitated at a Bureau of Prisons Human Resource Servicing office. On the day of the scheduled interview, a CVA will be administered. The applicant assessment must be completed within a 70 minute time period and a passing score of 68 must be obtained. Further employment consideration will not be extended if the applicant fails to complete the examination or fails to achieve a passing score. Note: The Core Value Assessment will not be administered to current BOP employees.

Successful completion of the "Introduction to Correctional Techniques," three-week training course at Glynco, Georgia is required.

Additional selections may be made if vacancies occur within the life of the certificate.

As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you will be required to serve a 1-year probationary 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 probationary period your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest. Exceptions may apply. See 5 CFR part 11.

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.

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.

ADDITIONAL SALARY INFORMATION:

Cost of Living Allowance (COLA) is authorized at:

FDC Honolulu, HI - 8.64%
MDC Guaynabo, PR - 2.49%

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.

How you will be evaluated

You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.

Rule of Many Rating Procedures:

All applicant’s who score 70% or above will be reviewed. All applicants who are qualified will be referred for selection consideration.

We will provide the selecting official with sufficient number of names, when available, to consider at least three candidates per vacancy. If fewer than three eligible and available candidates per vacancy result, we will expand the group in accordance with our pre-announced supplement strategy and OPM policy.

What Competencies/Knowledge, Skills and Abilities are Required for this Position?

The following Competencies/Knowledge, Skills and Abilities (KSA's) are required:

Pastoral Care
Written Communication
Oral Communication
Interpersonal Skills
Planning and Evaluation

You may preview questions for this vacancy.

Required Documents

Failure to provide legible required documents and/or follow the prescribed format often results in removal from consideration. If uploading documentation, do not identify/save your documents utilizing a special character such as %, #, @, etc. Documentation should be identified/saved as VA Letter, DD-214, or Transcripts.

Veterans' Preference Documentation:
- Failure to submit all required documents at the time of application will result in the loss of claimed preference eligibility.
- DD-214: Veterans MUST provide a DD-214 demonstrating that they have been discharged or released from active duty under honorable conditions (i.e., the individual must have received either an honorable or general discharge).
- SF-15: If you are a disabled veteran, a Purple Heart recipient, widow/widower of a veteran, the spouse of a disabled veteran or the parent of a disabled or deceased veteran, you must submit:
  - A completed Standard Form (SF) 15, "Application for 10-Point Veteran Preference" AND all required documentation identified on the SF-15.
  - NOTE: A Department of Veterans Affairs letter must contain the Veteran’s Name and Combined Service-Connected Evaluation. For a copy of the most current SF-15, Click Here.
- If you are on active duty and expect to be discharged or released from active duty service within 120 days, you may submit a Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty from the appropriate Branch Personnel Office containing the following information: (1) the military service dates including the expected discharge or release date; (2) and the character of service (must be an honorable or general discharge); and (3) any qualifying service/campaign/expeditionary medals.
Resume: Resume limited to 2 pages showing relevant experience (cover letter optional). Experience that would not normally be part of the Federal employee's position is creditable when documented by satisfactory evidence of qualifying experience (e.g., a memorandum from the manager, Human Resource Manager, SF-52, etc.)
To receive credit for experience contained in an application, the experience must be documented:
- Reflecting start date and end date in month/year format (MM/YYYY) AND
- Include the number of hours worked per week.
College transcript: includes the School Name, Student Name, Degree, and Date Awarded (if applicable).
- NOTE: If you are selected, official transcript(s) will be required prior to your first day.
SF-50: for proof of prior LEO coverage, if applicable.

For more help, visit USAJOBS Help Center - What should I include in my resume?

We cannot be held responsible for incompatible software, delays in mail service, applicant application errors, etc.

If you are relying on your education to meet qualification requirements:

Education must be accredited by an accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education in order for it to be credited towards qualifications. Therefore, provide only the attendance and/or degrees from schools accredited by accrediting institutions recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.

Failure to provide all of the required information as stated in this vacancy announcement may result in an ineligible rating or may affect the overall rating.

How to Apply

You must apply through the online application system at www.USAJOBS.gov. Follow the prompts to register, answer a few questions and submit all required documents.

Limit your resume to 2 pages. If the only resume(s) received is/are longer than two pages, your application is ineligible for further consideration. Submission of a resume alone is not a complete application. This position may require the completion of additional forms and/or supplemental materials as described under the Required Documents section. Please carefully review the complete job announcement and the "How to Apply" instructions. Failure to provide the required information and/or materials will result in your application not being considered for employment.

We recommend using a sans-serif font size like Lato, if available. Other widely available options are Calibri, Helvetica, Arial, Verdana, Open San Source Sans Pro, Roboto or Noro Sans. Make your page margins 0.5 inches. Consider using 14-point size font for titles and 10-point for the main text in your resume. USAJOBS Help Center - How to add a resume to your profile

Claiming Veterans Preference? If yes, you MUST claim preference on-line during the application process and upload documentation to support preference claimed. Failure to claim Veterans Preference or provide supporting documentation may result in you not receiving appropriate consideration during the assessment process.

Required supporting documentation must be electronically uploaded or transferred from USAJOBS (uploaded).

All required supporting documentation MUST be received by the Consolidated Staffing Unit by 11:59 p.m., Eastern Standard Time, on the closing date of the vacancy announcement. You MUST include the vacancy announcement number on your supporting documentation.

Supporting documentation for announcements with an application limitation MUST be uploaded the same day you apply, as these positions may close earlier than stated in the announcement.

Paper applications: If applying online is impossible, please contact the Consolidated Staffing Unit at the telephone number listed below, prior to the closing date of the announcement for the alternate application procedure.

If applicable see Notice for Preference Eligible Veterans Applicants.

Contact for Assistance in Applying On-Line:
DOJ, Federal Bureau of Prisons
Consolidated Staffing Unit
346 Marine Forces Drive
Grand Prairie, TX 75051
E-Mail: BOP-HRM-HRSC-ConsolidatedStaffingUnit-S@bop.gov
Phone: 972-352-4200

Agency contact information

CSU

Phone: 972-352-4200
Email: BOP-HRM-HRSC-BOPHIRES-S@bop.gov

Address: JUSTICE, BUREAU OF PRISONS
Consolidated Staffing Unit
346 Marine Forces Drive
Grand Prairie, Texas 75051
United States

Next steps

We will notify you of the outcome after each step of the application process has been completed.

Applicants will be notified via e-mail, to the e-mail address registered in USAJOBS. The referral certificate or list of eligibles will then be issued to the selecting official for further consideration.

The Human Resource Office may then contact you for an interview if they wish. We expect to make a final job offer within 80 days after the closing date of the announcement.

Applicants referred on a certificate of eligibles may receive an Inquiry as to Availability (Optional Form – 5) via e-mail, mail or a telephone inquiry from the local Human Resource Department. Applicants MUST complete the OF-5 form and return it to the Human Resource Management Office.

Applicants MUST also telephone the Human Resource Department during normal business hours to schedule an interview. Failure to either return the form or contact the Human Resource Department will result in a loss of consideration for the position.

Chaplain Job in Prisons - Nationwide

Summary

This job is open to

The public

Federal employees - Excepted service

Veterans

Clarification from the agency

Duties

Requirements

Conditions of employment

Qualifications

Education

Additional information

How you will be evaluated

Required Documents

If you are relying on your education to meet qualification requirements:

How to Apply

Agency contact information

Next steps