Chaplain

JUSTICE, BUREAU OF PRISONS (DOJ); United States; On-site; USD 63,000 - 144,000; Full time

Job summary

JUSTICE, BUREAU OF PRISONS (DOJ) seeks a Chaplain to provide full pastoral ministry to inmates across faith groups, including worship services and religious education. The role requires maintaining relationships with denominational endorsement and coordinating activities with institutional departments to support treatment and rehabilitation.

Qualifications include a Bachelor’s Degree plus Master of Divinity or 6,240 hours of pastoral leadership, plus formal supervised ministry training.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s Degree with no less than 120 semester hours from a qualifying institution.
• Master of Divinity or equivalent theological degree with required coursework hours as specified.

Responsibilities

• Provides full pastoral ministry to inmates of all faith groups, including opportunities for public and private worship.
• Maintains a well-rounded program of religious instruction including classes, correspondence, work and discussion groups.

Skills

Pastoral leadership

Religious ministry

Education

Bachelor's Degree

Master of Divinity

Job description

Summary

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

Overview

Open & closing dates: 10/01/2025 to 09/30/2026

Salary: $63,148 to $144,031 per year. The salary range for this announcement reflects Rest of US GS-09/01 @ $63,148 to highest GS-12/10 San Jose-San Francisco-Oakland, CA @ $144,031.

Pay scale & grade: GS 09 – 12

Location: Prisons – Nationwide

Few vacancies

Remote job: No

Telework eligible: No

Travel Required: Occasional travel – Travel for training or work related requirements.

Relocation expenses reimbursed: No

Appointment type: Permanent

Work schedule: Full-time – Full Promotion Potential, GS-12/10, $144,031 @ San Jose- San Francisco- Oakland, CA.

Service: Excepted

Promotion potential: 12

Job family (Series): 0060 Chaplain

Supervisory status: No

Security clearance: Other

Drug test: Yes

Bargaining unit status: No

Announcement number: CHAP-2026-0001

Control number: 847140500

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

Provides a full pastoral ministry to inmates of all faith groups which includes opportunities for their public and private worship on Sundays and other such holy days as are appropriate within each faith group.

Assists in maintaining and conducting a well-rounded program of religious instruction including classes, correspondence, work and discussion groups.

Maintains a close working relationship with other departments within the institution for the purpose of inmate treatment and rehabilitation; as well as for the purpose of coordinating activities within the framework of the correctional institution.

Maintains close ties with own denomination ensuring current religious endorsement and attends meetings called by the denomination in order to maintain this standing.

Supervises contract workers and volunteers who provide religious activities for the inmate population.

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.

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:++

(1) Bachelor’s Degree: An applicant must possess an earned baccalaureate degree with no less than 120 semester hours from a qualifying educational institution.

AND

(2) Graduate Theological Degree: An applicant must also possess the degree of Master of Divinity or equivalent theological educational qualifications. Equivalent educational qualifications means a conferred degree comprised of no less than 72 semester hours of graduate coursework including:

• 20 semester hours in pastoral ministry.
• 20 semester hours in any combination of theology, ethics, and philosophy of religion.
• 20 semester hours in the study of sacred writings, including the study of languages in which sacred writings are/were written.
• 12 semester hours in religious history and/or world religions.

OR

++Experience:++

(3) Professional Ministry Experience In lieu of Graduate Theological Degree:6,240 hours of pastoral/spiritual leadership experience as described below and in addition to the experience requirements below.

AND

(4) Formal Supervised Ministry Training. If the Master’s degree program does not indicate formal supervised ministry experience, applicants must have documentation of completing formal training in supervised ministry (e.g. Clinical Pastoral Education [CPE], field theological education program, or professional ministry internship, etc.).

AND

Professional Ministry Experience (Experience):

GS-09: Applicants are not required to have additional specific amount of pastoral/spiritual leadership experience provided they meet all other qualification requirements for the position.

GS-11: Applicants must have at least 2,080 hours of pastoral/spiritual leadership experience. This is equivalent to one year of full-time formal religious leadership experience compatible with the duties of a religious ministry provider in the applicant’s religious organization and relevant to professional chaplaincy. This experience must be gained while in a relationship with the endorsing religious organization.

GS-12: Applicants must have at least 4,160 hours of pastoral/spiritual leadership experience. This is equivalent to two years of full-time formal religious leadership experience compatible with the duties of a religious ministry provider in the applicant’s religious organization and relevant to professional chaplaincy. This experience must be gained while in a relationship with the endorsing religious organization.

Four units of CPE may satisfy up to 2,080 hours of experience requirements above.

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.

Basic requirements qualify applicants for the GL-09 grade level.

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.