Chaplain

TN United Kingdom; Cardiff; On-site; GBP 40,000 - 60,000; Full time

Job summary

An established industry player seeks a dedicated RAF chaplain to provide essential spiritual and pastoral support to personnel across various locations. This role involves counseling, moral guidance, and welfare support for families, ensuring the well-being of those serving in the armed forces. With a commitment to personal and professional development, you will undergo comprehensive training and have opportunities for ongoing education. Join a mission-driven team where your contributions will have a meaningful impact on the lives of service members and their families. If you are passionate about guiding others through their spiritual journeys, this is the perfect opportunity for you.

Benefits

Basic and specialist training

Education funding options

Career development opportunities

Qualifications

• Must be accredited/registered/ordained by endorsing authority.
• Minimum 2-3 years experience in a pastoral context required.

Responsibilities

• Provide spiritual, pastoral, and ethical support to personnel.
• Counsel personnel and their dependants on spiritual matters.
• Assist with moral issues faced by personnel.

Skills

Pastoral Care

Counseling

Moral Guidance

Welfare Support

Education

Accreditation by Endorsing Authority

2-3 years leadership experience

Job description

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As a RAF chaplain you will be involved in the lives of our personnel, regardless of their rank or religious background. Your personal sacrifice may be considerable as you will serve alongside our people, providing vital spiritual, pastoral and ethical support wherever they go, including deployed Operations. Typical responsibilities include:

• Assume the pastoral role of a leader from an endorsed faith or belief community, performing the duties of a Chaplain/Non-Religious Pastoral Officer.
• Counsel personnel and their dependants on spiritual or emotional matters.
• Help personnel work through difficult moral issues as they carry out their duties.
• Provide welfare support to dependants and families.

Minimum Education Requirements:

• The academic qualifications required are those set by the Sending Churches / Endorsing Authority / Panel of Reference for ministerial training.
• You must be accredited/registered/ordained/licensed by the endorsing authority of your faith or belief and subsequently have a minimum of 2-3 years’ experience in a full-time leadership capacity (or equivalent), in a pastoral context.

Requirements:

• Be aged 26 – 53 years old (Must attest before 54th birthday).
• Must be a citizen of the United Kingdom or the Republic of Ireland, holder of dual UK/other nationality or have been a Commonwealth citizen since birth (with ‘right to work’ immigration status).
• Commit to minimum 6 years service.
• Meet the health and fitness criteria.
• Pass a Fitness test - Details below.

Reserve role locations:

Reserve roles exist in specific reserve squadrons, which in turn are located at specific RAF bases. As you will not be resident at those bases (except on multi-day operations or exercises), geographic proximity to where you live is important. These are the bases where this role is active: 502 Sqn, JHFS Aldergrove, Co Antrim; 505 Sqn, RAF St Mawgan, Newquay; 600 Sqn, RAF Northolt, Middlesex; 611 Sqn, RAF Woodvale, Merseyside; 614 Sqn, Cardiff.

CAREER, TRAINING & EDUCATION:

At any level or position your personal success is vital to make us succeed too. We are dedicated to your future, as it is essential to ours. You will receive basic and specialist training in your field and we even provide the option to pay for your education. The experience you gain with the RAF will equip you to work at the top of your field, both in the UK and overseas.

01 Phase one training:

Initial Officer Training 12 weeks RAF Cranwell. Like all our specialist branch officers, you will begin your RAF career on Specialist Officers Initial Training Course (SOITC) at RAF College Cranwell in Lincolnshire. You will follow a challenging 12-week course designed for professionally qualified entrants to the RAF, exploring how to apply your vocation in a military context. The course includes fitness development, military training and academic study as well as practical outdoor leadership challenges.

02 Phase two training:

Specialist training 6 months As assigned. After the SOITC, you will complete a chaplain-specific induction course at an appropriate time within your first 6 months of service. The course explores the theology of military chaplaincy and considers its application to practical life in the Armed Forces.

03 First tour:

Specialist training Ongoing As assigned. For your first tour, you will probably be posted to a large base where you will work with a diverse team of Chaplains/Non-Religious Pastoral Officers. There will be a senior chaplain on base who will be able to guide you and give you the benefit of their experience.

04 Career prospects:

Ongoing development Ongoing As assigned. You will join the RAF on an Initial Commission (IC) of 6 years as a Reverend (Flight Lieutenant), with an option to leave after 4 years (with 12 months’ notice). Chaplains on a 6-year IC may apply for a 12 year commission after completing 3 years regular service. Promotion to Reverend (Squadron Leader) is after 3 years’ satisfactory service from the date of commission.

05 Ongoing development:

Ongoing training Ongoing As assigned. The Armed Forces Chaplaincy Centre (AFCC) at Beckett House, Wiltshire, is the chaplaincy training centre for all 3 Services. You will visit frequently for continuing ministerial education and other training courses. There are also opportunities to study at postgraduate level at a later stage of your chaplaincy career.

06 Transferable skills:

Ongoing training Ongoing As assigned. As a chaplain in the RAF, you will have all the development opportunities and career prospects available to your civilian counterparts. There will be the chance to work around the world and gain unique personal experiences. Most members of the RAF Chaplaincy profession go back into civilian ministerial/pastoral work when they leave the RAF.