Duties

• Learns to read job jackets to de3termine the status and specifications of the bookbinding job(s).
• Observes Journey inspecting binding machinery to ensure they are oiled, in working order, and that all safety guards are in place.
• Cleans parts according to instructions and learns to perform minor maintenance as necessary.
• Learns to use measuring tools such as folders, and cutters to calculate distances, clearances and fits into combining machines.
• Assists Printing Plant Worker in obtaining binding supplies and other materials that are needed to complete a job.

Requirements

Conditions of Employment

• U.S. Citizenship is Required.
• Selectee must pass a background check prior to appointment.
• Males born after 12/03/59 must be registered for Selective Service.
• Selectee may be required to serve a one year probationary period.
• Selectee must be able to obtain and maintain a suitability clearance.
• Selectees must pass a physical examination prior to appointment.
• Physical - Effort: Duties may require continually lift, carry, or otherwise handle printed materials and paper stock weighing up to 10 pounds. Occasionally, they may be required to handle items or materials weighing up to 40 pounds.
• Physical - Effort: Frequent stooping, bending, and reaching to make machine adjustments, remove misrouted materials and other operational activities.
• Working Conditions: Duties are performed in a well-lighted, heated and ventilated area.
• Working Conditions: The incumbent is exposed to low frequency noise generated by bindery equipment. The work is performed indoors, with no exposure to excessive heat or cold.

Qualifications

To qualify for the position, you must meet the following requirements:

About the Program: This apprentice program is a 3-year training program designed to provide Plant Operations with a steady flow of trained employees to perform required duties for Apprentice Program Bookbinder. During the course of this program, trainees will go through extensive orientation, classroom and on-the-job training to gain the knowledge and skills necessary to become proficient Journeyperson Craftsmen..

Pay: Each apprentice selected will enter the program at 60 percent of the journey-level rate, or current rate, whichever is higher. The apprentice will progress through a series of pay increases. Pay advancement will not be automatic. To be eligible for advancement, the apprentice must meet or exceed the performance standards for all the tasks and duties in the training schedule for each pay increment and pass a demonstration skills test.

To qualify for the position, you must meet the following requirements: Applicants must meet the following Screen-Out element to be considered for this position Job Element #1 - Aptitude and interest for learning skills as a Apprentice Bookbinder without more than normal supervision. This includes ability to follow simple directions, ability to work safely, possession of some degree of dexterity and reliability and dependability. Examples of skills to be learned are Learns basic typography (type face, fonts, leading, kerning, measurements, terminology, tracking, hierarchy, grammar, justification, hyp0henation, footnotes, and tabular materials; Becomes skilled in processing and proofreading the Congressional Record, Federal Register, Reports, Hearings, Bills, and other legislative or executive branch publications; Trains on using an XML Editor including (but not limited to) XML Tree and Syntax and creating XML file; Learns proofreading both straight and tabular matter to detect and mark all typographical, spelling, and style errors using standard proofreader marks and the Government Publishing Office (GPO) Style Manual; Learns to manipulate files and extensions in the database to make corrections, author\'s alterations, and updates.

Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religious; spiritual; community, student, social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience. A pre-hire qualification assessment for the apprentice program will be administered as part of the qualification process.

All qualification requirements must be met by the closing date of this announcement to be considered.

Education

Substitution of education in lieu of specialized experience may not be used for this grade level.

Additional information

Employment of Relatives
Section 3110 of Title 5, U.S. Code, prohibits a Federal official from appointing, promoting, or advocating the appointment or promotion of a relative in the agency where the official is serving or exercises jurisdiction. In addition, Section 2302(b)(7) of Title 5, U.S. Code, makes it a "prohibited personnel practice" for a person in authority to "appoint, employ, promote, advance, or advocate for the appointment, employment, promotion, or advancement of a relative." For further information visit: https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/5/3110 and https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/5/2302

Work Life Balance:
The GPO offers Transit subsidy for commuters using public transportation (Metro Bus/Rail, MARC, VRE, etc.).

Background Investigation:
To ensure the accomplishment of its mission, the GPO requires every employee to be reliable and trustworthy. To meet those standards, all selected applicants must undergo and successfully completed a background investigation for a suitability clearance. This review could include financial issues such as delinquency in the payment of debts, child support and/or tax obligations, as well as certain criminal offenses and illegal use or possession of drugs. Depending on the type of background investigation required, the security process may take between 6 weeks to 12 months.

The Agency may rescind the tentative offer if the candidate is unable to obtain an interim clearance.

