Government Publishing Office Logo
Position Title
Offset Platemaker Stripper
Agency
Government Publishing Office
Announcement Number
24-12310361-DE-GB Opens in new window
Open Period
Friday, February 23, 2024 to Friday, March 8, 2024
For preview purposes only. To apply, please return to the USAJOBS announcement and click the Apply button.
Eligibilities
1. Do you claim Veterans’ Preference? (limit characters)
2. Are you a veteran who separated from active duty under honorable conditions AND you:

• have a rating by the Department of Veterans Affairs showing a compensable service-connected disability of 30% or more?; OR,

• are retired from active military service with a service-connected disability rating of 30% or more?

 For more information, review USAJOBS Veterans resources:  https://www.usajobs.gov/Help/working-in-government/unique-hiring-paths/veterans/.

To verify your eligibility, you must submit a copy of your latest Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty, DD-214 (copy indicating character of service) or other proof of your service which includes character of service. You must also submit the disability letter from the Department of Veterans Affairs or Armed Service and the Application for 10-Point Veteran Preference, Standard Form 15.
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3. This position is open to All U.S. Citizens (Competitive).  When a job opportunity announcement is open to "All U.S. Citizens", it means that anyone with U.S. Citizenship may apply.  Job seekers may use the  Self-Check through E-Verify https://www.uscis.gov to verify citizenship, if available in their state of residence.  
 
Please note that Status candidates, Status (Merit Promotion), may also elect to be considered under  "All U.S. Citizens (Competitive)". 

Are  you a U.S. Citizen?
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4. Are you applying based upon the Veterans Opportunity to Work (VOW) to Hire Heroes Act of 2011?
 
Many service members begin their civilian job search prior to being released from Active Duty service, and may not have a DD-214 form to submit along with their resume. VOW allows certain Active Duty service members to be treated as preference eligibles in the competitive or excepted service, even though the service member has not been discharged or released from Active Duty. Under the VOW Act, tentative preference will be granted to a active duty service member who meets the following:Submit a certification (in lieu of a DD-214 form) along with their job application materials. (Agencies will 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 the service member is expected to be discharged or released from Active Duty service in the Armed Forces within 120 days after the certification is submitted by the applicant.
The certification letter should be on letterhead of the appropriate military branch of service and contain (1) the military service dates including the expected discharge or release date; and (2) the Character of Service.Note:  If the certification has expired; you must provide documentation (e.g., a copy of the DD form 214) that demonstrates the service member is a preference eligible per 5 U.S.C. 2108, in your application package before veterans' preference can be awarded.

To Learn more about VOW, please go to: https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/veterans-employment-initiative/vet-guide
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Preferences
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.

Please respond to the following questions below:
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1. Do you have any relatives working for the Agency for which you are applying? (limit characters)
2.
  • If you answered yes to the previous question, please provide the name, relationship, organization employed within, and location if known.
  • If you did not answer yes to the previous questions, please state not applicable (N/A) in the text box.
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3.
If you are a male at least 18 years of age, born after December 31, 1959, have you registered with the Selective Service System (select "Not applicable" if this question does not apply to you)?
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4. If you are a Federal employee, under what type of appointment are you currently serving? (limit characters)
5. If you are, or ever were a Federal civilian employee, indicate the pay plan of the highest graded position you have ever held. (limit characters)
6. If you are, or ever were a Federal civilian employee, indicate the grade level or pay band of the highest graded position you have ever held. (limit characters)
7. Are you a retiree receiving a Federal annuity, either military or civilian?

Note: If you are an annuitant, your salary or annuity may be reduced upon employment.
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This position has requirements which must be met prior to employment; and, conditions for continued employment. Your answers to the questions in this section will indicate your understanding of, or possession of, these requirements and conditions. (limit characters)
8. This position requires you to successfully pass pre-employment prior to appointment. Are you willing undergo the pre-employment process prior to appointment? (limit characters)
9. This position requires that the applicant submit to a Background Investigation for Suitability. Are you willing to submit to a Background Investigation for Suitability? (limit characters)
10. Resume Reminder- Your resume must include the following information for each job listed:
  • Job title Duties (be as detailed as possible)
  • Month & year start/end dates (e.g. June 2007 to April 2008)
  • Full-time or part-time status (include hours worked per week)
  • Series and Grade, if applicable, for all Federal positions you have held
Please be aware that your answers will be verified against information provided on your resume. Be sure that your resume clearly supports your responses to all of the questions by addressing your work experience in detail.

