Clarification from the agency

All U.S. Citizens

• Complete bindery jobs by setting up and operating one or more powered, semi- and fully automatic bindery machines, and assisting with the activities of the Bindery Machine Operators assigned to the machine.
• Assists in starting equipment via touch screen, adjusts and help operate a variety of automatic bindery machines containing multiple functions and station capabilities.
• Assists in combining equipment and devices electro-mechanically to produce a complete bindery and finishing unit that processes printed sheets into final books, catalogs, manuals, directories, magazines or other completed products.
• Assists in making needed adjustments to coordinate the multiple workstations on a single machine.
• Observes how to interpret job orders, which may be for one-of-a-kind materials; documents how to plan bindery operations utilizing the most efficient procedures and methods to meet job requirements to complete a combined finishing operation.

Conditions of employment

• U.S. Citizenship is Required.
• Selectee must pass all preemployment requirements prior to appointment.
• Selectee must obtain and maintain a Secret Security Clearance.
• Males born after 12/03/59 must be registered for Selective Service.
• Selectee may be required to serve a one year probationary period.
• Selectees must pass a physical examination prior to appointment.
• Strength test may be required.
• Confidential Financial Disclosure Report is required.
• Physical Effort: This level of effort involves having to continually lift, carry, or otherwise handle printed materials and paper stock weighing up to 10 pounds. Occasionally, may be required to handle items or materials weighing up to 40 pounds.
• Physical Effort: The work involves standing for prolonged periods while operating or monitoring bindery machines. Frequent stooping, bending, and reaching to make machine adjustments, remove mis-routed materials, and other operational activities.
• Working Conditions: Duties are performed in a production environment that is well lit, heated, and ventilated. May be exposed to low and high frequency noise generated by adjacent machine operations and vibrations during peak production periods.
• Working Conditions: The operators are also exposed to the possibility of minor cuts from paper materials and more serious injuries such as broken bones and severe bruises or lacerations from high-speed machine operations.
• Working Conditions: The area is exposed to low frequency noise generated by Production equipment.
• Selectee will be required to work overtime, shift, weekend, and/or holidays.
• This is an essential personnel position.

Qualifications

To qualify for the Bindery Machine Operator, you must meet the following requirements:

Applicants must meet the following Screen-Out element #1 Ability to do the work of the position without more than normal supervision to be considered for this position. Your qualifications will first be evaluated against the prescribed screen out element, which usually appears as question 1 in the online questionnaire. If your knowledge and ability in the SCREEN OUT ELEMENT below is not sufficient, you will receive no further consideration. The screen-out element for this position is:

1) Experience and/or interest for learning skills as a Production Technician without more than normal supervision.
2) Ability to follow simple directions.
3) Ability to work safely.
4) Dexterity, reliability, and dependability.
5) Basic knowledge of mathematics (i.e. decimals, metric units) to understand dimensional requirements contained in job orders and to make adjustments as needed.
6) Ability to use Personal Computers (PCs), desktops or laptops for common applications, such as spreadsheet programs, databases, and word processing.

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.

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

This Open Continuous announcement allows acceptance of applications through June 25, 2027, or until 400 applications have been received or all positions have been filled whichever occurs first.

The intent of this announcement is to establish a standing register of qualified candidates to refer for consideration. Applicants that self-assess as qualified and 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." Upon completion of all required hurdle assessments, applicants will be referred to the selecting official for consideration after their resume has been reviewed for qualifications and found qualified by the staffing specialist.

Applications will be reviewed and referred for selection as vacancies occur within the Business Unit. The initial cut off for the referral list is July 24, 2026, or until 100 applicants are within reach. The remaining cut-off dates are listed below.

Eligible applications Additional application cut-off dates are as follows:

• 1st Cut-off: 07/24/2026 or when 100 applications have been reached, whichever occurs first.
• 2nd Cut-off: 10/23/2027 or when 200 applications have been reached, whichever occurs first.
• 3rd Cut-off: 02/24/2027 or when 300 applications have been reached, whichever occurs first.
• 4th Cut-off: 06/24/2027 or when 400 applications have been reached, whichever occurs first.
• Final Closing date: 06/25/2027

How you will be evaluated

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

Once the application process is complete, a review of your application will be made to ensure you meet the job requirements. To determine if you are qualified for this position, a review of your resume and supporting documentation will be made and compared against your responses to the occupational questionnaire. The rating you receive is based on your responses to the questionnaire and supporting documents. If, after reviewing your resume and/or supporting documentation, a determination is made that you have inflated your qualifications and/or experience, you may be excluded from further consideration for this position. Please follow all instructions carefully. Errors or omissions may affect your rating.

Those who meet the minimum level of experience and training for the screen-out element will then be evaluated in each of the following job elements:

• Ability to Do the Work of the Position without More Than Normal Supervision (Screen-Out)
• Ability to Interpret Instructions, Specifications, etc. (Other Than Blueprint Reading)
• Ability to Use and Maintain Tools and Equipment
• Knowledge of Materials
• Operation of Job Family Specify Equipment, Machinery, etc.
• Technical Practices (Theoretical, Precise, Artistic)

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/.

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