Schedule A (Disability Appointment):
Documentation of eligibility for employment under Schedule A can be obtained from a licensed medical professional (e.g., a physician or other medical professional certified by a state, the District of Columbia, or a U.S. territory to practice medicine); a licensed vocational rehabilitation specialist (i.e., state or private); or any Federal agency, state agency, or agency of the District of Columbia or a U.S. territory that issues or provides disability benefits. The letter must be printed on a "medical professional\'s" letterhead and signed.

Reasonable Accommodation:
This agency provides reasonable accommodation to applicants with disabilities. If you need a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application and hiring process you must contact the HC Specialist on the vacancy announcement at least seven business days before the closing date of this announcement to receive assistance. The decision on granting reasonable accommodation will be made on a case-by-case basis.

Equal Employment Opportunity Policy:
The United States Government does not discriminate in employment on the basis of race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy and gender identity), national origin, political affiliation, sexual orientation, marital status, disability, genetic information, age, membership in an employee organization, retaliation, parental status, military service, or other non-merit factor.

Selectee will work shifts 1, 2 or 3.
Additional vacancies may be filled through this announcement.

• Benefits
  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. Review our benefits
  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. Following the pre-hire qualification assessment, structured interviews will be used to further assess candidates. If your final rating places you among the top candidates, your application will be referred to the selecting official for further review. Employees selected for the apprentice program will be required to pass physical requirements prior to entry into the program. These requirements include a physical examination and strength test administered by the GPO medical Division. Applicants that meet the eligibility requirements will then be further evaluated by completing a series of progressive hurdle assessments. Assessments that may include online assessments, work sample assessments, and/or interviews. Each assessment has a pre-determined cut score which must be achieved or exceeded to be "best qualified (BQ) and advance to the next assessment."

All requirements must be met by the closing date of the announcement.

• Benefits
  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. Review our benefits
  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.
• Required Documents
  As a new or existing federal employee, you and your family may have access to a range of benefits. Your benefits depend on the type of position you have - whether you\'re a permanent, part-time, temporary or an intermittent employee. You may be eligible for the following benefits, however, check with your agency to make sure you\'re eligible under their policies. In addition to your responses to the questionnaire and your resume, you must submit the following additional documents specific for this vacancy:
  • Content of Resume: Your resume, curriculum vitae, or other written form you choose to describe your job-related experiences are used to verify your qualifications. Therefore, it is important that your resume accurately reflects the duties and responsibilities under each position you have held with each employer. In describing your experience, please be clear and specific. It is your responsibility to make sure your resume states complete information for each job entry (beginning and ending dates of employment stated as MM/YYYY; and total number of hours worked per week). If your resume does not provide enough information regarding your work history for us to make a creditable qualification determination, your application package may be rendered disqualified and you will no longer be considered for this position. To assist you in sending in a complete resume, use our checklist at:https://www.usajobs.gov/Help/faq/application/documents/resume/what-to-include
  • Veterans\' Preference: When applying for Federal positions, those eligible Veterans should claim preference for 5pt (TP), 10pt (CP/CPS/XP), or for Sole Survivor Preference (SSP) 0pt, on the Occupational Questionnaire in the section(s) provided. Only veterans discharged or released from active duty in the armed forces under honorable conditions are eligible for veterans\' preference.
  • For Competitive Applicants/U.S. Citizens: If you meet the qualification requirements listed above, your application will be rated based on your online questionnaire and supporting documents. Your application will be placed in one of three categories: Best Qualified, Well Qualified, or Qualified. Within these categories, applicants eligible for veteran\'s preference will receive selection priority over non-veterans. If your final rating places you among the top candidates, your application will be referred to the selecting official for further review.
  • DD-214: If you are claiming Veterans\' Preference, provide a copy of your DD-214 (Member Copy 4) Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty, or other equivalent documentation to prove your entitlement and to verify your type of discharge. Failure to provide this information may result in your application not receiving preference.
  • VA Letter and SF-15: If you are claiming Veterans\' Preference based on a Compensable Disability, Widow or Spouse Entitlement, or as a Purple Heart recipient, you must submit your DD-214 or other proof of entitlement as described above; and SF-15, and the required proof of disability, i.e., Department of Veterans Affairs letter dated 1991 or later. Failure to provide this documentation may result in your application not receiving preference. (Please see veteran eligibility documentation for more information on veterans preference in federal hiring)
  • Active Duty Service Members: If you are veteran who has not yet been discharged, you may provide a statement of intent to discharge from your agency to receive Veterans Preference under the VOW (Veteran Opportunity to Work) to Hire Heroes Act of 2011. Agencies are required to accept, process, and grant tentative veterans\' preference to those active duty service members who submit a certification (in lieu of a DD-214) along with their job application materials. Agencies must verify the individual meets the definition of \'preference eligible\' under 5 U.S.C. 2108 prior to appointment. A \'"certification" is any written document from the armed forces that certifies you are expected to be discharged or released from active duty service in the armed forces under honorable conditions within 120 days after the certification is submitted by the applicant. The certification letter should be on letterhead of the appropriate military branch of the service and contain (1) the military service dates including the expected discharge or release date; and (2) the character of service. NOTE: If you provide a certification at the time of application, your preference eligibility will be verified prior to appointment. More information may be found at http://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/veterans-employment-initiative/vet-guide/.
  ??????? All application materials must be received by 04/03/2023 to be considered.
• How to Apply
  
