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Chaplain

Department of Justice
Justice, Bureau of Prisons/Federal Prison System
This job announcement has closed

Summary

Why work for the Federal Bureau of Prisons?

You can have a meaningful career with an agency that truly values a diverse workforce. You will find a diverse workforce employed from entry level jobs to senior management positions. We protect public safety by ensuring federal offenders serve their sentences of imprisonment in facilities that are safe, humane, and provide reentry programming. Employees at correctional facilities perform correctional work regardless of their specific occupation.

Overview

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Reviewing applications
Open & closing dates
10/01/2022 to 11/08/2022
Salary
$79,363 to - $103,176 per year
Pay scale & grade
GS 12
Location
Prisons - Nationwide, United States
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, $103,176.00
Service
Excepted
Promotion potential
12
Job family (Series)
Supervisory status
No
Security clearance
Other
Drug test
Yes
Announcement number
BOP-N-2023-0010
Control number
680998600

Duties

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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.

Requirements

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Conditions of employment

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

Interagency Career Transition Assistance Plan (ICTAP). The ICTAP provides eligible displaced Federal competitive service employees with selection priority over other candidates for competitive service vacancies. If your agency has notified you in writing that you are a displaced employee eligible for ICTAP consideration, you may receive selection priority if: 1)this vacancy is within your ICTAP eligibility; 2) you apply under the instructions in this announcement; and 3) you are found well qualified for this vacancy. To be well qualified, you must satisfy all qualification requirements for the vacant position and rate equivalent to the Highly Qualified category using established category rating criteria. You must provide proof of eligibility with your application of ICTAP eligibility or a copy of your separation personnel action form. Additional information about ICTAP eligibility is at: Click Here

The Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP) provides eligible surplus and displaced competitive service employees in the Department of Justice with selection priority over other candidates for competitive service vacancies. If your Department of Justice component has notified you in writing that you are a surplus or displaced employee eligible for CTAP consideration, you may receive selection priority if: 1) this vacancy is within your CTAP eligibility; 2) you apply under the instructions in this announcement; and 3) you are found well qualified for this vacancy. To be well qualified, you must satisfy all qualification requirements for the vacant position and rate equivalent to the Highly Qualified category using established category rating criteria. You must provide a copy of your written notification of CTAP eligibility with your application. Additional information about CTAP eligibility is at: Click Here

Qualifications

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

Education:

All applicants must possess a Bachelor's Degree (any field of study) and a Master of Divinity degree or equivalent education from an accredited residential seminary or school of theology. College transcripts and/or documents must show the completion of a Graduate level theological program, consisting of 80 semester hours, along with documents supporting being an ordained clergy and a member of ecclesiastically recognized religious institutes of vowed men or women.

AND

Experience:

At least two years, or 4,174 hours, of pastoral/spiritual leadership experience in a congregational or specialized ministry setting within the endorsing body after formal ministerial preparation. Clinical Pastoral Education, a valuable training experience for chaplains, may satisfy up to one year, or 2,087 hours, of the requirement of pastoral/spiritual experience.

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 Click Here and then Click on Find a Form.

The form must be uploaded at the time you apply. Additionally, all applicants must submit documentation supporting being an Ordained Clergy. Failure to provide these documents will result in no further consideration under this particular vacancy announcement.

AND

Selective Placement Factor:

Applicants applying for this position under the following faith-based 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: The applicant must be of a Buddhist community and have a minimum of 2 years of formal ministry experience in the Buddhist faith.
  • Catholic: The applicant must have a minimum of 2 years of formal ministry experience in the Catholic faith.
  • Islamic: The applicant must have a minimum of 2 years of formal ministry experience in the Islamic faith.
  • Jewish: The applicant must have a minimum of 2 years of formal ministry experience in the Jewish faith.

If applicable, credit will be given for paid and unpaid experience. To receive proper credit, you must show the actual time (such as the number of hours worked per week) spent in activities.

NOTE:  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

In accordance with 5 U.S.C. 3307, a maximum entry age of 36 has been established for initial appointment to a position in a Bureau of Prisons institution.   If you are above the maximum entry age and have prior federal law enforcement coverage, you MUST submit an SF-50 to verify prior coverage.

Applicants over the age of 36 may receive consideration for this position if they fall within one of the following groups:

  • Applicants with prior federal law enforcement coverage.
  • Applicants who are Qualified Preference Eligible Veterans
  • Applicants who have been endorsed by the Catholic, Islamic or Jewish faiths

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. 

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 the federal agency whose mission is to ensure the fair and impartial administration of justice for all Americans, the Department of Justice is committed to fostering a diverse and inclusive work environment. To build and retain a workforce that reflects the diverse experiences and perspectives of the American people, we welcome applicants from the many communities, identities, races, ethnicities, backgrounds, abilities, religions, and cultures of the United States who share our commitment to public service.

How you will be evaluated

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

Rule of Three Rating Procedures: Applicants are ranked in score order based on assessment rating plus veterans’ preference points, as applicable.

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

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