GPO employees possess a diverse array of talent in many administrative fields and trades. We provide other agencies with innovative services for the printing, publishing, storage, and distribution of digital content. If you are an energetic, inventive individual looking for a challenging, yet rewarding career opportunity, GPO may be the place for you.
This position is part of the Government Secure and Intelligent Documents, Government Publishing Office in Washington, DC.
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- 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. May be required to handle/materials weighing up to 40 pounds.
- Physical Effort: 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. The area is exposed to low-frequency noise generated by Production equipment.
- Working Conditions: Occasionally exposed to low and high frequency noise generated by adjacent machine operations and vibrations during peak production periods.
- Working Conditions: 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.
To qualify for the position, you must meet the following requirements: Applicants must have experience and/or training of sufficient scope and quality to independently perform the duties typically required of a Bindery Machine Operator.
Applicants must meet the following Screen-Out element, Job 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:
- Experience and/or interest for learning skills as a Production Technician without more than normal supervision.
- Ability to follow simple directions.
- Dexterity, reliability, and dependability.
- Basic knowledge of mathematics (i.e. decimals, metric units) to understand dimensional requirements contained in job orders and to make adjustments as needed.
- 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 (08/10/2026) to be considered.
Substitution of education in lieu of experience may not be used for this grade level.
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 Secret Security 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.
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.
The selectee will work Shift 1, 2 or 3. Four (4)-10 hour shifts.
Shift Hours:
1st shift: Monday- Thursday 6:00 am-4:30 pm.
2nd shift: Monday - Thursday 5:00 pm-3:30 am.
3rd shift: Monday- Thursday 8:00 pm-6:30 am.
Additional vacancies may be filled in addition to the number stated in this announcement.
This position is considered Essential Personnel: Incumbent will be expected to report to work during times of inclement weather.
Overtime, shift, weekend, and holiday work may be required.
Candidates should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government, passionate about the ideals of our American republic, and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution.
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.
You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.
If you meet the minimum qualifications for this position, your application and responses to the online questionnaire will be evaluated under Rule of Many Rating selection procedures.
You will be evaluated based on how well you meet the qualifications listed in this vacancy announcement. Your qualifications will be evaluated based on your application materials (e.g., resume, supporting documents), your responses on the application questionnaire, and your responses to all assessments required for this position.
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:
- (#1) Ability to do the work of the position without more than normal supervision (Screen-out)
- (#6) Operation of Job Family Specify Equipment, Machinery, etc.
- (#25-E) Technical Practices (Theoretical, Precise, Artistic)
- (#75-B) Ability to Interpret Instructions, Specifications, etc. (Other Than Blueprint Reading)
- (#81) Ability to Use and Maintain Tools and Equipment
- (#82-A) Knowledge of Materials
Referral Method: The GPO adheres to the Rule of Many which ranks job applicants numerically and allows for selection from a broader, top-ranked pool. Applications will be evaluated and rated using the Rule of Many procedures under 5 C.F.R. §332.402 based on a set number, score or percentage of highest ranked eligibles. Preference eligibles will receive 5 or 10 points added to their score based on the adjudicated preference. All eligibles at or above the pre-determined number, score or percentage, including any preference eligibles with a service-connected disability of 10 percent or more, at any score, will be referred to the selecting official for consideration.
This announcement uses Mechanism C- Set number of highest-ranked eligibles: To ensure an efficient review, the agency will refer a pre-determined, fixed number of the highest-scoring qualified candidates to the hiring manager. If the final cutoff score results in a tie among multiple applicants, all candidates sharing that identical score will be certified and referred. Veterans' preference points will be applied directly to baseline scores in accordance with federal regulations.
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.
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.
We DO NOT require a separate narrative statement responding to the competencies; however, your resume should CLEARLY show possession of these competencies.
How You Wil Be Evaluated (continued):
If you meet the qualification requirements listed above, your application will be rated based on your online questionnaire and supporting documents.
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.
- 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 08/10/2026 to be considered.