  To apply for this position, you must provide a complete Application Package, which includes 1) your responses to the Occupational Questionnaire, 2) your resume and 3) any other documents needed to verify your qualifications or eligibility (see the required documents section).
  
  Please follow the instructions listed below for submitting your complete application package. Application procedures are specific to this vacancy announcement. Please read all instructions before you begin.
  
  Resume Requirements:
  • Resumes are limited to eight (8) pages
  • Resumes should focus on the knowledge, skills, abilities; accomplishments and results; and training and education relevant to this position.
  • Resumes must be in the following format (for each position held relevant to this position):
    • Short summary of position duties
    • Accomplishments while in the position
    • Results of those accomplishments
  
  Copying and pasting position descriptions into a resume is not acceptable.
  
  Illegible Information and/or Documents
  • If your supporting documents and resume are illegible or do not provide the necessary information for the Human Capital Specialist and/or Subject Matter Expert to make a qualification determination, you may lose consideration for this position.
  Last Document Uploaded
  • If multiple copies of the same document are uploaded/faxed and submitted with your application, GPO will only consider the last copy of the document uploaded/faxed when determining your eligibility and qualifications. For example, if you upload/fax two or more resumes only the last resume uploaded/faxed and submitted will be considered.
  Print a copy of the occupational questionnaire so that you can read and review the questions before submitting your online responses. Click here to view the Occupational Questionnaire:
  https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/11884944
  
  The completed online Application Package must be submitted by 11:59 PM (EST) on 04/03/2023.
  
  
  • To begin, click Apply to access the online application. You will need to be logged into your USAJOBS account to apply. If you do not have a USAJOBS account, you will need to create one before beginning the application.
  • Follow the prompts to select your resume and/or other supporting documents to be included with your application package. You will have the opportunity to upload additional documents to include in your application before it is submitted. Your uploaded documents may take several hours to clear the virus scan process.
  • After acknowledging you have reviewed your application package, complete the Include Personal Information section as you deem appropriate and click to continue with the application process.
  • You will be taken to the online application which you must complete in order to apply for the position. Complete the online application, verify the required documentation is included with your application package, and submit the application.
  To verify the status of your application, log into your USAJOBS account http://my.usajobs.gov/Account/Login, all of your applications will appear on the Welcome screen. The Application Status will appear along with the date your application was last updated. For information on what each Application Status means, visit: https://www.usajobs.gov/Help/how-to/application/status/.
  

  Agency contact information

  Lisa Garcia

  
  
  

  Phone

  202-531-8351

  Email

  lgarcia@gpo.gov
  

  Address

  
  US Government Publishing Office
  732 North Capitol St. NW
  Washington, DC 20401
  US

  Next steps

  
  After each step in the recruitment process, your status will be updated in our application tracking system and if you have elected to receive email updates, you will be notified through your USAJOBS registered email address. If you have not elected to receive email updates, you can review your current application status in USAJOBS at any time. Please check that your USAJOBS profile contact information is current and correct each time you apply to a job. This will ensure we can contact you as quickly as possible.
  
  In addition to changing your status online, we will send you email notifications at each major step in the process, to include: application received, eligible or ineligible, referred or not referred, selected or not selected. If your final rating places you among the top candidates, your application will be referred to the selecting official for further review.
  