Recommended: Even though we do not require a specific resume format, your resume must be clear so that we are able to fully evaluate your qualifications. To ensure you receive appropriate consideration, please list the duties you performed under each individual job title. If we are unable to match your experiences with the positions held, you may lose consideration for this vacancy. We cannot make assumptions regarding your qualifications.

Have you included all of the above information in your resume
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Assessment 1
Thank you or applying to the  Offset Platemaker Stripper position located in Plant Operations here at the US Government Publishing Office (GPO). You will be evaluated on your responses to the assessment questionnaire; then we will compare your responses against your resume and supporting documentation. If you rate yourself higher than is supported by your application materials, your responses may be adjusted and/or you may be excluded from consideration for this position. Please Note: The documentation in your application package MUST clearly identify the dates that support this experience (month/year) as well as the number of hours per week per job entry. (limit characters)
1. Applicants must meet the following SCREEN OUT/ Job Element 1: Ability to do the work of an Offset Platemaker Stripper, KO-4416-00, with normal supervision to be considered for this position. Applicants must also have experience and/or training of sufficient scope and quality, to independently perform the duties, which are: 1) Usage of the following software: Kodak Preps, Kodak Prinergy, Onevision and Adobe Creative Suite or similiar systems; 2)  Understanding  of techniques and procedures to produce offset plates requiring single flat exposures of halftone and/or line film negatives or positives. and/or 3) Skill in the operation and routine maintenance of platemaking equipment such as plate processors and large format printers.

From the description below, select the response that best demonstrates your ability to perform the duties of this position. PLEASE NOTE: The documentation in your application package MUST clearly identify the dates that support this experience (month/year) as well as the number of hours worked per week.
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For each task in the following group, choose the statement from the list below that best describes your experience and/or training. Please select the best response from the questionnaire below. Please ensure that your resume reflects the responses selected. (limit characters)
Select the one statement that most accurately describes your training and experience carrying out each task using the scale provided. (limit characters)
2. Create imposition layout template using InDesign, Illustrator,  Kodak Preps and/or similar software. (limit characters)
3. Utilize  Kodak Preps, Kodak Prinergy, Onevision and Adobe Creative Suite or similiar systems. (limit characters)
4. Possess knowledge and skill in applying techniques and procedures to produce offset plates requiring single flat exposures of halftone and/or line film negatives or positives. (limit characters)
5. Determine job specifications such as proper resolution, correct color space and color definition, missing or styled fonts, missing images, sufficient bleeds, images trapping to box rules, document size, hairline rules, rich black builds, screen percentages, etc (limit characters)
6. Create marks on a pdf or document in adobe illustrator (color bar, side guide, take off bars, etc.) or similar software. (limit characters)
7. Troubleshoot, correct, and convert files as needed to ensure they are properly constructed for successful imaging. (limit characters)
8. Compare hard copy proofs to on-screen display for correct text flow and image placement. (limit characters)
9. Scan hardcopy and perform touchup and cropping to files using Adobe PhotoShop or similar software. (limit characters)
10. Save file to various formats which involves sizing graphics and optical character recognition(OCR). (limit characters)
11. Preflight job files on Compact Disc(CD) or similar to make sure all files are correct and check against customer proofs. (limit characters)
12. Review upon receipt of various items such as  job jacket, CD with job files, and customer proofs to perform the assignment. (limit characters)
13. Operate and maintain platemaking equipment related to the platemaking trade (i.e Platemaker, plate processors and large format printers). (limit characters)
14. Perform  routine maintenance of platemaking equipment. (limit characters)
15. Interpret Job Jackets, instructions and printing specifications to produce products per customer written requirements. (limit characters)
16. Operate personal computer or laptop for retrieving and generating data. (limit characters)