  Position Reconsideration Process:
  Applicants who have applied for employment with the Government Publishing Office who were found to be ineligible for a position, may submit a request for reconsideration upon reasonable demonstration that a reconsideration review is necessary. A request to reconsider a rating must be received in the servicing Human Capital Office within 5 business days from the date indicated on the Touch Point Notification, Notice of Results received from USA Staffing, or it will be rejected as an untimely request for reconsideration.
  
  Applicants must complete the Applicant Request for Reconsideration Form (GPO Form No: 4088) and include a detailed written justification explaining why the applicant believes the original decision was not proper. The request should be submitted via email to the Recruitment and Staffing mailbox at: requestforreconsideration@gpo.gov.
  
  The Human Capital Operations, Recruitment and Staffing Branch will review the application based on the reconsideration request to determine if the rating was appropriate and render a final decision to the applicant within in 8 business days of receipt.
  
  Applicants may send an email request for a copy of the Applicant Request for Reconsideration form to: requestforreconsideration@gpo.gov.
• Fair and Transparent
  The Federal hiring process is set up to be fair and transparent. Please read the following guidance.
  • Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Policy
  • Reasonable accommodation policy
  • Financial suitability
  • Selective Service
  • New employee probationary period
  • Signature and false statements
  • Privacy Act
  • Social security number request

Required Documents

In addition to your responses to the questionnaire and your resume, you must submit the following additional documents specific for this vacancy:

• Content of Resume: Your resume, curriculum vitae, or other written form you choose to describe your job-related experiences are used to verify your qualifications. Therefore, it is important that your resume accurately reflects the duties and responsibilities under each position you have held with each employer. In describing your experience, please be clear and specific. It is your responsibility to make sure your resume states complete information for each job entry (beginning and ending dates of employment stated as MM/YYYY; and total number of hours worked per week). If your resume does not provide enough information regarding your work history for us to make a creditable qualification determination, your application package may be rendered disqualified and you will no longer be considered for this position. To assist you in sending in a complete resume, use our checklist at:https://www.usajobs.gov/Help/faq/application/documents/resume/what-to-include
• Veterans\' Preference: When applying for Federal positions, those eligible Veterans should claim preference for 5pt (TP), 10pt (CP/CPS/XP), or for Sole Survivor Preference (SSP) 0pt, on the Occupational Questionnaire in the section(s) provided. Only veterans discharged or released from active duty in the armed forces under honorable conditions are eligible for veterans\' preference.
• For Competitive Applicants/U.S. Citizens: If you meet the qualification requirements listed above, your application will be rated based on your online questionnaire and supporting documents. Your application will be placed in one of three categories: Best Qualified, Well Qualified, or Qualified. Within these categories, applicants eligible for veteran\'s preference will receive selection priority over non-veterans. If your final rating places you among the top candidates, your application will be referred to the selecting official for further review.
• DD-214: If you are claiming Veterans\' Preference, provide a copy of your DD-214 (Member Copy 4) Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty, or other equivalent documentation to prove your entitlement and to verify your type of discharge. Failure to provide this information may result in your application not receiving preference.
• VA Letter and SF-15: If you are claiming Veterans\' Preference based on a Compensable Disability, Widow or Spouse Entitlement, or as a Purple Heart recipient, you must submit your DD-214 or other proof of entitlement as described above; and SF-15, and the required proof of disability, i.e., Department of Veterans Affairs letter dated 1991 or later. Failure to provide this documentation may result in your application not receiving preference. (Please see veteran eligibility documentation for more information on veterans preference in federal hiring)
• Active Duty Service Members: If you are veteran who has not yet been discharged, you may provide a statement of intent to discharge from your agency to receive Veterans Preference under the VOW (Veteran Opportunity to Work) to Hire Heroes Act of 2011. Agencies are required to accept, process, and grant tentative veterans\' preference to those active duty service members who submit a certification (in lieu of a DD-214) along with their job application materials. Agencies must verify the individual meets the definition of \'preference eligible\' under 5 U.S.C. 2108 prior to appointment. A \'"certification" is any written document from the armed forces that certifies you are expected to be discharged or released from active duty service in the armed forces under honorable conditions within 120 days after the certification is submitted by the applicant. The certification letter should be on letterhead of the appropriate military branch of the service and contain (1) the military service dates including the expected discharge or release date; and (2) the character of service. NOTE: If you provide a certification at the time of application, your preference eligibility will be verified prior to appointment. More information may be found at http://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/veterans-employment-initiative/vet-guide/.

??????? All application materials must be received by 04/03/2023 to be considered.

Help

This job is open to

• 
  

  The public

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

  Veterans

Clarification from the agency

All U.S. Citizens